In the movie "The Shawshank Redemption," written and directed in 1994, Andy Dufresne, a banker, is imprisoned for two consecutive life terms at Shawshank State Penitentiary. Andy is wrongly convicted for the killings of his wife and her lover despite his concerted efforts to prove his innocence (Grine, 2017). A failed marriage, the death of a spouse, wrongful conviction, and the imminent problematic life in maximum prison all will have a psychological impact on Dufresne. Before his misfortunes, Dufresne was a successful career banker and a vice president of a major bank. The Shawshank prison is a rehabilitation institution infamous for its excessive brutality on inmates from both the officials and other inmates (Grine, 2017). Despite the hardships that he faces, Dufresne exudes hope and humanness, as evidenced by the vibrant social ties and progressive library program he establishes. The film illuminates the journey of Dufresne as he attempts to reshape his self-identity, a path along which he develops multiple personality disorder (MPD), all of which are factors of a need to regain his freedom.
Background of Andy Dufresne
The life of Andy Dufresne hits a snag when he is sentenced to life in prison for the double murder of Linda Dufresne and her love Glenn Quentin, crimes he did not commit. Dufresne and his wife had been married for twenty years she began an illicit affair with her golf instructor, Quentin. . Out of anger and anxiety, Dufresne plans to confront the two lovers in a hotel, but he has no apparent intention of murdering the two. When the two Linda and Quentin are killed, the crime is pinned on Dufresne (Grine, 2017). According to Nadler and Mueller (2017), psychological science is crucial in explaining the motivations behind human behaviors. In prison, Dufresne assumes a double identity where one side he has Red, a shrewd prisoner cum smuggler who is responsible for all the contraband in prison. On the other hand, he appears to appease the administration such that the warden gives him accounting tax. He also manages to secure insurance money and establishes a library within the confines of the prison. Dufresne appears to have an identity crisis.
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Through Red, Dufresne acquires a rock hammer and a Rita Hayworth poster, which are instrumental in his escape. He uses the socialization aspect of social psychology to adapt, plan, and conceal his intentions. His mental, physical, and social skills are instrumental in creating a double identity. A person like Dufresne is driven by his personality issues and not circumstances in the outside world (Berry & Frederickson, 2015). Amid all his challenges, he manages to exude a considerable level of mental strength, which conflicts with psychological problems evidenced by MPD. The arrival of Tommy Williams, a fellow prisoner, gives Dufresne a lifeline. Williams discloses to Dufresne that he knows who murdered Linda and Quentin. However, Norton, the corrupt prison warden, ignores his request for retrial and subsequently places him in solitary confinement, which amplifies his gangster image. After leaving solitary, Dufresne escalates his plans to escape, and he eventually breaks away into freedom
Data Collection Methods
The type of diagnostic data collection method has essential effects on the diagnosis process. The primary source of data for this diagnostic process is the film, while journal articles and other academic material comprise of secondary sources of data. For this process, the methods used in data collection are observation and unobtrusive technique. Observation as a method of data collection was actualized through viewing and reviewing the movie while noting critical instances with psychological undertones. From the film, one notes the systematic development of Dufresne as a character with key events denoting changes in his emotional disposition (“ Chapter 7 Data Gathering”, n.p ). In this case, observation assumed a detached approach since one could not directly interact with the subject person.
The use of observation ensured that the data collected was free of biases characteristic of self-reported data. In viewing the film in person, one can directly decode the comportments in question without having to depend on the opinions of others. In this method, one required to attach meaning to the observations made, which could be compromised by biases. Unlike the observation technique, in the unobtrusive approach, one does not engage directly with the primary source of data but secondary sources of data (“ Chapter 7 Data Gathering”, n.p ). In Dufresne's case, journal and other academic materials were queried for any information that would indicate any psychological issue.
