The film is thought-provoking, from the title to the finale. It provides details about the influence of the individual on the group and vice versa. The film’s title is not accidental because it is comprehended that the cuckoo does not build its own nest but lays its offspring in the nests of other birds. In the movie, one of these “cubs” is the main character, who gets into an environment whose conditions are alien to him. Jack Nicholson (the main character) unwittingly struggles with the hospital’s rules and regulations, which he cannot change. Going against the authorities and powers, he does not think about the people around him and is drawn into the process of confrontation. Even when he is defeated, the hero is unaware of his defeat and tries to defend his righteousness with physical violence. As a result, he is recognized as a danger to society, although he is not considered mentally ill. It once again confirms the view that being in a community of sick people, a healthy person will also feel nauseous. Thus, the film vividly raises the question of which person is mentally healthy: the one who obeys the rules that lead to self-destruction or who goes against them.
The patients in the film have learned to conform to expectations. According to the behavioral approach, the individual is what one has learned to be and is part of society. The individual exists among one’s kind, connected with thousands of invisible threads: personal and social. It is a dilemma of the relationship between man and society that arises in real life because it is impossible to live and not depend on those who live next (Corey & Corey, 2020). Different relationships with the community can exist: in harmony with it, opposing it, or being such a person who affects the course of social development. It is the society that develops and forms somebody; in many respects, the environment and surroundings determine what kind of person they will become (Corey & Corey, 2020). It is why it is always difficult to oppose the system, even if it contradicts one’s interests and values. Only a strong personality who can withstand pressure from the outside is capable of resisting society. This struggle is difficult and painful, but it is the only one that promotes development, the emergence of new ideas, and the elimination of false ideals. Desire alone is not enough for this; one must be prepared to sacrifice everything to realize one’s objectives.
One can be perfect in psychotherapeutic aid and know numerous techniques and methods. Still, without empathy and the emotional involvement of the group’s leader, it is impossible to count on any positive results. Nurse Radcliffe in the movie is an obvious example since she formally does everything correctly. She follows therapy principles – open posture, eye contact, and conducting group sessions in a resource circle. However, emotionally, the psychotherapy participants are suppressed, and the sister not just treats them coldly, ignoring their feelings, but also satisfies her needs for manipulation and domination at their expense. A code of ethics can be applied here because, in a group setting, counselors must take reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical, emotional, or psychological trauma (Ponton & Duba, 2019). This principle is wholly ignored; a specialist like Radcliffe is incapable of becoming a facilitator, unable to create a personal relationship in the group that becomes therapeutic for its participants.
Reference
Corey, M. S., & Corey, G. (2020). Becoming a helper. Cengage Learning.
Ponton, R. F., & Duba, J. D. (2019). The ACA Code of Ethics: Articulating counseling’s professional covenant. Journal of Counseling & Development, 87(1), 117-121.