Black Swan
Nina, the main character of the film, demonstrates responses to events that exceed the normal expectations. Her responses to many of these events are abnormal and over dramatic, these emotions are caused from over excessive stress that Nina experiences. Nina does not get the part in a ballerina audition she was hoping for, while all of the other girls accepted their rejection, Nina 'glams' herself up to seduce her dance co-ordinator. The enabled her to get the part she wanted so bad. The is evidence for Lazarus' Theory for Nina's feeling of being stressed is based more on her feelings of threat, vulnerability and ability to cope than on the stressful event itself. Stress becomes more intense as Nina becomes jealous of other dancers. A ripped toenail while practicing her thirty-two fouettés occurs due to her stereo type of a 'strained dancer'.
She becomes desperate as her dancing becomes more extravagant and dangerous.
In Nina’s mind Lily is trying to steal her role and steal her glory but this is not true.
She has feelings of threat and vulnerability brought upon by other dancing causing stress, as Lazarus says.
When Lily is cast as her double Nina cries and begs her to be changed for another dancer and the stress mounts. Nina believes in her fit of rage that she has killed Lily but in reality she has only harmed herself. The movie culminates with a strong psychotic episode where Nina lets out all of her anger and resentment on Lily but this only leads to devastating results. She can’t control her anger. The feeling of threat and vulnerability is too much for Nina, all control is lost and stress intoxicates her mind.