2 Week 12 – Film Analysis Jahmal Rashad Hudson California School of
2
Week 12 – Film Analysis
Jahmal Rashad Hudson
California School of Professional Psychology,
PSY63110-51: Introduction to Psychopathology
Professor Adam Ashley
April 07, 2024
The movie that I selected was American Snipper played by Bradley Cooper. The film is based on a true story of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle. As a child Chris had a unique talent for shooting a hitting his from long range. After high school Chris wanted to become a cowboy. Chris Kyle is from Arlington Texas Chris Kyle was inspired to join the U.S. Navy Seals after the 1998 US embassy bombing in Dar es Sallam, Tanzania and Nairobi Kenya, Chris Kyle had a desire to defend his country. After becoming a Nay Seal, Chris was deployed to Iraq. Chris did 4 tours in Iraq and While in Iraq Chris became the deadliest snipper in US History with over 225 kills. However, while in Iraq Chris was mentally affected by the things he saw and the things he did. This also affected his relationship with his wife and children when he came home.
I would diagnosis Chris Kyle with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (F43.10) with dissociative symptoms. The main diagnostic feature for PTSD is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to one or more traumatic event (The American Psychiatric Association, [APA], 2022). An individual had to be involved in a traumatic event (APA, 2022). Chris Kyle did four tours in Iraq war (Criterion A1). Witnessing in person the event as it occurred to others (APA, 2022). In the film Chris Kyle watched numerous of his friends die in front of him while in battle (Criterion A2). Learning that the event occurred to a family member or a close friend (APA, 2022). There was a scene in the movie when Chris learned that his friend had died in the hospital due to injuries sustained while in battle (Criterion A3). The individual may experience dissociative states that typically last a few seconds (APA, 2022). In the movie Chris experienced a flashback while driving with his wife, he thought the van behind him was a following him similar situations happened while in Iraq (Criterion B3). Intense or delayed emotion strain upon encountering internal and external triggers that represent or mimic an element of the trauma (APA, 2022). There was a section of the movie where Chris Kyle was at a tire shop with his son and the sounds of the drill caused a delayed reaction while speaking with another person (Criterion B4). Avoidance or efforts to avoid external reminders (APA,2022). Chris often avoided conversations with his wife about events that took place in Iraq, (Criterion C2). Individuals with PTSD may exhibit irritable or angry behavior and may engage in aggressive verbal or physical behavior with little or no provocation (APA, 2022), In the movie will attending his son’s birthday party Chris picked up and slammed a dog on the ground and was ready to beat the dog with his belt (Criterion E3). The disturbance is not due to physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition (APA, 2022). In the movie did not allude to Chris having a drug problem (Criterion H). The duration of his disturbance was over 1 month (Criterion F). Chris suffering from PTSD not only affected him but it also put a strain on his relationship with his wife. Chris went months at a time without seeing his wife or his children and when he was home his wife was frustrated with Chris’s lack of engagement with the family. One of the problems and hardships that spouses of veterans with PTSD endure is a sense of loneliness, which leads to a lack of connections with others, (Maddah, Negarandeh, Rahimi & Pashaeypoor 2024).
When it comes to considering diversity and multiculturalism there are many layers that can influence the diagnostic process. However, symptoms related to PTSD may vary across cultures. Chris Kyle ability to survive in an extremely dangerous environment could be the result of his upbring. In the beginning of the film Chris and his father were hunting and Chris was able to shoot and kill a deer from a far distant. Hunting is about survival, and the knowledge gained sharpens youth’s instincts and resourcefulness. Whether they’re hunting for food or sport, these skills prove valuable not just in the woods, but also the challenges life throws their way. (Hunt,2023). There are many different branches of the armed forces with different functions. Chris Kyle was a Navy Seal which has become one of the most challenging regimes in the world. Studies have shown that only 7-20% successfully complete the training (Smith et al, 2020). This information regarding Navy Seals divers’ community is vital in understanding Chris Kyle mindset. Chris ability to complete Navy Seal training confirmed his mental toughness and allowed him not only to survive four tours in Iraq but be known as a legend in the military for the most confirmed kills. However, his mental toughness was a gift and a curse because it allowed him to succeed in a highly stressful environment, but it prevented him from seeking help for difficulties when he transitioned back into civilian life. It is of know secretly that some Navy Seals adhere to the belief that seeking help is a sign of weakness. The military ethos values “toughing it out” and espouses that persons with problems are weak. These attitudes, sometimes defined as “public stigma,” are perceived to be a major impediment to care seeking among military personnel (Tanielian et al., 2016). I believe that to get a better understanding of Chris Kyle you must explore his diverse background.
