Read this first : You are required to integrate class material with movie material in a cohesive way. Remember that you are not being asked to write a paper solely focusing on disorders (although disorders might be present in the characters), so make sure you focus on other areas of class content. Make sure you develop your ideas with evidence from the movie and clearly explain and connect psychological ideas.
The Basic Idea!!!
: After viewing the movie, your task is to connect the lives of the main characters, or events in the film, to the topics of
Introduction to Psychology.
Personality
Intelligence
Stress
Therapy
Learning
Motivation
Memory
Possible topic areas to consider in each movie:
Theoretical perspectives
Social Psychology
Emotion
Sensation and Perception
Psychological Disorders
Brain issues
Drug/alcohol use
Others (Psych-related)
Statement/belief/opinion
Melvin shows signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder. (from the film As
Good As It Gets )
Ben demonstrates an addiction to alcohol. (from the film
Leaving Las Vegas )
Evidence from movie
Melvin demonstrates several behaviors associated with
OCD. For example, he washes his hands with scalding water twice, and uses new bars of soap between washings. He walks down the sidewalk avoiding the cracks and any human contact. He locks and unlocks the door five times, and then turns the light on and off five times. He taps his toes on each side of the floor before he places his feet in his slippers.
We first meet Ben as he is shopping in the liquor store. He has a full cart of liquor bottles. He drinks while he drives.
He appears to drink early in the morning (when the bartender suggests that he should be drinking coffee). His behavior shows impaired judgment. He is socially inappropriate with the woman at the bar, and the woman at the bank. He spends time with the prostitute and has his wedding ring stolen because of his alcohol impairment. He has been fired from his job due to his drinking. Throughout the movie, Ben shakes violently until he gets alcohol in his system.
Connection to class
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts that seem to bother a person even when the person doesn't want them to. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors designed to reduce the obsessive thinking.
When Melvin washes his hands, it seems he might be getting rid of a fear of germs. The second washing is just extra security.
Melvin's behavior with the locks and lights probably reduce his concern over some negative consequence, so they get strengthened through negative reinforcement.
The diagnostic definition of addiction involves tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is described as an ability to handle more and more of a substance before being similarly affected. Ben's ability to handle alcohol and still function is an example of his increased tolerance. Ben also experiences violent withdrawal.
He experiences delerium tremons, which is the physical response to the absence of the drug. Ben also meets other diagnostic criteria such as social penalties. He loses his job and his family (we assume). He also meets the diagnostic requirement of spending time acquiring and using the substance.

Your work should be descriptive and illustrative, but not necessarily exhaustive. Your assignment is to fill in the chart below. There is limited space, so keep your writing small and legible. Incomplete development and paper brevity may cost you points off of your grade.
Remember: the task of the assignment is to connect the material, not to summarize the movie!
***I would suggest that you take notes during the movie.***
Statement/belief/opinion Evidence from movie Connection to class
Statement #1
Statement #2
Statement #3

Statement #4
Statement #5
Statement #6
Statement #7