MSN.com has a definition for schizophrenia, which states "schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and often disabling brain disease. While the term schizophrenia literally means, 'split mind', it should not be confused with a 'split' or multiple personality. It is more accurately described as a psychosis-a type of illness that causes severe mental disturbances that disrupt normal thought, speech, and behavior."
John Nash was a brilliant man who was intelligent in many ways. As Howard Gardner would say, Nash is a prime example of his theory of multiple intelligences. On page 127 of our text the theory of multiple intelligence is explored. Although John Nash was lacking in interpersonal intelligence, the ability to relate to other people, he did have logical/mathematical intelligence. John Nash was a genius when it came to logical or numerical patterns and reasoning. In the movie John used his intelligence to do case work for the government, dealing with conspiracy and code breaking.
Though John was clearly a brilliant man, his mind was becoming ill. He created people in his mind that were so real to him he couldn't distinguish between what was real and what was not. In a way, John Nash had false memories. He often remembered conversations he had with his college roommate Charles Herman. In Nash's mind Charles was as real as you or I, yet in actuality, Charles was in fact a figment of John's imagination. He had believed the false memories that he was making up, to be reality.
It was only with the help of his devoted wife Alicia, the John was able to gain the motivation he needed to face reality and conquer his disease. The type of motivation that John displayed can be called intrinsic motivation. John had a desire to overcome his disease for himself and his wife. He really wanted to show himself that when he put his mind to anything, he could accomplish anything. He was not looking for praise or other external rewards.
John Forbes Nash is truly a man of wonder. After having a mental illness for years and going through horrible ordeals such as electric shock therapy, John was able to continue to do what he loved to do and was awarded a Nobel Prize for his accomplishments. He is an example to those suffering from schizophrenia as well as other mind altering diseases, that life can still be successful and fulfilling. This movie is truly remarkable at depicting so accurately Nash's trials and tribulations and how one can overcome all odds.
