This study examined the relationship between media portrayals of mental illness and college students' attitudes. It tested four hypotheses: 1) exposure to mental illness in media correlates with attitudes, 2) empathy correlates with media influence, 3) positive portrayals correlate with recall rates, and 4) exposure to mental illness correlates with recall rates. Two surveys were administered. Results supported all hypotheses, suggesting media exposure influences attitudes, empathy enhances media influence, positive portrayals enhance recall, and personal exposure enhances recall of media portrayals. However, the study had limitations like small sample size and number of films/illnesses examined.
Running Head VIOLENCE 1Violence in the Media3Vi.docx
Mental Illness and MediaFinal
1. Running Head: MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 1
College Students Attitudes Towards Mental Illness Portrayed in the Media
Samantha Kienemund
Marymount Manhattan College
2. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 2
Abstract
The presentstudyisdesigned toevaluate mental illnessandthe media.The followingquestionsare
addressed:1.) What isthe correlationbetweenexposuretomental illnessinthe mediaandattitudes
towardsmental illnessesincollegestudents? 2.) Whatisthe correlationbetweenempathyandthe
influenceof mediatowardsmental illnesses?3.) Will filmswithpositive portrayalsof mentalillnesses
leadto a higherrecall rate?4.) What isthe correlationbetweenthe presence of mental illnessone'slife
and recall ratesof filmthat portrayal a mental illness?Asseeninthe article Publicattitudestowards
people withchronicmental illness,Yankelovich,1990, the mass mediawhichincludestelevisionand
broadcast newsare primarysourcesof informationaboutmental illnessformany Americans.Mental
illnessisstigmatizedbyoursociety.Thisleadstothe viewersreactingtosuchstigmasportrayedonfilm
and formulatingtheirownviewsonmental illnesses.
Keywords:mental illness,media,film, stigma,influence
3. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 3
College StudentsAttitudesTowardsMental IllnessPortrayedinthe Media
Mediahas a strong influence onthe general public, andreflectschangesinthe valuesof the
society.Societytodayvaluesmediaas anessential partof realityand a majortool to obtainknowledge.
Mediathrough mediumssuchas the news,music,television showsandfilmsare all sourcesthatpeople
draw onwhenthey subconsciouslyformulateanopinion. The audience canlearnfromthe mediawith
or withoutthe intentionsof gainingknowledge. Maieret.al. (2014), suggestedthat,persistentlong
termexposure tomediacontenthasa small butmeasurable effectonthe perceptionof the audience.
People of all ageshave unlimitedaccesstoall typesof media.
Maier et.al. (2014), described cultivationtheory asproposingthatthe collectivemessages seen
inthe mediaandthe figures seencangreatly influence perceptionsof the worldandoursubsequent
behaviors. People are greatlyinfluencedbythingstheysee throughmedia. Social ActionTheory
developedbyAndersonandMeyer (1988),proposes thatthe audience are active inthe constructionof
meaningfromthe contenttheyperceive.The meaningsare createdinthree ways:the intentionsof the
producer,the portrayal of the content,andthe interpretationsof the audience. Filmsare amediumin
mediathathas a developedplot,characters,andmanyinfluentialaspects. Characterscanbe usedas
toolsforpeople torelate to,and empathize with. Plotscanbe usedtodisplaya message,orconveya
theme.Influential aspectsare the idealsof change,motivation,butcanalsobe stigmas.
People withmentalillnessesexperiencestigmatization.Oursocietyhasmade mental illnessone
of the moststigmatizedconditionsandthis isreflectedinourmedia. Insocietyexposure tomediais
inevitable.People of all ageshave unlimitedaccesstoall typesof media. Yankelovich, (1990) suggested
that the mass media(whichincludestelevision,andbroadcastnews) are the primarysourcesof
informationaboutmental illnessfor manyAmericans.The mediaplays animportantrole inthe creation
of the stigmasassociatedwithmental illnesses.Wahl (1995) suggestedthatthe media’suse of
4. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 4
misinformation,inaccurate use of psychiatricterms,andnegative stereotypesof peoplewithmental
illnessesall leadtothe growingstigmasof people withmentalillness.Stigmascreate manybarriersfor
people livingwithmentalillnesses.There are manynegativeeffectsof these stigmassuchasinfluence in
all areas of life, suchas placesof living,learning,work,andsocializing.People withmentalillnesses who
are viewedtobe dangerousare alsohighlystigmatized,feared,andalone.
