Psychology’s Role in Solving Social Problems and Treating Mental Illnesses

Psychology’s Role in Solving Social Problems and Treating Mental Illnesses

Introduction

Systematic thinking has helped to understand people’s way of thinking as well as assist them in solving many social problems that they face. Psychology has been in so many ways used to treat many mental illnesses. Psychiatrists should therefore be open-minded so as to give therapeutic help to those who need their services. A family is considered as a system of interrelated parts which influence one another (Sigeman and Rider, 2008).

The role of an individual in a family or in a society therefore serves to influence their emotional status. Emotional distress is believed to result from the interaction of people in the family. When treating distressed patients it is required that the members of the family or those who matter most in the patient’s life be integrated or considered in the therapy (Carter & Mcolgrick, 1999).

Family therapy seeks to understand an individual’s behavior in the societal context. Families are governed by strict and unendorsed rules which theorists’ advise against being too easy or too hard on the family members (Toman, 1976). Therapy strives to change the entire+ family system and makes developments which are therefore better and long-lasting in the family. This paper will discuss the movie, Not Easily Broken and the intergenerational model as well as the main issue addressed in the movie.

The movie: Not Easily Broken

This film was released in 2009 and was directed by Duke Bill. The film was written by Bird Brian based on T.D. Jakes’ novel not easily broken published in 2006. The 99 minutes long movie stars Morris Chestnut (Dave), Taraji Henson (Clarice), Maeve Quinlan (Julie), Kevin Hart (Tree), Wood Harris (Gooden), Eddie Cibrian (Brock) the other characters in the plot are Bryson, Michelle, and Bishop Wilkes amongst others.

Clarice and Dave have been married for over ten years. Dave heads a construction firm that is rather small. Clarice is a successful career woman who deals with real estate agencies. Dave dreams of becoming a professional baseball player were shattered after he had a fateful accident in college. Clarice is too absorbed in her career that she forgets her wifely duties of fulfilling her husband’s needs especially that of becoming a father and starting a family with Clarice. Dave and Clarice are married, deeply in love and very relatable.

They deal with waves of disruptions, monotony and diverging goals. Their love is tested when Clarice is involved in a car accident makes the couple re-evaluate their relationships; it also shifts the bonds and almost leads to a break up. The accident grasp on Dave and Clarice as they have to adapt to a new way of interaction that is completely different to what they are used to. The financial constraints they face as well as the emotional disputes and physical difficulties impacts them so much that their love is jeopardized.

Mary the mother of Clarice moves in to help care for her. Mary’s meddling character results into a series of dramas, at one time she blames Dave for being responsible for Clarice’s fatal injury and crushed career. The help of Julie, a physical therapist is warmly embraced; Julie helps Clarice with her therapy. Bryson the son of Julie and other boys are trained by Dave in the little baseball league. Julie and Dave become very fond of each other; Julie offers him a lot of comfort and acceptance.

This makes Dave want a family of his own and a caring partner. The attention he receives from Julie makes them grow more and more apart from Clarice. Their marriage is on the verge of collapsing when they decide to face their situation. Dave realizes that it is Clarice he wants when he kisses Julie. They resolve their marriage issues and Dave finds out that Clarice is pregnant.

Their vows are therefore not easily broken as they fight for the love they have for each other and their marriage do not seem to crumble because many couples would do were they faced with such situations that threaten the happiness of a family.

I will be discussing the issue of meddling mothers in this paper. Mary is an example of such when she goes, to care for Clarice they are seen getting into fights as she constantly conflicts with Dave and Clarice. Clarice blames her for not having taught her on some important issues in life such as love and family matters. Mary is seen cheering Clarice on to be more of a career woman and she is devastated when the accident threatens her career.

She moves in to care for Clarice which is an act of care and love at a time when Dave and Clarice need more time alone to reflect on the best actions to take. According to Toman, (1978) Clarice and Dave are at the breaking point