By Daniel Christopher- Art in Tanzania Internships
Nowadays, films account for a significant portion of the media products consumed worldwide. Cinema is considered a means of individual and social transformation, contributing to the formation of the audience’s outlook, including their attitudes towards topical social issues. At the same time, the effectiveness of films’ impact remains an open question in psychological science, according to the empirical orientation of our approach to studying mass media influence.
Aside from having a few hours of fun with friends and family, watching films can also be a form of therapy. Apart from the obvious — escaping our own lives and problems for a short time, according to Birgit Wolz, PhD., MFT, who facilitates cinema therapy groups, said: “Cinema therapy can be a powerful catalyst for healing and growth for anybody open to learning how movies affect us and to watching certain films with conscious awareness. Cinema therapy enables us to harness the effects of imagery, plot, music, and other elements in films on our psyche, providing insight, inspiration, emotional release, relief, and natural change.
While cinema therapy is a “real thing” sometimes prescribed by therapists, it is often self-administered. Recognising that movies can influence our thoughts, emotions, and ultimately our approach to life’s challenges, watching them can make them invaluable. For example, if you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you might want to watch Clean and Sober or When a Man Loves a Woman. If you are coping with the serious illness or death of a loved one, one of the many movies dealing with these issues might be helpful.
THIS IS HOW WATCHING MOVIES CAN BE HELPFUL
Watching movies encourages emotional release. Those who often struggle to express their emotions may laugh or cry during a film. This release of emotions can have a cathartic effect, helping people become more comfortable expressing their feelings. This can be invaluable during counselling and in “real life.”
Sad films can make us happier. While this might seem counterintuitive, many of us can relate to it. After watching a particularly sad or distressing film, I feel thankful for my life and my “smaller” problems. The tragedies of others make us appreciate everything good in our lives more.
Watching movies can help us gain a deeper understanding of our lives. For thousands of years, knowledge and wisdom have been passed down through the medium of storytelling. Stories offer different perspectives, helping us understand and make sense of the world. And movies are stories.
As mentioned in the second paragraph of this post, movies provide a respite from whatever is bothering us. They transport us to a different time and place, allowing us to focus on the present moment for a brief moment. This gives our brains a much-needed rest from “the usual.”
Movies can bring us relief, even if they first stress us out. Watching something suspenseful releases cortisol (the stress hormone) in the brain, followed by dopamine, which produces feelings of pleasure.
Going out to a movie theatre is not for everyone. Some of us struggle with sensory issues or being in crowds. Others prefer to watch movies at home, on the couch, and in their pyjamas. The good news is that it doesn’t matter if you’re watching Netflix at home or sitting in a crowded theatre. The results are the same — watching movies is good for us.
Best advice for students
Baron and Byrne [10] suggest that one will empathise with the fictitious character as if they were the victim in real life. The fictitious character may be the role of a character in a film. Movies can have a positive effect; in other words, improving empathy is positive. Film therapy is a method that utilises film to have a positive impact on the patient.
Reference
Hampton, D. (2018, November 24). How Watching Movies Can Help Your Mental Health [Blog Post]. Retrieved from HTTPS ://www.thebestbrainpossible.com/movie-help-mental-health-therapy/