Mental Illnessisoftenportrayedin films.Manyfilmsreflectpopularbelief andstereotypes. This
continuesthe cycle because itleavesanimpressiononthe audience.Slasherfilms,suchas Halloween,
have a theme of an escapedmentallyillpatientwhogoesona killingspree. Filmshave atendencyto
portray criminal masterminds inamore glamourizedfashionthantheytrulyare,suchas the character
Hannibal Lectorin The Silence of the Lambs. Inthe film,SilverLining Playbook, the maincharacterPat
dealswithbipolardisorder.Hisfirstepisode isextremelyviolent, where he physicallyattackshiswife
and herloveraftercatchingthemin bedtogether andcauseshimto be institutionalized.Beforethis
violentpsychoticbreak episodehe wasanormal average guy. This addson to the stigmathat every
personwitha mental illnessisviolent. In the filmindustry,revenue isthe ultimate endgame. Buda
(2010) foundthat directorsandproducers,inorderto sell theirproducts, willoftenadapttheirfilmsto
reflectpopularbelief.
Through filmsstigmasare portrayedthatreflect society’svaluesandideas. Dependingonthe
depictionof the mental illness,people’sattitudeswill oftenalignwiththe portrayal. The portrayalsof
mental illnessesthatare seenthroughmediaare ingrained withinourculture. Popularfilmsinthe
mediamaypresentstereotypesormisinformationandthusgenerate falseimpressions. Thisportrayal
oftenreflects bothpositive andnegative attitudes,andstigmasmirroredsociety.Inthe Movie GoneGirl,
a wife AmyElliotDunne hascharacteristicthatcouldbe viewedaspsychopathic. Dunne hadseenher
husbandcheaton her,and to enactvengeance onhimshe fakedherowndeathto frame him. This
character’spersonalityisportrayedasnarcissism.
5. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 5
Buda (2010) foundthatfilms can alsoinspire hope andmotivationforchange andprovide
contextsfortherapeuticcommunicationandencounters. Thiscanbe seeninthe film, TheNotebook,
where a husbandcaresfor hiswife whohasAlzheimer’sdisease. The disease is portrayedinthe film
withaccuracy and sympathy.Itreflectsthe difficultyof the personaffected,the caregiver,andthe
family. Filmscanalsobe usedto liftstigmasandbringawarenesstoitsaudience.The film TheKing’s
Speech portrayedstutteringwithnotonlyaccuracybut sympathy.Thisbroughtawarenesstothe nature
of stutteringandgave lighttoit as a physical andmental disability.
The presentstudywasdesignedtotestthe influence of mediaonthe attitudesof itsviewers.
The presentstudytestthe knowledge of mentalillness fromthe media,empathy,exposuretomedia,
and attitudestowardsmental illness. The purpose of the presentstudywastotest a four-fold
hypothesis.1.The correlationbetweenthe exposure of mental illnessthroughthe mediaandthe
attitudestowardsmental illnessof collegestudents. 2.The correlationof empathyandthe influence of
media3. The correlationbetweenfilmswithpositiveportrayalsof mental illness,andrecall rates. 4. If
havingexposure tomental illnessleadstoahigherrecall rate of filmswithmental illness.
Methods
Design
The presentstudywasdesignedtotestfour hypothesis. It is a correctional study. The variables
tested are knowledge of mental illness from the media, empathy, recall rates of films, exposure to
media, and attitudes towards mental illness.
Materials
The presentstudywasconductedthroughtwosurveys.The first survey was conducted through
an online website. (SeeAppendix A) Itwasdistributedbyonlinesocial mediasitessuchasFacebook,and
Instagram. The secondsurveywasdistributedonpaper. (SeeAppendix B) Demographicswere askedlast
6. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 6
inboth surveys.Forthe firstsurveythe demographics were age, gender, occupation, and highest level
of education.Forthe secondsurveythe demographicsaskedwere age,gender,majorand/orminor,and
school status.In the firstsurvey,there were atotal of twelve questionsthataskedaboutthe perception
of the givenmental illness, in a film. (Ex. Amnesia in 50 First Dates) There were three possible answer
choices: positively, negatively, or did not see. In the second survey, there were a total of eighteen
statements,onaLikert5-pointscale.Participantswere askedtochoose the answerthattheyalign with.
