Beautiful Mind

Movie Reflection Paper
“ A Beautiful Mind”
A Beautiful Mind is the real-life story of a brilliant mathematician John Nash, a
man suffering with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects
one’s thoughts and behaviors. Symptoms of this psychiatric disorder include a series of
hallucinations, many of which are quite vivid, excessive, and often easily merge into
one’s reality (Saha, 2017). This movie aims to shed light on the concept of mental illness
by bringing awareness of the disorder to its viewers. In fact, this movie does a generally
good job portraying possible symptoms that come with the disorder and exploring the
stigma behind Schizophrenia.
While navigating the normal course of life, Nash is diagnosed with paranoid
Schizophrenia, a mental disorder that causes a series of splits from reality and paranoia.
Particularly, Nash started having auditory and visual hallucinations. He also had
delusions that he had been hired as a code breaker by a government agency. He thought
his “job” was to work against the clock, trying to gain information about plans of a
potential attack on the United States. This obsession with code cracking began to take
over Nash’s everyday life. Soon after, Nash’s wife, Alicia sought treatment for him
including various medications and therapies. However, these medications had adverse
side effects, causing Nash unable to work, which was something extremely important to
him. Eventually, Nash came to face these delusions such as his made-up roommate
Charles, Parcher, the government official that recruited Nash, and Charles’ niece,
Marcee) and becomes consciously aware that they are not real, but would have to live
with them for the rest of his life.
People who are affected by Schizophrenia have a difficult time dealing with and
expressing their emotions, and they are unable to manage interpersonal relationships.
Throughout the movie, Nash is seen battling with his emotions and does not always know
how to express them, like when attempting to pick up a woman in a bar, Nash blatantly
says to her “What do I have to say to you to get you to have intercourse with me?” Many
men have this sexual urge, however, it is known that in hopes of achieving their desired
result, one must manage how they act in certain social situations. Nash, on the other
hand, lacks this social and emotional awareness, completely unaware of his inability to
express how he feels and expect it to go well.
This lack of emotional intelligence that comes with Schizophrenia also plays a big
role in the stigma that comes with the illness. Thibodeau and Principino (2018) found that
people would sit a farther distance away from someone who was said to have
Schizophrenia compared to someone who had a physical illness like Type 1 Diabetes.
This stigma is visible throughout the movie, such as when John has a delusion on the
campus of the University where he teaches. People look around with disgusted and
obnoxious looks on their faces as Nash walks around in circles, seeming to be talking to
himself. Nobody steps up to help him and many people begin to walk the other way,
avoiding interaction with someone who is “crazy.”
This stigma around Schizophrenia goes hand-in-hand with many misconceptions
and stereotypes regarding it. People who are unfamiliar with the disorder themselves
often mistakenly link Schizophrenia to multiple personality disorder (Lampropoulos,

Wolman, & Apostolidis, 2017). Schizophrenia is not a split in personality, but instead
involves frequent splits in reality. Nash does not have multiple personalities; he is always
incredibly analytical, driven, and compassionate. In fact, the caring person is still present
within Nash, but he struggles with his awareness of reality, making it difficult to do
“compassionate” things the right way. Nash’s driven personality continues to shine, and
he achieves greatness despite of his illness.
The movie effectively expressed the idea that Schizophrenia is something that can
be overcome and that one’s life does not end simply because they are diagnosed with the
illness. Many cognitive functions are unaffected by the illness, such as learning through
experience, memory, and declarative verbal information (Kern, Hartzell, Izaguirre, &
Hamilton, 2010). This is extremely crucial for anyone suffering from Schizophrenia
because it gives them hope. People diagnosed with Schizophrenia often feel that they
cannot be helped or will never be able to live a “normal” life again but we can see that
the movie attempts to combat this helplessness. Because this was based on a true story,
the fact that Nash was able to accomplish so much resonates with people who are
struggling psychologically.
I can say that this movie is an excellent example of how “A Beautiful Mind” can
be afflicted by a devastating illness. Schizophrenia may strike anyone, and although it is
not curable, it is a treatable disorder that can be managed effectively through medication,
therapy, and boundless care and support from family and society. Nash’s story is
remarkable. He is one of the few people with schizophrenia who have made such a
turnaround. Most people with the disorder suffer with delusions, hear voices and lead
impaired lives. Mr. Nash is a fortunate man to have a caring and supportive network of
family, friends and colleagues who have stood with him during his most tormenting years
thereby allowing him to live a functioning and worthwhile life.
“For most people suffering from schizophrenia, the miracle, and the tragedy, exist side
by side, in the constant struggle to make it through the day” (Halbfinger, 2002).

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Movie Reflection Paper

A Beautiful Mind is the real-life story of a brilliant mathematician John Nash, a

stigma behind Schizophrenia.

with them for the rest of his life.

express how he feels and expect it to go well.

avoiding interaction with someone who is “crazy.”

This stigma around Schizophrenia goes hand-in-hand with many misconceptions

often mistakenly link Schizophrenia to multiple personality disorder (Lampropoulos,

he achieves greatness despite of his illness.

be afflicted by a devastating illness. Schizophrenia may strike anyone, and although it is

thereby allowing him to live a functioning and worthwhile life.

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