1. One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest
By Valerin Ubri
Kimberly Pace
Devona Harris
Kathy Kontos

2. 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.

3. 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).

4. Analysis of communication
O
O
O
O
O
Leadership:
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).
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).
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)
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).

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.