The nextsectioncontainedthree open-endedquestions.The firstquestion asked participants to check-
off filmsthattheyhad seenfroma listof 34 films.The secondquestionaskedif there were any films on
the listthat theywere unaware containedthe portrayal of mental illnesses.The final question required
participants to recall films that they associated with eight given mental illnesses.
Participants
The firstsurvey wasdistributedto of thirty-seven(n=37) total participants.The surveywas
distributedto peopleof all ages,genders,occupations,andlevelsof education.The agesof the
participants rangedfrom18 – 67, mean= 31; gendervariedaswell withtwenty-sevenfemales,eight
males,andone other.
The secondsurvey wasdistributedto seventy-four(n=74) total participants.The surveywas
distributedtoonlypeople currentlyenrolledincollege.The agesof the participants rangedfrom 18-27,
mean=21, gendervariedaswell withsixty-onefemales,twelve males,andone other. Participantswere
students fromdifferentinstitutions suchasMarymountManhattan College,Universityof Albany,and
StonyBrook. Participantswere focusingonvariousmajorsandhelddifferentschool statuses.
Procedure
Participantsgave theirinformedconsentandwere toldthatall informationwouldbe kept
confidential.Allparticipantsinbothsurveyswere giventhe same surveyswithstatementsandquestions
inthe same order.
7. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 7
Analysis
Data forboth surveys were analyzedusingSPSS16.0.In analyzingthe resultsaCronbach’s
Alpha,andPearson’srwere usedto determineif valueswere significant.Answersfromsurvey#1 were
out of three choices:positively,negatively,anddidnotsee.The “didnot see”categorywas later
eliminatedandthe participantswhoansweredpositively,andnegativelybecame the new sample size.
Answersfromsurvey#2 were scaled1 to 5 withanswerchoicesrangingfrom“StronglyAgree,”
to StronglyDisagree.”Answerswere interpretedinahightolow scale,making5 the “ideal”answerfora
positive statement,andthe “ideal”answerfora negative statementwas1.Answershadto be reversed
for a negative statement. The Cronbach’sAlphawascalculatedbyusingsubgroupsforeachcategory
that wastested.
The firsthypothesis istestingthe correlationbetweenthe exposure of mental illnessthrough
the mediaandthe attitudestowardsmental illnessof college students.Thiswastestedbycorrelating
the exposure tofilmsasindicatedbyknowledge,andthe attitudestowardsmentalillnessof college
students. Togeta Cronbach’sAlphaforexposure tofilmsasindicatedbyknowledge the subgroupthat
was createdwasQuestions7,8, 10, 11, and 12. To geta Cronbach’sAlphaforthe attitudestowards
mental illnessthe subgroupthatwascreatedwasQuestions3,4, and 5. Cronbach’salphaforthe 5
knowledge and3attitude itemswere .726and .716 respectively. Next,aPearson’srwas usedto
determine bycorrelatingknowledge andattitudes.
The second hypothesis was the correlation of empathy and the influence of media. The
participantsoverall empathyscore byan overall exposure to media score, which was both determined
by a Cronbach’s Alpha. To get a Cronbach’s Alpha for empathy, the subgroup that was created was
Questions 1, 2, 6, and 13. To get a Cronbach’s Alpha for the influence of media, the subgroup that was
created was Questions 9, 10, and 12.
8. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 8
The third hypothesis was the correlation between films with positive portrayals of mental
illness,andrecall rates.ThiswastestedbyusingaPearson’srto correlate the raw score of filmsrecalled
in survey #2 and to question # 13 which was, “Mental illness is present in my life.”
The final hypothesis was exposure to mental illness leads to a higher recall rate of films with
mental illness This was done by conceptualizing the data collected in survey #1, and the recall section
fromsurvey#2 where eightmental illnesses where listed and participants were asked to recall movies
associated with those mental illnesses.
Results
The firsthypothesistested knowledge andattitudes.A Pearson’srindicatedthatthere asa
significantcorrelationbetweenknowledge andattitudes,r(72) = .652, p=.000.
