Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder characterized by dysfunction between behavior, emotions, actions, and feelings, often resulting in withdrawal from relationships and reality. Untreated, it can cause severe behavioral, emotional, and physical problems that impact all areas of life. The Soloist tells the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a talented musician who developed schizophrenia and became homeless in Los Angeles. A columnist named Steve Lopez befriended Nathaniel and was fascinated by his story, eventually helping him find housing and mental health resources. The movie accurately portrayed symptoms of schizophrenia like hallucinations and disorganized thought that Nathaniel experienced.

1. Schizophrenia
The Soloist

2. Psychology Basis

3. Schizophrenia
 Schizophrenia is defined as a long
term mental disorder that is a
dysfunction in the relationship
between behavior, emotions, actions,
and feelings resulting in the withdraw
from relationships and reality.
 Consequences of Schizophrenia if left
untreated can cause severe
behavioral, emotional, and physical
problems that have a drastic impact
on every area of the person’s life.

4. Characteristics of Schizophrenia
• 1. Delusions
• Beliefs that conflict with reality.
• 2. Hallucinations
• Hallucinations are the false perception of the senses including hearing,
seeing, touching, and smell. For example, a person might hear voices.
• 3. Disorganized thought
• 4. Disorganized speech

5. Media

6. The Soloist
Steve Lopez
• Steve Lopez is a Los Angeles Times columnist.
• He come in contact with a homeless schizophrenic
musician and seizes the opportunity for a fascinating
article.
• Steve developed a relationship with the musician and
this resulted in him wanting to help the individual.

7. The Soloist
Nathaniel Ayers
• Nathaniel Ayers is a talented musician with
Schizophrenia.
• He lived on the streets of Los Angeles.
• He attended Julliard for two years before
dropping out.
• His unusual story sparked the interest of
Columnist Steve Lewis.

8. The Soloist
In the movie The Soloist, a Los Angeles columnist was interested in a talented
musician that attended Julliard and was currently homeless. He soon found out that
Nathaniel, the musician, had a mental disorder later diagnosed as Schizophrenia.
Steve became very involved in Nathaniel's musical career and his life in general. He
helped Nathaniel find a home and resources.

9. Connection
When Nathaniel first started showing signs of Schizophrenia towards the end of his
second year at Julliard, he called his mother informing her that, “I’m not always so sure I
know what’s going on.”
As a response, his mother Flora said, “You going to be fine.”
In which Nathaniel responded that “it’s so frightening, and I’m having trouble
differentiating certain things. Keeping things separated.”

10. Connection
• Previously, Nathaniel heard voices and had visual hallucinations when he staying
indoors from that time on he was scared and anxious to live inside a building.
• In the movie, it showed Nathaniel pacing, crying and distressed while trying to stay
in his new apartment. Nathaniel could not cope in that situation.

11. Connection
• Steve provided the much needed support for Nathaniel. He found resources to
get him off the streets.

12. Connection/Validity
In this movie, Nathaniel started having symptoms of Schizophrenia while attending
Julliard in his college years. It is common for men to start showing symptoms of
Schizophrenia between the ages of 16-30 years old.

13. Connection/Validity
This movie represented symptoms of Schizophrenia well. The behavioral outbursts
and hallucinations were exhibited in the film frequently.

14. Connection/Validity
The reactions that occur to hallucinations were accurate in the movie.