Psychology in the Movies: Forrrest Gump
The film ‘’Forrrest Gump’’ presents a simplified story of a male who has to live with the challenges of mental impairment. Forrrest Gump offers a desirable and a complex character lead position thus offering a special contract to the normal behaviors depicted by adulthood. Forrrest has a normal life similar to that of his mates. This is depicted in the movie since the beginning where he lives well and even had the opportunity of attending college. His IQ is 75 and this raises the need for him to be sent to a distinguished institution (Zomeckis, 1994). His physical appearance as he grows up becomes a part of bully since he had to put on leg braces for a particular health condition that was not being mentioned and the assumption was scoliosis (Zomeckis, 1994). Despite the fact that his life is characterized by setbacks based on the loss of personality, mental impairment and autism he is able to exist in a life full of success as a father, hero and a millionaire.
Forrrest possess a different development as well as reaction in comparison to others and he is involved in fascinating experiences and proceedings (Zomeckis, 1994). This offers a contradiction amid the normal events in life because his life is characterized by low rate development. This, therefore, makes the demonstration that cognitive development differs based on an individual’s condition and it should never be utilized as a form of judgment. The movie makes it clear that even those persons that are regarded to be slow by the majority can be efficient and fulfill the life structural framework that exists in typical living (Zomeckis, 1994).
The abnormality is normally described as the social norms deviation. This implies that individuals in the society are normally termed to be different or rather abnormal if the posse’s different behaviors from those that are accepted to be standard behaviors. This normally poses different perception in the community which results in stigma and isolation of the affected group (Hooley, Butcher, Nock, and Mineka, 2017). From the film, Forrrest holds an intelligence that can best be called sub-average. However, he still remains to be an important element in historical processes. This, therefore, shows his abilities in proving that he has the capability to achieve even greater than normal persons. Despite the prevailing beliefs, negative judgments as well as discrimination which were subjected to him as he was being regarded as mentally retarded he is able to attain success in many aspects.
Based on DSM-V individuals characterized by mental retardants normally have movement or functional issues since it because difficult to coordinate thinking and movements. However, the movie contradicts this aspect throughout since Forrrest is able to obtain more athletic expertise continuously (Hooley, Butcher, Nock, and Mineka, 2017). This is an obvious dissimilarity with the behaviors as well as the features possessed by mental retard persons. DSM-V holds that persons mental development issues are characterized by the lack of social expertise. This is similar to what is displaced in the movie since Forrrest is unable to adopt the existing clues socially. For instance, his mother had sex with the school principal but for him, this is like nothing since he cannot be able to distinguish the act. Even after Jenny’s interactions, he is not able to understand. He is displayed to be verbally imbalanced since as he talks to other people stutters which are depicted by when he tries to narrate his story at the bus stop. Based on DSM-V it is clear that Forrrest was not completely retarded mentally. Forrrest is characterized by the lack of a clear speech , writing , mathematical reasoning, reading, social judgments, communication and interpersonal skills. For instance he is able to recognize and offers a chocolate to a stranger and he begins to talk directly in regard to shoes despite the fact that the stranger does not seem interested (Zomeckis, 1994).
Most individuals prefer not to talk in regard mental illness in the society since it is considered to be a sensitive issue. Based on this belief most persons holds the assumption that the occurrence of mental issues is a rare thing that happens to unusual individuals (Hooley, Butcher, Nock, and Mineka, 2017). This creates isolation as well as stigma mostly to the affected persons. People can interact with this marginalized group by being real to a real community for them to acquire support (Stanford, 2008).
Mentally retarded persons can be encouraged to overcome their challenges through incorporating them in social activities such as games or other events. This strategy is moral and it can be effective in raising the self esteem of persons (Stanford, 2008). In addition, the issue can be debated in the open which will enhance the sensation of a belonging to the group thus increasing their willingness and confidence to develop their potentials. Individual responses towards the particular group should be watched and accept their disabilities as well as in-capabilities. Care should always be a guiding norm since those individuals are particularly suffering from the illnesses and all they require is support from the community. The best strategy to attract the marginalized group to the church setting is through being a part of their existence. This implies that the community must help them in overcoming obstacles and to avoiding labeling them with the characterization slow abilities (Stanford, 2008).
The community can be Godly through demonstrating understanding as well as increased patient since the group’s growth is a bit low. More interactions with them can be a good way of providing them with more opportunities to learn and accept their faults and abilities. With social acceptance, mentally disabled individuals can be successful since their impairment does not state that they are unable rather they only need patience (Stanford, 2008). The communications with the persons should be the one that depicts respect. When an individual with disability feels that they views are heard and respected they are likely to consider any idea that is being persuaded into them (Stanford, 2008).
Stigma is a dangerous thing in the society and can best be eliminated in the society by ensuring that the affected persons. the community should be wise and ready to compromise with their needs and taking the best possible approaches to handle any issue (Stanford, 2008). In addition, this group should be treated in a calm way without the use of high authority which may send the concept of them being inferior. Isolation can be eliminated by attracting them to the church where their value is upheld and they are highly embraced. Accepting people despite their faults is normally a good strategy that stirs high rate of healing thus increasing confidence and the ability to grow emotionally and physically (Stanford, 2008).
References
Hooley, J.M., Butcher, J.N. Nock, M.K., and Mineka, S. (2017). Abnormal Psychology. Pearson Eductaion.
Stanford, M. S. (2008). Grace for the afflicted: Viewing mental illness through the eyes of faith. Colorado Springs: Paternoster.
Zomeckis, R. (1994). Forrest Gump. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/