The secondhypothesistestedempathy andexposure tomedia.A Pearson’srwas determined
by correlatingempathy,andexposure tomedia. A Pearson’srindicatedthatthere asa significant
correlationbetweenempathy,andexposure tomedia,r (72) = .367, p<0.001.
The third hypothesiswastestedusingaPearson’sr. A Pearson’sr indicatedthatthere asa
significantcorrelationbetween filmswithpositive portrayalsof mental illness,andrecall rates,r(72) =
232, p<0.047.
The final hypothesisrequireddatafrombothsurvey#1 andsurvey# 2. The data from the first
trial were collectedfromthe onlinewebsite.The data wasgivenas percentage foreachquestion.
Participantswhochose the answerchoice “didnot see”were laterremovedfromthe analysis.The film
and portrayal of mental illnessportrayedinthe filmwere givenapercentage forpositive,andnegative.
(SeeTable 2) Insurvey#2 a questionaskedthe participantstorecall moviesbasedonagivenmental
illness.The mentalillnessesgivenwere Alzheimer’sdisease, Amnesia,AnxietyDisorder,PostTraumatic
StressDisorder,Social Anxiety,Autism,DepressionandDelusional Disorder. The answers thatreflected
9. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 9
the twelve filmsinsurvey#1were recorded(SeeTable 3) , and checkedforcorrespondence tothe
answerstosurvey# 1. The data were checkedtosee if there wasa correspondence betweenmovies
that had a positive portrayal andrecall rate.
Discussion
The resultsforthe firsthypothesis,totestthe correlationbetweenthe exposure of mental
illnessthroughthe mediaandthe attitudestowardsmental illnessof college students,showeda
significantcorrelationbetweenknowledge andattitude. Thissuggeststhatexposure to mental illness
throughthe media,whichleadstoknowledge,doeshave aneffectonpeople’sattitudestowardsmental
illnesses.Thiswas meaningful inthe sample of college students, eventhoughthey have exposure to
otherresourcessuchas literature,professors,andaccesstoprimarysourceshowevertheystillrelyon
the mediaas one source for theirknowledge.
The resultsfromthe secondhypothesis, totestthe correlationof empathyandthe exposure to
media,showedasignificanteffect of exposureon empathy.Thissuggeststhatmediahave aneffectona
person’sempathy.Empathyplaysavital role inthe interpretationsof the audience whentheyare being
exposedtofilm. If apersonshowsempathytowardsacharacter, itis more likelythatthe mediatheyare
exposedtowill have aneffect.
The third hypothesiscorrelatedhavingexposure tomental illnesstoahigherrecall rate of films
withmental illness.The resultssuggestedthatthere wasacorrelationbetweenexposure tomental
illnessandrecall rates.Thissuggestsacorrelationbetweenhavingaprimarysource of knowledge,
meaningthe firsthandexposure tomental illnesses,andrecall ratesof filmsportrayingmentalillnesses.
10. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 10
The final hypothesistest havingexposure tomental illnessleadstoa higherrecall rate of films
withmental illness.The qualitative datafromthisstudysuggestthatthe filmswithapositive portrayal
didhave a higherrecall rate,howeverthispositive,andnegative portrayalsare notthe onlydetermining
factors.
The limitationsinthe presentstudyincludeasmall sample size,andlimitedpopulation.The first
surveyhada limitedpopulationbecauseanyone whowasnotconnectiontothe researchercouldnot
participantinthe study.The secondsurveyhada limitedsample sizehaswell becauseitwasonlygiven
to college studentsinNewYork.If thisstudywasto be done again,itshouldbe giventoa larger sample
size.
Anotherlimitationinthe studywasthe amountof filmsandmental illnessesineachsurvey.If
the presentstudywasto be replicatedthensurvey#1shouldcontainmore twelve films,survey#2
shouldcontaina listof more than thirtyfour films,andeightmental illnesses.
