Introduction to Psychology Akarawat Sila

Unit 3 Quarter Project ID 5961074

A Beautiful Mind (2001) Analysis

Part 1 Diagnosis
1.1 Identification of Nash’s Psychological Disorders and Symptoms

In the film “A Beautiful Mind” John Nash had suffered from disorders he developed. The first disorder
mainly shown is Schizophrenia disorder. There’re symptoms as an evidence of Schizophrenia disorder; such as
hallucination, he started by hallucinates that he had a roommate while at Princeton. This roommate continues to
stay in contact with John throughout his adult life and later this roommate’s niece enters Johns mind as another
coinciding hallucination. Nash’s other hallucination is Ed Harris, who plays a government agent that seeks out
Nash’s intelligence of code breaking. This hallucination of Ed Harris is the main factor in Nash’s delusional
thinking, which is another symptom. He has delusions of being a secret government spy that is helping the U.S.
find bombs throughout the country that were placed by the Russians.

Next disorder clearly shown is anxiety disorder, which his type is mostly match with social anxiety
disorder. There’s a scene John Nash is trying to come up with an idea for a work he wants to get published. He
is in the courtyard studying pigeons trying to come up with an algorithm to describe their movement. He is
waking backward and staring at the pigeons while taking notes. When his friends ask him what he is doing he
responds as if he does not care that they are there, this represents the antisocial behavior. Another evidence for
social anxiety disorder is he has an issue communicating with other appropriately; as shown in the scene when
John Nash meets a girl at a bar. She is obviously attracted to him, when he goes over to talk to her he sits down
next to her and does not know what to say. The girl suggests him to buy her a drink; he responds by saying, "I
don't exactly know what I am required to say in order for you to have intercourse with me. But could we assume
that I said all that. I mean essentially we are talking about fluid exchange right? So could we go just straight to
the sex?" He immediately got slapped in the face. This is a sign of inappropriate emotional expression.

The last clearly shown disorder is depressive disorder, which John Nash has shown few symptoms
during the scenes, such as decreased interests in activities, depressed mood, or pessimistic thought. During the
movie John Nash didn’t participate much in any activity, we always see him spent most of his time with
numbers or trying to solve the equation. The most obvious evident is in the scene near the end of the story when
John only try to showed his work when his friend pay him a visit, after look at the work his friend replied,
“there’re other things beside work John”, and John immediately response, “What are they?”. This answer by
John show that he hasn’t got any interests in other activities beside works. The following scene showing he sat
still while holding the baby in his arms, even the baby cried very loud he didn’t response with any move but
sitting still with an unanswered question in his head, this is one of the evidence showing him with depressed
mood. The last symptoms his pessimistic thought. After the hallucination showing him been chasing by the
Russian spy, it’s developed his thought to be pessimistic. Whenever he saw the guy in a suit or the suspicious
car he tends to thinks that they’re the Russian spy who try to chase and kill him. All of the three symptoms
above were an evidence showing he has the depressive disorder.
Introduction to Psychology Akarawat Sila
Unit 3 Quarter Project ID 5961074

1.2 Connections between the Triggers and His Mental Problems

There’re triggers that causing the disorders or make it get more severe. From the beginning of the story
when John Nash was an undergraduate, he struggling to come up with an idea to write his own article for
publish, while most of the students finished their assignment, and the professor also said to him that if he didn’t
come up with something great there will be no place warrant anymore. As much as he stress with his paper, or
getting depress with his professor’s word, this will develop his depressive disorder and schizophrenia disorder
to occur or getting more severe.

Second trigger, which is abuse or bully that John Nash has been facing in many scenes along the movie.
Start form the small party in the beginning of the movie he has been treated as clown with his suit by calling
him a waiter, and laugh at him. Next happened in the scene when his college friends instigate him to flirt with a
girl in the bar, while they already know what will happen, and wait to laugh at his failure. Lastly the scene at the
nearly end of the movie when he try to live like a normal person as much as he can. John Nash returns to the
university again and when he walk, the college student imitate his walking gesture as making fun of him in
public. All of the above scene is the trigger to the development of anti-social disorder as others show that he
can’t fit in with the society, also develop both schizophrenia and depressive disorder.