Risk and resilience factors for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an issue that should be explored to gain a better understand of how Chris Kyle was affected by PTSD and the support that is provided to help in the process of overcoming or managing his PTSD. Chris Kyle military career as part of the Special Operation unit of the Navy Seal is one of risk and is consider one of the most dangerous careers in the military. As part of the special operation unit individuals such as Chris are called upon to go beyond enemy lines in high-risk combat situations which drastically increases the chances of being seriously injured or killed. The statistic “From 2004 to 2013, 75% of the deaths among Navy SEALs occurred in war zones” indicates that during the given time, 75% of the fatalities involving Navy SEALs, who are elite special operations forces, were in locations classified as war zones (Report: Navy Seal Death Rate Statistics • Gitnux, 2024). During his four tours Chris responsibilities where to protect the Marines. There was a scene in the movie where Chris went against orders to join the Marines on the ground to protect them from being blown up by Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Throughout Chris life he has always been a protecter and socially connected to someone that shared the same interest as he did and his risked his life to prove it. Chris constant exposure to serious injury and death while in Iraq is one of the symptoms of PTSD and while back in Arlington Texas his day-to-day life is affected by external cues that resemble aspect of the traumatic event. There is no doubt that the Military subjected Chris to risk, yet the military also helped in forming his resilience to overcome the many challenges associated with PTSD. The military offers a variety of services to help those in need of mental health attention (Rfletcher, 2024). In the film Chris was able to use the militaries services by attending the Veterans Affairs Health Center. It was there were Chris was able to reconnect with other soldiers and establish a sense of connectedness and begin his journey in overcoming PTSD.
There are a wide range of treatment options for combat veterans that have been diagnosed with PTSD. In the case of Chris Kyle who traumatic experience in Iraq in which he witnessed the death of fellow solders and taking life of a child and enemies of war, my first choice would be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). According to a panel of experts from the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs has listed Cognitive Behavioral Therapies as the most effective type of psychotherapy for PTSD (Cook, 2010). The reason for choosing CBT is because it focuses on the individual’s personal experience. By using CBT, Chris will be able to explore his thoughts, feelings and emotions that can lead to negative behavior and learn skills and techniques to replace them with more positive thoughts, which in return create positive behavior. Another treatment options that I could use to help individual with PTSD is Prolonged Exposure Therapy. Exposure Therapy is another connective behavioral approach to therapy that helps individuals especially individuals with PTSD who typically try to avoid speaking about the trauma to gradually open and discuss their traumatic their trauma related stories “Prolonged Exposure (PE),” 2020). The main goal of this type of therapy is for people that suffer from traumatic events to be able to identify triggers associated with the traumatic event. This is done by either imagine exposure where the patient describes their traumatic event which is record for the patient to listen to or In vivo exposure where the therapist encourages the client to face the fears of people or places that create the relived fear. Bother Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy will help clients with PTSD because they become aware of their feelings and emotions which can create better outcomes.
American Sniper was an amazing the film, there action scenes was intense and as real as allowed in a film. I appreciated how American Sniper gave us a preview of Navy Seals intense and rigorous training. I personally would have like to see a little bit more regarding their training in hopes that it would have shined the light on Chris Kyle intelligence, instead the film glossed over the intellectual requirement which is also needed to become a Navy Seal. The battle of skill and will between Americas Chris Kyle and Iraq’s Mustafa was the definition of patriotism. Two individuals both highly skilled and respected as marksman from two completed different parts of the world willing to fight and die for their country. My favorite scene was when Chris Kyle in the thick of enemy territory was able to kill Mustafa from 1.2 miles is unbelievable. Even though Chris Kyle is known as Americas deadliest snipper, the movie never depicted him as a racist or anything that hinted that he had hatred towards the Iraq community. Chris Kyle was just a man that wanted to protect his fellow soldiers and his country. The movie’s harsh reality of war and the impact it has on individuals and their family only scratched the surface of the various challenges that they must face. However, I appreciated the move and the grade A acting between Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) and his wife Tya (Sienna Miller) and giving us insight on the difficulties that are associated with war veterans and PTSD.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Veterans with PTSD and secondary hypertension. (n.d.). Cuddigan Law. https://www.cuddiganlaw.com/faqs/veterans-with-ptsd-and-secondary-hypertension.cfm#:~:text=Veteranswhosufferfromservice,andheartdiseaseandstroke.
Kintzle, S., Barr, N., Corletto, G., & Castro, C. A. (2018). PTSD in U.S. Veterans: The role of social connectedness, combat experience and discharge. Healthcare (Basel), 6(3), 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare603010
Start Hunting with Kids: When and How to Take a Child Hunting. (n.d.). https://blog.redmondhunt.com/take-a-kid-hunting-how-to-prepare-them-and-lessons-theyll-learn#:~:text=Huntingisaboutsurvivaland,PatienceMasteryandConfidence.
Smith, E., Young, M. D., & Crum, A. J. (2020). Stress, mindsets, and success in Navy SEALs special Warfare training. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02962
Report: Navy Seal death rate statistics • Gitnux. (2024, February 7). GITNUX. https://gitnux.org/navy-seal-death-rate/#:~:text=OnaverageNavySEALsdeploy,about25per100000population.
Rfletcher. (2024, March 28). Mental health matters in the military. Military OneSource. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/mental-health/mental-health-matters-in-the-military/#:~:text=InTransitionisafreeconfidential,preparingtoleavemilitaryservice
Prolonged exposure (PE). (2020, June 1). https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/prolonged-exposure#:~:text=Prolongedexposureisaspecific,doingsoreinforcestheirfear.