Psychology of the Mind

I have been interested in psychology for a long time now, and had at one point even planned on attending school for behavioural psychology, and a one year certificate focusing more specifically on autism.  I’m still not sure what is going to happen, the University of Toronto has an excellent psychology degree that is interesting to me.   That’s still a possibility now, but there are a few other things on my mind.

While going through some of my notes recently, I came across a few disorders, two of which particularly interest me.  If there is someone in your life who suffers from a mental disorder, you are not alone!

The statistics on mental illnesses are staggering.  I do wish there was a little more help in some areas of the subject, but alas the government ceases to be perfect.  Anyways, here is a little bit of info about each of the illnesses from my notes:

CONDUCT DISORDER -Conduct Disorder usually begins in late childhood or early adolescence.  Generally, children with a conduct disorder are selfish, do not relate well to others, and lack an appropriate sense of guilt. They tend to misperceive the behavior of others as threatening and react aggressively. They may engage in bullying, threatening, and frequent fights and may be cruel to animals. Other children with conduct disorder damage property, especially by setting fires. They may be deceitful or engage in theft. Seriously violating rules is common and includes running away from home and frequent truancy from school. Girls with conduct disorder are less likely than boys to be physically aggressive; they typically run away, lie, abuse substances, and sometimes engage in prostitution.

The cause of Conduct Disorder: 

Conduct disorder has both genetic and environmental components and is more common among the children of adults who themselves exhibited conduct problems when they were young. There are many other factors which researchers believe contribute to the development of the disorder. For example, children and teens with conduct disorder appear to have deficits in processing social information or social cues, and some may have been rejected by peers as young children.

NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER (NDP) –  

Narcissistic Personality Disorder usually begins by early adulthood and is marked by disregard for the feelings of others, grandiosity, obsessive self-interest, and the pursuit of primarily selfish goals. It affects about 1% of the general population and 50-75% of those with NPD are men. Narcissistic Personality Disorder typically occurs in high achievers, although it may also occur in people with few achievements.

People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder demonstrate an apparently paradoxical combination of self-centeredness and worthlessness. Their sense of self-importance is generally extravagant, and they demand attention and admiration. Concern or empathy for others is typically absent. They often appear arrogant, exploitative, and entitled. However, despite their inflated sense of self, below their brittle facade lies low self-esteem and intense envy of those whom they regard as more desirable, worthy, or able.

The cause of NPD:

The exact cause of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is unknown, but researchers have identified childhood developmental factors and parenting behaviors that may contribute to NPD, which are as follows:

• An oversensitive temperament at birth
• Overindulgence and overvaluation by parents
• Valued by parents as a means to regulate their own self-esteem
• Excessive admiration that is never balanced with realistic feedback
• Unpredictable or unreliable caregiving from parents
• Severe emotional abuse in childhood
• Being praised for perceived exceptional looks or talents by adults
• Learning manipulative behaviors from parents

AUTISM – Ok, so I know that autism isn’t a mental illness, but it still baffles the psycholgical aspects of human nature, which is why I have included it.  A little bit of information never killed anyone 😉

Autism is now recognized as the most common neurological disorder affecting children and one of the most common developmental disabilities:

• Most recent epidemiological studies show that the prevalence has increased from 40 to 60 per 10,000 which represents approximately 190,000 Canadians
• Approximately one in 165 children have an ASD
• Number of cases is increasing worldwide

Information provided by www.healthyplace.com and www.autismsocietycanada.ca

Lisa.