Diagnosis
In the film, Dufresne seems to have identity crises that he attempts to rectify through having a double personality. Dufresne shrewdly aims to use his double-edged character to secure his freedom by escaping. The hardships he faces immediately after the death of his wife and her lover crushes his once respectable identity as a banker. The impacts of wrongful convictions are severe, with a subject being perceived as a weakling in society (Tam, 2015). The reality of his new environment means that he has to redefine his identity into a double-faced profile. According to Wright (2014), performative spaces through the fluidity of roles and responsibilities aid prisoners to exercise their freedom and reshape their identities. In prison, Dufresne works with Red to smuggle commodities such as cigarettes and alcohol, which allows him to have a new identity as a member of an inside criminal gang ( Dirks, n.d ). Also, he works with the warden and his administration, where he helps him evade tax, thus winning favors that are not easy to come by in such an institution.
The need to assume different roles by Dufresne is triggered by the trauma that he has experienced in the rigorous legal process and the hardships of Shawshank prison. Huntjens, Rijkeboer, and Arntz (2019) note that there is a strong association between trauma and several psychological disorders such as MPD. According to Huntjens et al., MPD mostly arises from the disruption of identity and is often defined by two or more personality states. The social performative spaces that Dufresne establishes when in prison aid in laying a foundation for his different identities. It is these spaces that he intends to use to heal the disruption to his identity, which had marked disjointedness in his perception of self. According to Tam (2015), the experiences of wrongful incarceration can be placed into two groups. The two categories are the psychological and social harm and the impacts of maintaining innocence. The different personalities and roles that Dufresne assumes serve as a cushion against the destructive psychological shock. The desire to be free captured in his famous line, "Get busy living or get busy dying," defines his need to reshape his defaced identity.
Related Psychosocial and Family Issues
The top three reasons for incarcerating persons in prison are punishing an offender, restriction, and reintegration. All these goals embrace psychosocial well-being in their endeavors. The grievousness of his perceived crimes influenced the choice to place Dufresne in Shawshank prison. Regardless of the modifiability of a prisoner's individual features and the weightiness of their psychosocial profiles, it is the nature of their offense that is the primary determinant of the kind of prison they will be placed (Abiola, Armiyau, Adepoju & Udofia, 2017). After placement, the prisoner needs to readjust based on their psychosocial wellness and the degree of the prison’s indigenous deprivation. Amid the harshness of the prison’s environment, Dufresne portrays a profound level of resilience. Initially, the affair that Linda had with Quentin destabilized Dufresne’s psychosocial bearing. According to Ramrakha et al. (2013), promiscuity has an impact on the mental health of the innocent partner, with anxiety being one of the predominant problems that arise. Red's social group offers him a support system that helps him accept eventualities of a failed marriage, dead partner, and wrongful conviction. Also, Dufresne exudes hope that he will regain his freedom, which is a pointer that he is a spiritual person. Resilience and spirituality, coupled with the multiple identities, enable Dufresne to cope and plan his escape from confinement.
Related Career and Vocational Issue
Dufresne had a remarkable career as a banker and the vice president of a major bank in the country. In the film, there are no indicators that he had issues with his careers, but it appears that his career had adversely affected his marriage. In the prelude, before the movie begins, a car radio plays the romantic song: "If I Didn't Care" by the Inkspots ( Dirks, n.d ). The choice of the words in the song attempts to absolve Dufresne of any omission in his marriage. The song's words, "If I didn't care, would I feel this way. If this is not love, then why would I thrill" tell of a person who thought that he had his love life well-cushioned, but now anxiety is taking a toll on him ( Dirks, n.d ). While in the car, Dufresne had to rely on alcohol to calm his nerves. Linda's unfaithfulness is the bedrock on which the film's plot unfolds, with the focus shifting entirely on Dufresne.
