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1. The film that I chose, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, really spoke to me about the issue of social deviance being categorized as mental illness. We all know someone who is “just a bit different” and can be disruptive or inflammatory. The question then becomes: “What constitutes mental illness?” Why are today’s jails so filled with people who need mental health assistance? Is criminal behavior a by-product of mental disease? Conversely, is mental disease the result of incarceration stress?
2. One of the other main themes in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is power and control. Over the last several weeks we have talked about asylums and the abuse of mentally ill patients. When does exercising control for the good of the patient and facility transition into abuse? Mental patients have been abused for centuries. Do you think we will ever reach a global humanitarian mindset that is more sympathetic and protective of the mentally ill? Even if the mentally ill person is combative or dangerous?
Submitted by Bonnie Akkerman I pledge…