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 forming 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 the study of 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 allows us to use the effect of imagery, plot, music, etc. in films on our psyche for insight, inspiration, emotional release or relief and natural change”.
While cinema therapy is a “real thing” sometimes prescribed by therapists, it is often self-administered. Knowing that movies can change how we think, feel, and ultimately deal with life’s ups and downs can make watching 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 ARE THE WAYS ON HOW WATCHING MOVIES CAN BE HELPFUL
Watching movies encourages emotional release. Those who often have trouble expressing emotions might laugh or cry during a film. This release of emotions can have a cathartic effect and help 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 cinema, I feel thankful for my life and my “smaller” problems. Others’ tragedies make us appreciate everything good in our lives more.
Watching movies can help us understand our lives. For thousands of years, knowledge and wisdom have been passed down through storytelling. Stories offer different perspectives and help us understand and make sense of the world. And movies are stories.
As mentioned in the second paragraph of this post, movies give us a break from whatever is bothering us. They transport us to a different time and place, and we can focus on the present moment for a short time. 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 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 to 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 of using film to impact the patient positively.
Reference
Hampton, D. (2018, November 24). How watching movies can help your mental health [blog post]. Retrieved from HTTPSs://www.thebestbrainpossible.com/movie-help-mental-health-therapy/
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