Third trigger shown in the scene by one of his own hallucination William Pacher. After Pacher
completely made John Nash think that he was working as a spy, the situation getting more dangerous to John
life as he believes that he has been followed by Russian spy. In the scene when Pacher and John drove away
from a chasing by Russian spy, shooting between Pacher and Russian spy happened, and John witness the
murder on that night. This make John aware or paranoid or the time that someone going to harm him. This
trigger will develop all of the three disorders but mainly to develop schizophrenia disorder to getting more
severe.

Forth trigger happened after John try to recovery from his disorder by taking medicine. The medicine
does help him to prevent the effect from the disorder, but it’s also affect him to be unhappy, because he can’t
solving the problem as same as when the schizophrenia helps him see the number pops up from the paper, and
it’s make him can’t response to Alicia’s need. After he start to realize that although the medicine will prevent
him from hallucination or other effects from the disorder, but it’s also turning him into another person that
would harm his relationship with his wife. This trigger made John Nash decided to stop taking the medicine,
which it’s works for the short term as he can feel things the same, but the effects of his disorder start to return
again, until the day that John nearly killed his own son. This forth trigger has develop the disorders to occur
again and getting more severe.
Introduction to Psychology Akarawat Sila
Unit 3 Quarter Project ID 5961074

1.3 Five Aspects of Life Experience (John Nash)

The situation took place at Princeton University, in

1947. John Nash was a college student who has to
finish with the paper he has to publish. It’s getting
more depress when most of the students had finished
their paper, and after the words from his professor.

He saw the success professor who earned respects

from others, which has nothing like him. This image
disturb him as he want to be successful in one day, but
at the time he thought that he’s not good enough.
After that he has created Charles his fist hallucination
to become his roommate and also his best friend.

After his last hope to make an He was very depressed, the

appoinment with Dr.Einstein has intense of his feeling at the
been reject. He continue depress time is absolutely 100%. This
about the idea for his paper, and situation he facing was things
scare to fail from being succesful he’s always crazy about, and
professor. He headed back to the it’s factor driving his intense.
room his hand start shaking follow
by the entire body, which were
shaking with fearness.

After he’s shaking, John did knocked his head to the

window, and also damage the furnitures in the room.
He entirely lost his mind, he didn’t knows what to
do in this situation, until his hallucination Charles
step in and help him throwing out the table which is
what he thought Charles did instead of him. At the
end he did felt more relieve.
Introduction to Psychology Akarawat Sila
Unit 3 Quarter Project ID 5961074
Part 2 Providing Therapies

2.1 Active Listening Skills Used by Alicia and Dr. Rosen

Active listening is to listening to a speaker while providing feedback indicating that the listener both
hears and understands what the speaker is saying. Although John’s wife Alicia is not a psychiatrist, but she has
most of the active listening skills. It’s clearly shown in the scene when Alicia visiting John at the hospital where
Dr.Rosen kept him. After John Sit down in front of Alicia and start to talk about his situation he’s been facing
and about the thought of him with this hospital as the Russian camp. As John speak non-stop Alicia decided to
makes an effective pause by shouted out loud “stop!” Alicia knew everything about John disorder and what he
has been thinking in his imaginary world, so Alicia continue by asking him a question “Doing what?”, and
immediately follow by repeating what John been saying or doing along the movie “Breaking code?”. After the
conversation Alicia can clarify the point that she is not understand and not believe about John’s disorder.
Moreover Alicia also remember the points of the conversation as she use to remind John about his hallucination
or imaginary friends in the future. In conclusion although Alicia is not a psychiatrist, but she got did a great job
in being an active listener.

