Introduction
People with mental conditions often suffer numerous hardships because of biased attitudes toward them. Individuals with Autism spectrum disorder might also be victims of mockery and bullying. The movie I am me revolves around the same problem and shows how people with mental disorders suffer.
Charlie tries to live independently while his mother is in the hospital, and his older brother has his own life. However, he faces hate crimes, constant insults, and even physical attacks. Using the case from the movie, it is possible to introduce specific recommendations on how to alter Charlie’s behaviors to ensure a better quality of life.
Problematic Behaviors of the Film’s Protagonist
Thus, from the movie, several behaviors should be considered in need of alteration. First of all, Charlie always fails to ask for help and share his problems with close people. Following these words, he does not want everyone to get in trouble because of him (I Am Me Scotland, 2015).
It can be seen when he does not talk about bullies taking his money or other problems with them. He also fails to inform the police or anyone who notices his unusual behavior and troubles. In this way, remaining silent instead of speaking up for his rights and asking for help can be considered one of the behavioral deficits observed in the movie. Even lying in the hospital, Charlie says, “I don’t like Tom getting into trouble” (I Am Me Scotland, 2015). It evidences the problem and the need to resolve it.
Behavior Management Intervention
Rationale
Changing his behavior will lead to a significant improvement in his quality of life. First, Charlie’s ability to speak up for his rights would be helpful when facing new hate crime cases. Bullies or other groups discriminating against him based on his mental condition might be punished by the law. It would help Charlie become more independent and avoid severe complications or injuries, as shown in the movie. He will be able to do things he could not do previously.
Plan
In such a way, developing a plan to teach Charlie how to protect his rights and ask for help from others is essential. Modeling specific social skills is one of the most effective ways to teach adults desired behaviors. Additionally, in line with the theory of mind, specific mental states might be attributed to others. For this reason, video clips illustrating the desired behaviors might be an effective way to educate Charlie. It is possible to organize such sessions and support them with discussion-based lessons to ensure the information is understood and that Charlie realizes the importance of the skill.
Evaluation
The success of the proposed intervention can be determined by using several factors. It is expected that Charlie will call his close people if similar problems emerge. However, he will hardly be able to admit his progress to himself or speak about it. For this reason, it is necessary to ask people in his life, such as his brother, whether Charlie shares his current troubles and whether he is not afraid to interact with the police to protect his rights and life.
At the same time, Charlie is likely to experience initial difficulties with a new skill. It can be linked to fear, uncertainty, and lack of confidence. However, the constant support and encouragement will help to overcome this barrier. Using new social skills, Charlie should be ready to protect himself by appealing to the law and local authorities.
Conclusion
Altogether, the movie shows that mental conditions might serve as the basis for discrimination and hate crimes. For this reason, people belonging to this cohort, such as Charlie, should be taught how to protect themselves. Video lessons and discussions should be selected as an effective way to interact with individuals with similar behavioral deficits. It would lead to better outcomes, and progress can be evaluated by asking close people about it or any positive changes.
Reference
I Am Me Scotland. (2015). I am me. YouTube.