The Pharmacotherapy Is the use of cinema as a way to complement psychological therapy, including viewing movies, scenes or short films and their subsequent analysis as homework or in the professional's own consultation.
It is used as a medium or tool more that can help the person among other things to reflect on different aspects of life.
Psychology and cinema come together in the Pharmacotherapy , In fact both were born almost at the same time, at the end of century XIX. The origin of psychology as a discipline appears in 1879 when the physiologist, philosopher and psychologist Wilhelm Wundt Creates in Germany the first laboratory of experimental psychology.
And on the other hand the beginning of the cinema is considered that happened in December of 1895 when the Lumière brothers Create in their laboratory a series of projected images. This link continues in the later years in which both psychology and cinema are consolidated.
The Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov Presented in Madrid in 1904 his theory on conditioned reflexes and it is at this same time when Alfred Binet Builds in its cabinet the first tests to measure the intelligence . While all this happened the prestidigitator Georges Méliès mounted in Paris a recording studio where he creates films like Travel to the moon , Which leads him to consider him the forerunner of science fiction film.
This link has continued to be maintained over the years, since there is a close relationship between the two. Psychology is part of different phases of the process of creating a film, for example, in the development of the personality And characteristics of the characters, in the creation of the script or in the actors' own interpretation.
On the other hand, many films have been made that have had and have as their main subject the psychology, the role of the psychologist, the therapeutic process or mental disorders.
In 1947 Dr. Gary Solomon had already discovered the benefits of cinema in the therapeutic process and used movies as a way to reach the subconscious of people.
The beginnings: cinetherapy
It was in 1998 that Hesley and Hesley began to use terms like video-work or cinema therapy (cinematherapy in English) and popularized with their book Rent a couple of movies and see you tomorrow .
They propose to the patient the viewing of films or scenes that they consider appropriate for each case in order that the person can feel identified or recognize some aspect of itself and that leads to a later reflection.
Instead of other activities or tools they prescribe this activity as a homework assignment because they believe it serves to reinforce and accelerate the effectiveness of the therapeutic process.
In addition, they argue that the use of cinema in therapy has several advantages over other tools, for example, that it is easy to access, it is familiar and it is also an activity that most people consider pleasurable.
According to these authors, some of the aspects contributed by the use of this strategy are that it provides models to follow, helps to reformulate the problems, reinforces or extinguishes a certain behavior or improve communication . Other therapists like Ulus (2003) routinely include films as resources for group therapies.
The ability of cinema to generate positive behaviors
On the other hand, Mangin (1999) points out that if films can generate negative behaviors (for example inducing violence), their good use will have the capacity to generate the opposite effect and develop positive behaviors.
This same author indicates that the impact of films occurs more emotionally than intellectually. Another advantage is that it allows for the indirect treatment of issues that are difficult to address directly, such as substance abuse.
In the year 2004 Lampropoulos, Kazantzi and Deane conducted a survey in the United States on the use of cinema in therapy to 827 psychologists and psychiatrists. 67% indicated that they used cinema as a habitual resource in the treatment of their patients. In addition, 88% of the interviewees considered that the use of this tool was beneficial for the therapy because it contributes to the effectiveness of the same. Only 1% responded that using film could be harmful to the therapeutic process.
Therefore, it is easy to attribute intentions, desires and similarities to the characters we see in the films, whether human or animated. On the other hand, numerous studies on the personality investigate the possible effect of the mass media (especially the cinema) in the elaboration of the identity of the individuals (McAdams 1995).
In recent years experiments and research have been conducted that generally conclude that a film can connect meaningfully with a person, can reflect aspects of their lives, values, emotions, experiences, situations that sometimes can not or can not express In his own words.
Talking about a movie can provide the freedom to express opinions, debate and express opinions through the characters and situations that appear in it.
Benefits of pharmacotherapy
Here are some of the main benefits of using film in the therapeutic process as well as in other contexts or aspects of general life.
1- Reflect on vital situations
The cinema helps us to reflect on situations that are part of life and that can be difficult to address, such as mourning, mistreatment or illness. It opens a door to reflection, learning and a possible debate in which everyone can contribute their experience or analysis.
2. Important role in socialization
Cinema plays a fundamental role in the processes of socialization. It transmits values and models of reference, often the actors themselves with their behaviors and attitudes serve as models. In addition it has a great capacity of diffusion by the capacity to reach practically the whole population.
3- It's entertaining
It is a very usual mode of entertainment. In many cases watching a movie is a way to disconnect from everyday life, to get into the skin of another person, or travel to other places. It is a way to get away for a few minutes from the problems of the day to day that allows us to relax and enjoy a time of mental rest.
4- It serves to become aware of strengths or values
It serves as a means to make one's own strengths or values conscious. The viewer can feel identified with one of the characters or with the situations reflected in the film. This can help the person develop internal motivation or use personal resources that he or she would not have thought to possess.
