One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

By Valerin Ubri

Kimberly Pace

Devona Harris

Kathy Kontos

Introduction O “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” takes all concepts used

in communications when we talk about groups. Our group chooses “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’s, because it has all the concepts that group communications includes. Overall we chose one scene in particular; “I want my Cigarettes”. The different concepts shown in the movie is what persuaded us to take that movie for our film project. The film is developing in a hospital; every character has something about group communication concepts to add to the scenes. The movie shows leadership, emergent leaders, culture group, environment, diversity and autocratic leader. The scene shows the leadership that Nurse Ratched has. She asks questions, and listens to each of them with attention and open mind, always keeping the calm. Also R.P McMurphy applies the concept of emerging leader. Although this movie has a very dysfunctional group, the viewer can see the different concepts of group communications applied.        

Description of Communication ONurse Ratched is charge of the group. She sits in her chair and listens to what each member has to say with an open mind. As they all begin to start getting out of control she keeps her voice placid, and speaks patiently to the men. She comprehends what every wants in the group(Adams, Galanes p. 194-195) (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).OAs she speaks to the men she always make sure that she sounds fearless, which is what a leader should sound like. No matter what is happing in the scene like when the men start freaking out she does not show a sign of fear on her face (Adams, Galanes p. 195) (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).

Analysis of communication O Leadership:O Nurse Ratched achieves this by less direct confrontation and more by subtle means such as

playing on and maintaining character weaknesses, undermining self-confidence, and constantly putting the men down through therapy sessions. Nurse Ratched is constantly seen using coercion(Adams, Galanes p. 181).

O Nurse Ratched appears to be caring and well intentioned all good aspects of a good leader and she may even believe that in thwarting McMurphy's plans for change and various other schemes, she is acting for the greater good of her patients. She will do anything to enforce her authority even casting aside individual success and welfare merely in an effort to establish her own position. Throughout the movie Nurse Ratched, has no intention of changing her autocratic, controlling leadership, or her techniques of humiliation, intimidation, and threats (Adams, Galanes p. 188) (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).

O When McMurphy arrived, he immediately and very consciously sought the role of leader. He saw a need for change in the ward and he filled the leadership void with passion, enthusiasm and excitement. McMurphy communicates a clear vision that gives the group some clarity about what he wants to create and change in the ward, which is why McMurphy follows the communicative competencies approach (Adams, Galanes p. 194)

O He provided opportunities for the men to feel connected to each other, to feel like they have some control over their circumstances, and that they matter. Before McMurphy arrived most of the patients were literally in their own “private worlds.” He accomplished several things in the short time he was there as a leader, he brought everyone together as a unified group, he gave the men courage to stand up for themselves and to take more control over their situation; and he was able to make everyone on the ward feel important and valued (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).

Conclusion O Nurse Ratched is a very autocratic leader throughout the movie and

shows specifically her autocratic type of way when she is communicating with the other members. Also, the way McMurphy expressed role emergence with his situation with Nurse Ratched. Another communication topic that was expressed was communication competence when McMurphy took charge and helped the group see and experience a new and better future with his, as well, autocratic type of leadership. Role emergence also was focused in this specific part of the movie because they focused on a certain topic that they spoke about each time.

O The lesson that we learned about small group communication in this movie is that, in this specific situation, one type of autocratic leader is needed. Otherwise, the role emergence problem that arose with McMurphy and nurse Ratched is bound to happen. In One Flew Over The Cucckoo’s Nest, because the setting is a hospital, the doctor or nurse obviously has the lead and the patient is the follower. In this case, the nurse was the autocratic leader and McMurphy did was not fond of her and wanted to, in a way, be the autocratic leader instead.

Works Cited

 OAdams, Katherine and Gloria J. Galanes. Effective Group Discussion Theory and Practice. Fourteenth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013.  OOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Dir. Milos Forman. DVD. Warner Bothers. 2010.  

Works Cited

 OAdams, Katherine and Gloria J. Galanes. Effective Group Discussion Theory and Practice. Fourteenth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013.  OOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Dir. Milos Forman. DVD. Warner Bothers. 2010.