Migration psychology and audience experiences in the context of cinematherapy

The cinematherapy method takes place in approximately four stages, namely identification, catharsis , ınsight , and integration. Cinematherapy is generally an auxiliary therapy method. Cinema plays an important role in the development of individuals' awareness of themselves and their environment. It also has a positive effect in interpersonal empowerment and individuals' problem-solving skills. The rehabilitative effect of cinema in cinematherapy studies has been noted by many researchers (Berg-Cross, Jennings, & Baruch, 1990). Determining a movie that can relate to the life of the individual who will receive cinematherapy has an important place in this auxiliary therapy method. In the first stage of cinematherapy, identification with the characters in the film is ensured. Second, there is the catharsis stage, where there is emotional discharge. Third, insight into problems or, in other words, awarenessis developed. Finally, the goal is to ensure that the individual undergoing therapy learns from the mistakes made by characters in the film and possible solutions for the problems they experience and recognize that their problems are not unique to themselves. This study focusses on the relationship established with the spectator by means of film, and thus aims to understand the relationship between contemporary cinema and the spectator in the context of an audience of immigrants. Turkey hosts many refugees seeking asylum for various reasons such as political, economic, religious and ethnic pressures. Despite the fact that studies have been carried out in different areas such as education, health and social work related to refugees, the number of field studies conducted in the fields of migration and cinema circles is insufficient. The research will proceed through a reception study focusing on how films that deal with the issue of migration affect the refugee experience, based mainly on cinematherapy and the experience of the audience. The aim of the study is to focus on the experiences of refugees from the perspective of refugees and to observe the changes that occur with cinematherapy. Within the scope of the migration issue, the sense of belonging, self-perception, social identities and how refugees relate to representations of discrimination and prejudicewill be discussed, as well as individual solutions. Within the scope of the relationship between cinema and psychology, this study will focus on watching films with the theme of immigration, discussing the psychodynamic aspects of films, the use of cinema as an auxiliary therapeutic method in the field of psychology and the experiences of immigrant audiences.