So I finished that batman essay-
2 things, turns out I read the thing wrong and its not like 10 pages I have to write, it was 10 sources I needed to have, I complained about it to my friend and they told me I read it wrong.... And the second thing is I'm not even sure If I'm allowed to post it cause technically the collage board owns it- But like from what I've read, I'm allowed to post it after the deadline, which was april 30th, so it's been like 2 day... so it should be fine- Anyway here it is.
The Effects of Media on Mental Health
RQ: How do depictions of loneliness and mental illness in the media affect the way people perceive the topics in their personal lives?
Individual Written Argument
Around 20–25% of the population experiences some form of mental or neuropsychiatric disorder, yet less than half receive the help they need (Hawley, 2016). With nearly ¼ of the population having a diagnosis of some form of mental illness, it is important to see the influence that the media has by its depiction of mental illness. With most modern media trying to be more inclusive, it often means that they build characters up in different ways to try and make them more relatable. However, if the things they try to portray are inaccurate, it can have a negative effect on the way people perceive them. As well as if things are ‘popularized’ or ‘romanticized’ illnesses and mental disorders such as depression, PTSD, and Anxiety, it could cause certain attributes of those mental disorders to be seen as just regular things. With new generations growing up online and more information being easily accessible, it is important to portray these topics as realistic as possible. Even more so, after the recent events in the world which has caused more people to feel lonely and more to become diagnosed with things such as anxiety. With studies such as the ones conducted by the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States, it can show us how being lonely affects the people who experience it. They state that being lonely could be one of the worst things to allow a person to feel, causing health problems while stating, “increased levels of social connection can improve various biomarkers of cardiovascular functioning, including blood pressure, cardiovascular reactivity, and oxidative stress“ ( Office of the Surgeon General of the United States 2023). So having a place you can go, and a community is important for people to have. Community can come in any shape or place with source A’s community being a coffee shop with the source stating how “The activity of visiting a coffee shop through repeated practices, interactions and interventions can create a sense of belonging and a ‘public familiarity’” (Blokland, 2017). With belonging being very important when you are struggling with mental illness, since it allows the person to have a faster recovery when they are supported. This topic is important to know about because it can affect many people and you will not realize it. By examining media through artistic, social, and psychological lenses, we can better understand its impact. This brings up the question of how depictions of loneliness and mental illness in media affect the way people perceive the topics in their personal lives. With so much representation now, it is important to see the way it affects people.
From an artistic perspective, creators shape how mental illness is presented through characters and storytelling. While many writers try to make characters more relatable, these portrayals are not always accurate. For example, Harvey Dent (Two-Face) is often associated with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), but his violent and unstable behavior exaggerates the condition for dramatic effect. These creative choices may make stories more engaging, but they can distort reality and misinform audiences about what mental illness actually looks like. Wahl states “Direct stigma can be harmful… persons with mental illness may also be impacted by indirect stigma”. When people develop a mental illness, their own ideas and beliefs about mental illness may dramatically influence their recovery. When examining public conceptions of mental illness, it has been noted that media is influenced by the times and attitudes from which it was created. The community in which an artist is in can contribute to the way they write characters. When the character Batman™ was created in 1939, it was a time when hope was needed with it being just after the great depression but the beginning of world war II. They needed characters that not only helped inspire the people, but also teach them that not everything was as bad as it seemed, with one expert stating “The Great Depression called for heroes who could set an example by showing how to solve the biggest problems in times of crisis and, thus, demonstrate how to cope with individual difficult situations.” (Reichstein 1998). Meanwhile films play a major role in shaping how society views the world, highlighting both positive and negative aspects of life while also providing entertainment and emotional connection. For example, movies like The Batman present a world that is different from our own but still relatable. As S. Reghintovschi states, “Batman’s history reflects our history for many decades,” despite how things in the world of Batman are exaggerated, people can still make a connection with the media and relate to the way things are portrayed.
Through a social lens, media influences how people treat and perceive others with mental illness. When audiences repeatedly see harmful stereotypes, they may begin to associate those traits with real people. For instance, portrayals like Harvey Dent can lead to the belief that individuals with DID are dangerous or unpredictable. These first impressions can persist, shaping biases and reinforcing stigma. Consequently, people with mental illnesses may feel judged or misunderstood in their everyday lives. Media strongly shapes how people understand mental illness, and research shows some negative effects. Perry et al. found that many people do not view adult depression as serious, suggesting a lack of public understanding. This can be linked to how depression is often minimized or oversimplified in media, making it seem like something people should just “get over” rather than a serious condition that affects daily life, relationships, and wellbeing. At the same time, Morrison notes that the media often links psychiatric disorders to villainous characters, creating harmful associations between mental illness and danger. Together, these portrayals can distort public understanding by making mental illness seem either trivial or threatening, which reinforces stigma and can discourage people from seeking help. In a study done by Rosenfeld, he found out that “To change, to receive help, implies weakness and is experienced as wrong or as a failure by the destructive narcissistic organization which provides the patient with his sense of superiority”. In this study, he looked at many different people who were diagnosed with a mental illness. They were all from different backgrounds and came from different places, but the one common thing that he found was that the people saw getting treatment as a personal failing. They saw that them getting help was a sign of weakness and often tried to refuse service that could have helped them. When Rosenfeld looked deeper, he had seen that these people also had a predetermined narrative when it came to people with mental disorders. Often seeing them as either over-dramatic or weak, making people less inclined to get the help they need.
From a psychological perspective, media impacts how people understand their own experiences with mental illness and loneliness. Research shows that loneliness can have serious effects on mental and physical health, influencing brain function and emotional well-being. Characters like Batman reflect this, as Bruce Wayne experiences deep isolation after his parents’ death. His story shows both the lasting impact of trauma and the possibility of resilience. However, the media can sometimes oversimplify these struggles, making recovery seem easier than it is, which may create unrealistic expectations for those experiencing similar issues. At the same time, the media often exaggerates or misrepresents mental illness in other ways. As Morrison points out, characters in popular media—like villains—are frequently labeled with psychiatric disorders. This can create harmful associations between mental illness and danger or instability. These harmful associations are also known as stereotyping, and as defined by the oxford dictionary, stereotyping is when ‘beliefs or judgements about people based on fixed ideas about them which are often not true’. Some stereotypes that have come from the media are that everyone with psychiatric disorders are dangerous, which can cause people to fear those with the disorders. These harmful stereotypes can come from simply making a villain ‘insane’. An example of this is the character Professor Pyg, another one of Batman’s rogues, who is portrayed as a psychopath who physically alters his victims. While another stereotype is that you can always tell when someone is mentally ill, this usually stems from the previous stereotype, since most people assume that they would all act that way. Either way, both stereotypes are harmful to the people who have these diagnoses, not only because it makes them less inclined to seek help, but also because it can cause others to dismiss their struggles if they do not fit those visible stereotypes.
By looking at media through artistic, social, and psychological lenses, it becomes clear that representation has a powerful impact. The way mental illness and loneliness are portrayed can shape how people understand these experiences, how they treat others, and even how they view themselves. Inaccurate or exaggerated depictions can reinforce harmful stereotypes, discourage people from seeking help, and create unrealistic expectations about recovery. On the other hand, thoughtful and accurate representation can promote understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage support. Ultimately, these portrayals influence not only how society views mental illness, but also how individuals respond to it in their own lives. Because of this, it is important for media creators and audiences alike to be more aware of how these topics are presented and interpreted.
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