5- We expose ourselves to our fears
Many movies expose us to our fears or fears. Although we find it unpleasant and even sometimes painful is the appropriate way to begin to overcome them. It helps us understand the origin of that fear, how it occurs or even strategies to deal with it.
6- Spread the use of Psychology
To know the mental disorders through the cinema and to spread the use of the psychology. In many movies, symptoms, characteristics and consequences of mental pathologies appear.
On the other hand, many actors and actresses have played the role of psychologists and therapists in the films. In some the profession is clearly mentioned, in others only scenes appear in a consultation or a small part of the treatment. Sometimes what appears in the film has little to do with reality but in any case it serves to spread and bring the profession to the public.
7- Promotes the expression of emotions
Cinema encourages the expression of emotions. During the viewing of a movie the viewer can go through feelings as varied as surprise, anguish, fear, frustration or sadness in a few minutes. The expression of these emotions alleviates us and makes us to be in contact with the most intimate of our being.
8- Effective in group therapies and therapeutic communities
Viewing movies or scenes has proven to be highly effective in group therapies and therapeutic communities. In the treatment of drug addiction is usually used in a usual way.
After watching the film, a debate is established for the reflection of what has happened in the same one, being easier to approach the subject speaking of the person than of itself.
It is also increasingly common to use cinema as a form of prevention. It teaches, warns and is aware of the possible consequences of a particular behavior or situation. It is often used to prevent problems such as gender-based violence, Eating disorder waves Drug addiction .
9- It is a didactic means
The use of films as didactic means is very habitual. It is a resource that is very attractive to students and helps to awaken their interest in different subjects. Using it and then having a common debate or reflection can help to internalize issues as important as social values, or appropriate coexistence behaviors.
10- It is a way to feel identified
The viewer can feel identified with any of the characters because they go through a process similar to yours. In this way different points of view can appear before the same conflict, learn alternatives of action that would not have arisen or take distance from the problem when seeing it from outside.
Help to Be more creative And flexible making use of the imagination to look for different options. In short, discover that other people may be going through the same problem and the different ways that exist to solve it.
11- Improve motivation
Watching a movie in which the protagonist strives and strives to achieve his goals or goals can be a good motivation to decide to do the same. Sometimes the force of what it transmits is so powerful that it generates in the person a motivation of change.
You can see in that protagonist a model to follow or realize the beautiful aspects of life, value the small details or pleasures of the day to day or start living in a more conscious way. It can help you find options that have not been shuffled and even change the course of life.
12- The films offer hope
Many movies offer us hope. They teach us that life is complicated but that it is always possible to start over. They also show us people who are going through a very difficult vital moment and how they overcome it, which instills a sense of value and wellness .
13- Contributes to the development of empathy
In many cases we do not understand how a person acts or how to behave in a situation. The movies teach us that there are so many ways to act as people, and that each has a determined motive to do it, whether we share or not.
Understanding this helps us to be more empathetic, to put ourselves in the skin of the other and to be able to understand things like why someone has Made a decision Which we did not understand at first.
14- Dosage of humor and laughter
Different studies have shown the Benefits of laughter Both physically and mentally. It is also proven that watching a comedy accompanied by other people produces more pleasure and gives us more"laughter"than if we do it alone.
15- Improve social relations
Going to the movies or watching a movie with other people helps us share time and space with friends and family. In addition they usually generate diverse points of view and different conclusions or analysis, which contributes to the communication and socialization with other people.
16- Movies help expand our knowledge
Movies serve as an information medium. They teach us countries, customs, cultures different from our own or historical events that otherwise we would not have known.
And what other benefits of pharmacotherapy do you know?
References
- Ulus, F. (2003) Movie therapy, movie therapy! , Canada. Trafford Publishing.
- Hesley, J.W., Hesley, J.G. (2001). Rent Two Films and Let's Talk in the Morning: Using Popular Movies in Psychotherapy. New York: John Wiley & Sons
- Mangin, D. (1999). Cinema therapy: How some shrinks are using movies to help their clients cope with life and just feel better. Health and Body.
- Lampropoulos, G., Kazantzi, N., Deane, F. (2004) Psychologists' Use of Motion Pictures in Clinical Practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. American Psychological Association 2004, Vol. 3
- García-Martínez, J. And Moreno-Mora, D. (2011) Working with films in psychotherapy. Sevilla University. Journal of Psychotherapy.
- Clyman, J. (2013) Cinematherapy: A useful tool in group therapy. Psychology today.
- Berg-Cross, L., Jennings, P., & Baruch, R. (1990). Cinematherapy: Theoryand application. Psychotherapy in Private Practice, 8
- Solomon, G. (1995). The Motion Picture Prescription. Santa Rosa, CA: Aslan Publishing
- Image source