Psychological Problems and Asperger Syndrome
Psychological problems affect both children and adults and make it difficult for them to have social interactions. There are different mental disorders and each one manifests itself in different ways. Asperger syndrome is one of the mental disorders that affect both children and adults. The DSM diagnostic criteria for Asperger is having a deficit or showing difficulties when in the social usage of verbal and noon-verbal communication, exhibiting difficulties in social participation, highly fixated interests, and showing hyper or hypo reactivity towards certain aspects (Autism Speaks).
The Impact of "Parenthood" on Asperger
'Parenthood' is a TV show that has one of its main characters living with Asperger, and how it affects his life and those around him. The Show is a clear example of how psychology is apparent in the media. The show tells the story of a couple that has to take care of their son, who lives with Asperger, and constantly helps him to remember that he is uniquely different and, therefore, he should not worry what other children tell him. It is a story of a child's (Max) struggle to live with a condition that makes him be seen and perceived differently from other people. The parents, Adam Braverman and Sarah Braverman, have to adjust their lives to take care of their son and show him that he is a smart kid who should not look down on himself. The show reveals significant concepts like implicit bias, discrimination, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and stereotyping, which are of fundamental interest in psychology. The psychological effects of the show 'Parenthood' have a big impact on Max and the people around him.
A Critical Analysis of the Portrayal of Asperger in "Parenthood"
A critical analysis of this show shows that it accurately portrays the disorder. First and foremost, the show portrays Max as having difficulties with his social environment. His relationship with his parents, therapist, and his peers is a clear depiction of the disorder. It is apparent that people with Asperger have difficulties when relating with other people. The yelling and constant outbursts when things do not go his way are a clear portrayal of how the people with the condition behave. Another way that the show portrays the disorder correctly is through his mother. The mother finds it difficult to deal with Max, as it is the case with many people taking care of their loved ones living with the disorder (Wall). Even when the therapist tells Max's mother that it is possible for him to adjust his behavior, she sees that as a very difficult thing. The mother appears to have an implicit bias when dealing with her child. Since she knows that Max suffers from Asperger, she unconsciously thinks that it is difficult for his condition to become better, even though the therapist is there to assure her that Max's condition can be taken care of. The implicit bias makes her to form unconscious attitudes in her mind about Max's condition. Through Sarah's reactions, the concept of negative reinforcement surfaces; instead of allowing Max to shout and become angry, he allows him to get away with what he wants. Therefore, for Sarah to avoid confrontation with her son, she opts to let him do what he desires. In the same vein, the presence of the therapist in the show depicts the disorder correctly since it shows that it can be managed through professional help. The therapist seeks to help Max manage the condition by forming habits which are favorable. As a way of helping Max manage the disorder, the therapist introduces the concept of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is behavior change system that rewards an individual when he does what is expected of him or her (Clutterbuck 34). When Max does what the therapist requests of him, she gives him stickers as a reward ( Lin). This motivates Max to stop a behavior that is not desirable.
Impact of the Media and "Parenthood" on Asperger Awareness
However, when Max's peers see him as being strange, this is an inaccurate portrayal of the disorder. Consequently, it adds to stereotypical misconceptions about people who suffer from the mental illness. The negative attitudes that Max's peers have towards him increase the misconceptions about the disease. They think that it is a fault and a problem for someone to suffer from the illness. Though many individuals with the disorder go through what Max goes through, it is not an accurate description of the disorder when they are seen to be strange and weird. This affects their normal lives greatly. The issues of discrimination and stereotyping are evident when individuals with Asperger are subjected to negative attitudes. For example, Max's peers believed that he was not normal because of his condition. They saw him as different from them and, as a result, formed, intentionally, negative attitudes against Max. It is because of the stereotyping that the other children treated him differently. This is an act of discrimination because of the fact that Max was not behaving like the rest of the children. He had to pay the price for being different. It was difficult for him to cope with the negative perception and treatment from the other children.
The Psychological Impact of "Parenthood"
The media discussed above has a big impact on the viewer and the society at large. The show has a big influence on people who have Asperger and even those who know nothing about the condition. There is a psychological impact that the show has on those who watch it. There is an emotional appeal that is generated from the show, especially when the different characters display their thoughts and feelings towards each other. For the viewer, it is easy to get emotional and sympathize with the life of Max. As a young boy, he is forced to go through a lot of struggle because of his condition. The thought of having to interact with peers who ridicule him is not easy for him. Therefore, for the viewer who watches the struggles that Max faces, especially if he or she has the condition or understands the condition, it is very emotional. Viewers can also sympathize with the parents of Max because of the challenges they have to go through in order to ensure that their son lives a comfortable life. For viewers who have children with the condition, they understand the struggles that Adam and Sarah have to go through in order to meet the needs of their son. For individuals who know nothing about Asperger, they might not understand why Max behaves differently and sometimes very aggressive towards his parents. They might think that Max is behaving in an ill-mannered way, but it is because of the manifestation of the disorder that he behaves in that manner. Therefore, the show is of great influence to such individuals because it will raise awareness of what the illness is all about and how it can be managed effectively. Moreover, when a viewer who suffers from the disorder sees what Max is going through, it is enough to affect him or her negatively. Since this show is meant for family viewing, it has a big influence on society too.
The Importance of Family Support
The family is the basic social unit of the society, thus it is important for the family to take care of its members. This is very evident from Braverman's family. Despite the condition that Max is in, his family does not give up on him. His parents encourage him and show him a lot of love to make him strong. As a way of desiring to see their son become better, they brought a therapist to help Max manage his condition. It is clear that Max's family was ready to go to extra lengths to ensure that he lived a comfortable life. Thus, the show has a great influence on the society by challenging societal members to deviate from forming negative attitudes against those who have mental illnesses and, instead, take care of them. It is by taking care of them that they are able to encourage them to live their lives without shame. It is evident that Max felt very bad when his peers treated him badly because of the condition that he was going through. The show portrays that Asperger is a reality that many people have to face every day, but it is a condition that can be managed by taking care of those living with it. Thus, 'Parenthood' is a TV show that shows how far a family is willing to go to make sure that its members are loved and protected.
Works Cited
Autism Speaks. DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria. (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/diagnosis/dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria
Clutterbuck, Peter. Positive Reinforcement: Activities and Strategies for Creating Confident Learners. Crown House Publishing, 2010
Lin, Chin-Hsi. Parenthood: Max with the therapist for the first time. (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sClOvs3NIqk
Wall, Meaghan. CarRideHome. (2016). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LA6sBiTSro
