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Gender and mental health in possession film: a European and North American portrait
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Date
2025-08-13
Authors
Gil Poisa, María
Goodwin, John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Published Version
Abstract
This study examines gender representation, demographic diversity, and mental health portrayal in possession-themed horror films, aiming to identify biases in portrayals of mental health support. Analyzing 43 films produced in Global North countries, 68 instances of possession were coded, revealing a disproportionate portrayal of female victims (50 females versus 17 males) and no representation of non-binary identities. Demographically, young (13–21 years, 49.25%) and white (76.12%) characters were overrepresented, with limited ethnic diversity and a predominance of Catholic or unspecified religious contexts. Regarding mental health portrayal, only 12 of the 68 possessed characters sought professional support, and 8 received formal diagnoses, with mental health deterioration often explained supernaturally. No gender differences in mental health access were noted. Common distress signs included hallucinations, bizarre behavior, dissociation, self-harm, and impulsivity, alongside less frequent symptoms like disinhibition and intrusive thoughts. Our content analysis showed that mental health was often framed within supernatural explanations, contributing to the stigmatization of psychological conditions. These findings suggest a need for more diverse and responsible storytelling in horror films to address gender and mental health biases, underscoring the genre’s reliance on gender stereotypes, limited demographic representation, and stigmatizing portrayals of mental health.
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Keywords
Gender representation , Demographic diversity , Mental health portrayal , Possession-themed horror films , Exorcism , Gender , Horror film , Mental health , Possession , Stigma
Citation
Gil Poisa, M. and Goodwin, J. (2025) 'Gender and mental health in possession film: a European and North American portrait', Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, pp.1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2025.2546336