Proposed Treatment and Intervention Options
As mentioned above, Dufresne has MPD evidenced by his double-edged identities. The goal of treating this psychological condition is to enable the victim to reconnect the different identities into a single integrated and well-functioning personality. Treatment targets at helping an individual internalize painful experiences, develop new constructive coping and life skills, thus restoring optimal functionality. For Dufresne's case, two treatment options are recommended: psychodynamic psychotherapy and meditation and relaxation techniques. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is the commonly used treatment approach for MPD. According to Huntjens, Rijkeboer, and Arntz (2019), psychotherapy should be delivered in a sequence of three stages. The first phase regards the stabilization of symptoms, which is followed by the confrontation of traumatic memories. The last phase of this treatment is the integration and rehabilitation of the identity. Psychotherapy treatment is based on the tenet of compartmentalized personalities. The aim is to bring an enhanced degree of unified functioning among the various identity paths an individual assumes.
Meditation and relaxation programs are known to reduce the adverse implications of psychological trauma. Mindfulness programs such as yoga have a significant impact on patients with psychological disorders such as anxiety. Meditation programs seek to enhance the positive, constructive dimensions of mental health (Goyal et al., 2014). Therefore, regarding Dufresne, the prison administration could provide him with a facility where he can meditate and relax. Therapists assigned to such a patient have the responsibility of explaining to them the benefits of engaging in regular meditation and relaxation activities.
Continuing Assessment and Follow-up
The patient must be placed under continuous assessment, and a follow-up program developed and implemented. A patient with MPD can easily relapse into more severe psychological disorders. Dufresne is a victim of trauma from the events that led to his wrongful incarceration, and consequently, they can assign trauma-related labels to the staff assigned to treat his condition. It is, therefore, that those tasked with managing his condition undertake regular assessments to determine his recovery process. It will also prevent any probable relapse since they will be able to address any triggering factor in time. After the patient shows significant signs of recovery, the therapist must also follow up on him. For instance, getting the patient to contract for safety is critical for every follow-up program. Those tasked with his treatment must emphasize on the assurance that the patient attempts adheres to the given instructions. Primarily, nurses play a critical role in ongoing observations and evaluations. The staff should observe the stressors that result in given triggers and their associated functions, which is an essential addition to psychotherapy sessions.
Potential Legal and Ethical Issues
Standards of care in prisons, such as confidentiality, should strive to be similar to those in the free community. Confidentiality can be breached when an inmate is at risk of serious harm to themselves or others. In Dufresne's case, he does not pose any significant risk to his fellow inmates. Nevertheless, since he had crucial information on fraud that could compromise the administration, they could use his mental health results to blackmail him. Also, if the warden knew of his escape before, he could disclose this information, thus breaching confidentiality. The security needs of prisons impact mental health care in various ways. Fundamentally, inmates are of primary concern for correctional departments. Therefore confidentiality must be weighed against the needs of a facility such as safety. Ethics in prison involves rules of confidentiality, which are variably different from those open society; however, some situations in a correctional facility that require broader limits on confidentiality ( Lamont-Mills, Christensen & Moses, 2018 ). For example, where security and treatment needs are involved ambiguities and ethical concerns may arise. For example, if in the process of treatment, Dufresne disclosed that he was drilling a hole in the wall for escape, therapists might have a dilemma of reporting the impeding security breach or maintaining patient's confidentiality.
Conclusion
In the movie "The Shawshank Redemption," Andy Dufresne exhibits signs of multiple personality disorder (MPD), which arises from the trauma from the death of his wife, wrongful conviction, and hardships of prison life. Previously, Dufresne was a celebrated career banker and vice president of a major bank. Before his predicaments, one can say that he had established a respectable self-identity that crumbled after being imprisoned. In prison, Dufresne assumes a double-faced personality where, on one side, he befriends the leader of a notorious gang in the facility while on the other, he is in the administration's good books. The shock that results from the damaging events gives Dufresne psychological trauma. Both Dufresne's career and family have had an impact on his predicaments and, thus, his psychological disorder. Dufresne MPD can be treated using two approaches, which include psychodynamic psychotherapy and meditation and relaxation methods. In treating such a condition in a prisoner, a therapist must consider the ethical and legal implications of the involved processes. The two essential aspects to consider are the prisoner's confidentiality and security implication on the institution.
References
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