Patch Adams and the Theory of Dysorganization essays

Patch Adams and the Theory of Dysorganization essays Karl Menninger, one of Americas most distinguished psychiatrists, developed a system to effectively categorize and analyze the various mental states of the human mind. Menningers Theory of Dysorganization reveals that there are different levels of deviation in terms of mental awareness that can be used to classify various individuals. The first level of Menningers theory is the state of being nervous. Neurosis and displays of aggressive impulses follow respectively. The final and most severe mental state is known as psychosis. Tom Shadyacs renowned film, Patch Adams, provides effective examples of individuals who can be positioned in each of Menningers four categories of dysorganization. Karl Menninger stated that the average person is nervous approximately 10% of his or her life. Nervousness is marked by having a feeling of unease or apprehension. In Patch Adams both Carin Fisher and Dean Walcott displayed traces of nervousness. Carin suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Throughout the movie she was nervous about having a relationship with a man because she was sexually abused in the past. Initially, Miss. Fisher pushed Patch Adams away because she was afraid of being abused again. Dean Walcott was nervous about having a friendly relationship with his patients. Mr. Walcott maintained a strictly professional relationship with his parents at all times. He insisted that his duty was to cure patients, not develop emotional attachments. Dean Walcott claimed that establishing a relationship with his inferior patients mocked and violated the practice of medicine. The second level in the Theory of Dysorganization is neurotic behavior. Neurosis is characterized as any of various mental or emotional disorders arising from no apparent organic lesion or change and involving symptoms such as insecurity, anxiety and depression but without psychotic symptoms. Rudy displayed traces of neuro...