Conclusion
From the findingsinthe presentstudy,itissuggestedthatthe media’sportrayal of mental
illnesshasaneffect.Those withafirsthandprimarysource such as a lovedone withamental illness,
can recall filmswithapositive portrayal.Forothers,filmsthatportraymental illnessespositivelyhave a
betterchance of recall thenfilmsthatportraymental illnessesnegatively.Itwasalsofoundthat college
studentsdonot have a clearunderstandingof general mental illness.There wasalotof confusion
amongstAlzheimer’sandAmnesia,andDepressionandDelusionalDisorder.Manyparticipants
answeredthatthe mental illnessin Finding Nemo wasAlzheimer’sdisease,whenitwasAmnesia. This
findingwasthe same forthe filmsportrayingAmnesia.Participantsansweredthatthe filmportrayed
Alzheimer’sdisease.Itwasthe same for Depression,andDelusional Disorder.
11. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 11
Tables
Table 1 -Cronbach’sAlpha
Variable Cronbach’sAlpha Numberof Items
Attitude .716 3
Feelings .887 3
Media
Empathy 4
Knowledge .726 5
Table 2 : Viewsof Movieswith MentalIllnesses
Film IllnessPortrayed Positive View Negative View
FindingNemo Amnesia 76% 24%
50 FirstDates Amnesia 67% 33%
The Notebook Alzheimer’sDisease 72% 28%
The King’sSpeech Social Anxiety 50% 50%
Lars and The Real Girl Delusional Disorder 72% 28%
Brothers Post-Traumatic
StressDisorder
36% 64%
The Lion King Post-Traumatic
StressDisorder
69% 31%
The Virgin Suicides Clinical Depression 33% 66%
Winter’sBones Clinical Depression 0% 100%
SilverLiningsPlaybook AnxietyDisorder 75% 25
I Am Sam LearningDisorder 47% 53%
RainMan Autism 83% 17%
Table 3 – Recall Ratesof Films in Survey #2
Film Mental Illness(from
Survey#1)
OtherAnswersGiven Total
FindingNemo Amnesia Autism, Post-Traumatic
StressDisorder,
Delusional Disorder,
AnxietyDisorder,
Alzheimer’sdisease
37
50 FirstDates Amnesia Delusional Disorder,
Alzheimer’sdisease
18
The Notebook Alzheimer’sdisease Clinical Depression 31
The King’sSpeech Social AnxietyDisorder Clinical Depression 6
Lars and the Real Girl Delusional Disorder Social AnxietyDisorder 4
Brothers Post-TraumaticStress
Disorder
1
The Lion King Post-TraumaticStress
Disorder
1
VirginSuicides Clinical Depression Delusional Disorder 6
Winter’sBones Clinical Depression 0
SilverLiningsPlaybook AnxietyDisorder Clinical Depression, 17
12. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 12
Post-TraumaticStress
Disorder,Delusional
Disorder,Bipolar
I Am Sam LearningDisorder Autism 8
RainMan Autism 4
Appendix1:
http://app.evalandgo.com/s/?id=JTk5aSU5MWolOTk%3D&a=JTk5aSU5MXAlOTk%3D
1. How is Amnesiaportrayedinthe filmFindingNemo?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
2. How is Amnesiaportrayedinthe film50FirstDates?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
3. How is Alzheimer’sDiseaseportrayedinthe filmThe Notebook?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
4. How is Social Anxietyportrayedinthe filmThe King’sSpeech?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
5. How is DelusionalDisorderportrayedinthe filmLarsandthe Real Girl?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
6. How is PostTraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD) portrayedinthe filmBrothers?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
7. How is PostTraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD) portrayedinthe filmthe LionKing?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
8. How is Clinical Depressionportrayedinthe filmVirginSuicides?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
9. How is Clinical Depressionportrayedinthe filmWinter’sBones?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
10. How isAnxietyDisorderportrayedinthe filmSilverLiningPlaybook?
13. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 13
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
11. How isLearningDisorderportrayedinthe filmIAmSam?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
12. How isAutismportrayedinthe filmRainMan?
Positively
Negatively
Didnot see film
13. What isyour age?
14. What isyour occupation?
15. What isyour gender?
16. HighestLevel of Educationcompleted
HighSchool Diploma/GED
Some College/CollegeCredit
Trade School
Associate Degree
Bachelor’sDegree
Master’sDegree
Doctoral Degree
Appendix 2 :
Survey Questionnaire
SurveyQuestionnaire
InformedConsent
Class:ExperimentalPsychology
Principal Investigators:SamanthaKienemund
FacultySupervisor:LindaSolomon
The policyof the Departmentof Psychologyisthatall researchparticipationinthe Departmentis
voluntary,andyouhave the right to withdraw atany time,withoutprejudice,shouldyouobjecttothe
nature of the research.Youare entitledtoaskquestionsandtoreceive anexplanationafteryour
participation.If youdecide noworat anypointto withdraw thisconsentorstop participating,youwill
not be penalized.All identifyinginformationwill be removedfromquestionnairesassoonasyour
participationiscomplete.Noone will be able toknow yourquestionnaire responses.