Dr.Rosen is a psychiatrist who take care of curing John from the disorder. As he is a psychiatrist active
listening skills is one of the techniques to screen what disorder John had and to help him overcome it at the end.
We can see that Dr.Rosen try to make a deep understanding by slowly noted down an important information,
moreover while he try to gather the information from John his office were made for the patients like John to felt
more comfortable, in addition he also try to speak softly and gently to make himself look comfortable to talk
with. Dr.Rosen listened to John and after John mentioned about work, he start to wonder what work is it, so he
start by asking a question “What work is that?” The question is to find a missing information, and to clarify
which points Dr.Rosen not completely understand, and at the end to truly understand John disorder. As the
scene continue, John showing Dr.Rosen about his imaginary character Charles, Dr. Rosen decided to make
himself an effective pause to investigate John and the hallucination John had. All of the important information
during the scene has been remember and noted down professionally by Dr.Rosen, as he was a psychiatrist he
has to use these information for John curing plans. Dr.Rosen shown the active listening skills professionally as
it’s his everyday job to use this skills with many patients.
 Introduction to Psychology Akarawat Sila
Unit 3 Quarter Project ID 5961074

2.3 Alternative Thought Resolutions for John Nash

Alternative Thought Resolutions

His Unhelpful Thinking Habits Alternative More Balanced Thoughts

Mental Filter: I’m too crazy about work and I should spent more time with other activities not only stuck with
mathematics. Lately I’m always stuck with finding finding or decoding code all day. Doing an activities with my
code and decoding the message from many family members or go hangout with some friends or co-worker.
magazine or newspaper hoping to help the U.S.
government stop the Russian. Which I spent too
much time in the day.

Mind-Reading: Since I was a student I think that
most of the students don’t like me, and don’t even
want to talk to me. Next when I’m grown up, as I’m
working for the U.S. government I had to beware at
all time, as I think that there’re Russian spy who
follow me, and trying to kill me.
I should think more positive, not judge anyone before truly
knowing them, try to fit in the society, and live like a normal
person. I must try to stick with a reality not getting paranoid by
my disorder.

Prediction: I think that if I stop working for I must separate what is reality and imaginary. I should always
William Pacher the threat will be true, as I will be remind myself that I’m not a spy, and there’re no William Pacher
kill by the Russian spy without Pacher protection. or the Russian spy.

Compare & despair: I am comparing my future to I should focus on doing my best don’t compare myself with
be as success as the professor I saw at the dining other success, just to our best, and there will be a success waiting
room. for me at the finish line.

Critical self: Most of my college friends think that
I’m from the beginning, they all judge me by my
behavior and the way I talk to them. After Alicia
knows me better she also think that I have a serious
mental problems.
I should learn to behave like most peoples do, and do my best to
curing myself from the sickness. I have to show others that I can
be just a normal person like others.

Shoulds and musts: I’m putting more pressure on I should know that if I always put more pressure towards myself
myself as I’m setting up goals to be the success man things going to get worse as it cause depress and stress.
and earn others respect in one day.

Judgements: I think that my disorder can make me Instead of chasing them away I should complete my treatment
harm Alicia and the kid and I want Alicia and the and I should remind myself all the time to stick with a reality and
kid to move away from me to make sure they will be continue living as a family not separate from each other.
safe.
 Introduction to Psychology Akarawat Sila
Unit 3 Quarter Project ID 5961074

Mountains and molehills: I think that the professor I should think more positive to myself don’t make other success
in the dining room is the definition of success, which pulling myself down, I’m not the definition of failure, because I
I have got nothing like him, I’m the definition of can also being success.
failure.

Catastrophising: Me and my family would be kill I should realize that it’s all from the hallucination there’s nothing
by the Russian spy at the time they found me. real no one going to harm me and my family, we all will be safe.

Memories: I realize that when I getting angry of I should be more conscious, even when I’m getting angry. I
myself I used to hurting myself by knock my head to shouldn’t hurt myself or damage things as the way to release my
the window and damage things. anger.

2.4 Multimodal Treatment Plan for John Nash

Multimodal Treatment Plan

Modality Nash’s Descriptions Plan

Behaviors John is hiding all of the Do less of, or stop:

work that he has been doing John should stop keeping secrets from the one he can trusts like
about finding code or his wife, because if something wrong she can helps him before it
decoding code from others. went to far.

