Behind The Mind Essay Example

Nurse and Doctor receive a request for a small sporting oriented trip, but they respond differently. The Nurse is asked about a day of deep-sea fishing.

The Nurse refuses Randle McMurphy's two applications for an accompanied pass. The first is denied because McMurphy is still new on the ward. The second application, made by the same person a month later, is rejected because the Nurse believes Miss Starr is not a suitable companion for a patient to go out with. When McMurphy applies for a third time, he is accompanied by two sweet old aunts from a small town near Oregon City. The Nurse cannot find a valid reason to decline the pass.

Following the approval of the pass, the nurse immediately presents a newspaper article cautioning about the hazards associated with fishing in Oregon's coastal waters. Over the next few days, she displays multiple articles depicting treacherous and tumultuous waters, advising the men to consider the dangers. This illustrates the nurse's desire to prevent the men from venturing beyond her influence. She feels unsettled by anything outside her control and becomes uneasy when her patients attempt to break free from her authority, even if it is just for a brief period of time (Kesey, p 177).

The Doctor is enthusiastic when asked about the possibility of watching a New York Yankees game. He quickly proposes the idea to his superiors but faces ridicule. He is told by his superiors, "I am not sure about the therapeutic effects of a hot dog" (Zieff, The Dream Team, 1989). Despite the ridicule, Dr. Weitzman argues that the patients have not left the asylum in years and it is crucial for

them to become part of the public. He genuinely believes that an excursion like this would be beneficial for the patients.

The doctor's willingness to personally take risks for his patients and be accountable for their actions in public demonstrates the trust he has built with them. This is evident when Henry, who is lost in New York City, asks, "Can you recommend a good clinical psychiatrist in the area? We seem to have lost ours." (Zieff, The Dream Team, 1989) The patients understand that the therapy they receive is truly beneficial for them. They have faith in the rehabilitation process and actively seek help when they no longer have access to the Doctor.

Although placed in similar circumstances, the Doctor and Nurse handle requests in contrasting ways, greatly impacting subsequent events. The Doctor's kind demeanor establishes a sense of trust between him and the patients, while the Nurse's strict and oppressive policies generate resentment among them. The trust and goodwill built by the Doctor ultimately save his life, as patients come to his rescue against potential assassins. Conversely, the Nurse's created resentment puts her life at risk when a patient violently attempts to strangle her.

The patients in the mental institute are affected by the differing approaches to leisure. The way they are taught to interact in the artificial environment of the institute will impact their natural interactions in the future. In order to successfully reintegrate into society, the patients must also understand and adhere to society's norms and consequences. They must recognize their role within the population and acknowledge that every action has a consequence. Disciplining a patient may be necessary in order to achieve this

goal. However, the Nurse and Doctor have opposing methods of disciplining their patients.

The Nurse adopts a harsh and cruel method aimed at degrading the misbehaving patient to force them into compliance. Conversely, the Doctor addresses the patient's anger by finding amusement in the circumstances and exploits the innate human inclination to conform in order to convince the patient through logical reasoning to achieve the desired outcome. Though both approaches enforce discipline and obedience, they yield drastically contrasting outcomes. The Nurse's disciplinary approach is frequently displayed, employing fear to secure obedience within her ward.

The process begins as soon as a new patient arrives at the institution. They are subjected to what is called an "admission shower" (Kesey, p 27), wherein they are stripped, cleaned, and sodomized by the Nurse's three aides. The black boys take the new arrival into the shower room, strip them and leave them shivering with the door open while they search for Vaseline. They need the Vaseline for the thermometer, which the Nurse hands to them in a large jar at least a gallon in size, but she warns them not to group up in there. Then, two or maybe all three of them are in the shower room with the patient, coating the thermometer with grease and saying, "That's right, mother," before shutting the door and turning on the showers so loudly that only the sound of water on the green tile can be heard (Kesey, p15). This initial initiation is usually enough to scare the patients into behaving and avoiding further disruptions.

The Nurse takes the opportunity to discipline the stubborn patient, Mr. Taber, who questions the authenticity of his medication.

Miss Flinn intervenes, but The Nurse dismisses her and suggests that if Mr. Taber continues to behave immaturely, he will be treated accordingly. Despite their efforts to be compassionate, they receive hostility in return. The Nurse offers Mr. Taber the option to leave if he refuses to take his medication orally (Kesey, p 35). The three aides proceed to forcibly move Mr. Taber.

Taber is forced face down on the mattress while one person sits on his head and another person rips open his pants from behind, exposing his peach-colored rear surrounded by torn lettuce-green fabric. After a while, they exit the room and carry Taber to the lab, where he is wrapped in a damp sheet after his ripped greens are removed. As a consequence, the patients in the ward become fearful of the Nurse and comply with her every demand. Despite the efficient running of the ward with no disturbances, the success rate for rehabilitating patients is remarkably low.

Although the Nurse's disciplinary approach technically works, it is cruel and only serves to humiliate and dehumanize the patients. In contrast, the Doctor takes a completely different approach to discipline. He never harms his patients mentally or physically. Instead, he strives to reason with anyone causing trouble through a mutual friendship. For instance, when he encounters a room with chairs strewn about, including one thrown through a window and caught on the mesh reinforcement, he cleverly comments "Looks like one of our chairs tried to make a break for it, eh? (Zieff, The Dream Team, 1989)" without accusing any patient. By injecting humor into the situation, he effectively defuses the defensive psychological stance initially taken by

troublemaker Billy Caufield, one of his patients. Then, in a calm voice, he simply asks Billy to sit down. With everyone else sitting and no reason for continued anger, Billy complies. This reinforces social norms without giving Billy a motive to rebel against them, promptly resolving the issue.

The varying approaches to two key concepts in human psychology shed light on the changing perspectives towards individuals with mental illnesses. During the early 1960's, figures of authority, such as Nurse Ratched, exercised their power ruthlessly, without room for questioning. However, by the late 1980's, the authoritarian model had been replaced by a trust-based system, akin to Doctor Weitzman's approach, which emphasized the development and utilization of the patients' own moral principles. The consequences of the Nurses' approach resulted in three patient fatalities, one escapee, and each voluntary patient choosing to withdraw from the ward.

All of the Doctor's patients demonstrated noteworthy progress, including Billy Caufield who was able to be discharged. The rest of the patients voluntarily returned to the psychiatric hospital, convinced that they too would be discharged when ready. Patients who were mistreated regressed in their conditions, while those who received proper care began healing. Those treated as if they were animals continued behaving as such, whereas those treated with kindness and respect became well-balanced individuals. As our comprehension of mental health continues to grow, so will advancements in treatment for those suffering from mental disorders. It is only a matter of time before we gain a clearer understanding into the depths of human mind.