Descriptionof the Study:
Thisis a researchstudyaboutmediaand mental illness.
Possible Risks
14. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 14
a) Whenfillingoutsurveyyoumaycome acrossa questionthatyoufindunpleasant,upsetting,or
otherwise objectionable.
b) You will be askedtoprovide confidentialinformationaboutyourself.
Possible Benefits:
a) Whenyourparticipationiscomplete,youwill be givenanopportunitytolearnaboutthisresearch,
whichmay be useful toyouinyour course or inunderstandingyourself andothers.
b) You will have anopportunitytocontribute topsychological sciencebyparticipatinginthisresearch.
There are no individual person’sresponsesthatinterestus;we are studyingthe usefulnessof the
survey inquestionforpeople ingeneral.
Anytechnical questionsaboutthisresearchmaybe directedto:
Samantha Kienemund skienemund@mmm.edu (347) 320-9919
Your signature belowindicatesthatyouvoluntarilyagree toparticipate inthisstudy.
_____________________________________
Signature of Participant&Date
Picka response thatbestreflectshowyoufeel aboutthe followingstatements:
1. I empathize with characters in movies.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
2. I attend events that are dedicated to mental health awareness. (i.e. Alzheimer’s Walk)
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
3. People can learn from the media.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
4. People with mental illnesses should be locked away.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
5. People with mental illnesses are violent.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
6. I am an advocate for people with mental illnesses.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
7. I have a good working knowledge of mental illnesses.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
8.I am interested to see mental illness portrayed in the media.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
9.Media sheds a good light on mental illnesses.
15. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 15
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
10.Watching a movie where a mental illness is portrayed, adds to my knowledge of that illness.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
11. I enjoy seeing movies where a mental illness is highlighted.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
12.Media gives an accurate representation of mental illnesses, whether they are good or bad.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
13. Mental illness is present in my life.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
14.My knowledge and understanding of mental illness comes from the media.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
15.My knowledge and understanding of mental illness comes from primary sources.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
16.Media can affect my attitude towards certain groups of people.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
17.I would be afraid if a mentally ill patient was on the lose.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
18.All serial killers in movies have mental illnesses.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
19.People with mental illnesses should be locked away.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
20. People with mental illnesses are violent.
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Whichof the followingmoviesfeaturingthe portrayal of amental illnesshave youseen?
Checkall that apply
[ ] The Notebook
[ ] Silver Lining Playbook
[ ] 50 First Dates
[ ] The Vow
[ ] Shutter Island
[ ] The Village
[ ] I Am Sam
[ ] Forrest Gump
[ ] Saving Private Ryan
[ ] Speak
[ ] The King’s Speech
[ ] Rain Man
[ ] The Hours
[ ] The Perks of Being a Wallflower
16. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 16
[ ] Side Effects
[ ] Lars and theRealGirl
[ ] Obsessed
[ ] Amour
[ ] Sybil
[ ] Psycho
[ ] Identity
[ ] Black Swan
[ ] Girl, Interrupted
[ ] Brothers
[ ] Mysterious Skin
[ ] Little Children
[ ] The Lovely Bones
[ ] Virgin Suicides
[ ] Hostel
[ ] Finding Nemo
[ ] Gone Girl
[ ] One Flew Over TheCukooNest
[ ] BeautifulMind
[ ] Winter’s Bone
From the listabove,whichmovieswere youunaware containedthe portrayal of amental illness?
Whichmovie/(s) doyouassociate withthe followingmental illnesses?
Alzheimer’sDisease
Amnesia
AnxietyDisorder
PostTraumatic StressDisorder
Social Anxiety
Autism
Depression
Delusional Disorder
Age:_________________ Gender:________________________
Major/(s) andMinor/ (s) :______________________School Status: ____________ (i.e freshmen)
17. MENTAL ILLNESS PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIA 17
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