He is avoid to confront with

who he think is suspicious Do more of, or start:
or likely to be the Russian John must start being open minded, tell his wife about what he
spy. has been facing, and listen to the advice.

Emotions John always stress with the Do less of, or stop:

work he been doing, and
about the safety of him and
his family.
He should keep a distant from William Pacher or stop doing a job
for him and quit the job immediately
Do more of, or start:
Doing something that is more attractive to avoid thinking about
the same things which make your emotion unstable
 Introduction to Psychology
Unit 3 Quarter Project
Sensation/Imagery John always see his
hallucinations, which is the
three characters he has
created, and he also solving
the problems by seeing the
numbers pops out from the
paper.
Cognition He tends to believe that he
is a spy who really work for
the U.S. government,
chasing by the Russian who
expect him to be dead.
He consider that his ability
to cracking the codes make
the government refusing
him.
Interpersonal He isn’t a socialize person
which means he doesn’t like
to talk or interact with
others much. The reason of
that is cause by his mental
illness. He always think that
everyone is suspicious and
don’t like him.
Drugs/Biology He decided to take
medicines as a way to stop
his mental problem.
He smokes cigarette which
makes his body getting
worse than before.
Akarawat Sila
ID 5961074
Do less of, or stop:
Don’t let them be in his imagination and stop contacting and
thinking about these characters.
Do more of, or start:
He should start to stop interact with his imaginary characters as
he already knew that they aren’t real, and while his disorder not
gone yet he may use his positive symptom for a great things in
the reality.
Do less of, or stop:
Stop thinking that he is a spy who has an enemies which always
try to ruin himself and his family.
Do more of, or start:
Changing his mind toward the government by discuss the truth
from the story.
Do less of, or stop:
He should have self-esteem which means he should respect the
way he is, even most of the people usually make fun of him.
Do more of, or start:
Try to socialize with others and construct a strong relationship
with other people.
Do less of, or stop:
Avoiding allurement
Stop doing any bad ways to win his stresses such as; smoking and
devoting himself to work.
Do more of, or start:
He should start thinking outside of the box. In the other words, he
need to start thinking differently and start doing something that is
beneficial for his life. For instance, starting exercise.
Introduction to Psychology Akarawat Sila
Unit 3 Quarter Project ID 5961074

Part 3 Reflections

After I watched “a beautiful mind” it’s changing my thought toward the people with psychological
disorder, especially the patient with schizophrenia disorder. I have much better understanding about what
they’re facing in their everyday life, it’s horrible when you have no idea that what make you happy at the time
is in the reality or not. The patient they’re having a hard time, most of the people would probably don’t
understand them and making fun of them, which would be another the trigger or stressor making the disorders
getting more severe. I’m not the one who have the disorder, but I could imagine how tough it was for the
patient. If I’ve never seen the movie or if I never knew and learnt about these psychological disorders before
like Alicia at the beginning it would be very hard to notice because everything seem so real, I would noticed
after something horrible already happened. If somebody would notice, that person should be a great observant.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a therapy base on changing person’s attitude like thoughts, emotions,
and behaviors as the way to dealing with the disorders. John Nash’s quote can relate to cognitive behavioral
therapy, because they’re having the same concept, as they both see the disorders as a problems which they have
so solve by first identify thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Then they try to understand the problems, link
between each one of them, and apply by making changes in each of the factor which caused the problems. I
think John Nash can successfully coped with his disorder, all he need is time to do cognitive behavioral therapy
step by step take it slowly, and one day John Nash will making changes by successfully coped with the
disorders and live like a person that made an achievements in life time. In conclusion in my opinion I think that
if I got schizophrenia I would also successfully curing myself by cognitive behavioral therapy, because this
therapy make me as a patient learn to have a truly understanding with my problems, and at the end I would truly
get rid of it.

References (If Applicable)

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