- This article describes the term in psychology. For the experimental metal band, see Neurosis (band). Neurosis is an experimental metal band based out of Oakland, California.
Neurosis, also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, is a "catch all" term that refers to any mental imbalance that causes distress, but, unlike a psychosis or some personality disorders, does not prevent or affect rational thought. Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche" for mind or soul and -οσις "-osis" for abnormal condition with adjective psychotic Personality disorder, formerly referred to as a Character Disorder is a class of mental disorders characterized by rigid and on-going patterns of feeling thinking and behavior It is particularly associated with the field of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a body of ideas developed by Austrian physician Sigmund Freud and his followers which is devoted to the study of human psychological functioning and behavior
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History and use of the term
To differentiate between neurosis and neurotic: "Neurotic", or affected by neurosis, has come to describe a person with any degree of depression or anxiety, depressed feelings, lack of emotions, low self-confidence, and/or emotional instability.
The term was coined by the Scottish doctor William Cullen in 1769 to refer to "disorders of sense and motion" caused by a "general affection of the nervous system. William Cullen ( 15 April 1710 – 5 February 1790) was a Scottish doctor and Chemist. The nervous system is a Network of specialized cells that communicate information about an animal's surroundings and itself " For him, it described various nervous disorders and symptoms that could not be explained physiologically. It derives from the Greek word neuron (nerve) with the suffix -osis (diseased or abnormal condition). Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Neurons (ˈnjuːɹɒn also known as neurones and nerve cells) are responsive cells in the Nervous system that process and transmit information The term was however most influentially defined by Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud over a century later. Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded
The American DSM-III has eliminated the category of Neurosis altogether. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' ( DSM) is published by the American Psychiatric Association This largely reflects a decline in the fashionability of psychoanalysis, and the progressive expurgation of psychoanalytical terminology from the DSM. Psychoanalysis is a body of ideas developed by Austrian physician Sigmund Freud and his followers which is devoted to the study of human psychological functioning and behavior Those who retain a psychoanalytical perspective, which would include a majority of psychologists in countries such as France, continue to use the term 'neurosis'. According to The American Heritage Medical Dictionary it is "no longer used in psychiatric diagnosis. "[1]
Psychoanalytical account of neurosis
As an illness, neurosis represents a variety of psychiatric conditions in which emotional distress or unconscious conflict is expressed through various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances, which may include physical symptoms (e. Illness (sometimes referred to as ill-health or ail) can be defined as a state of poor Health. Many observers throughout history have argued that there are influences on Consciousness from other parts of the Mind. g. , hysteria). Hysteria in its colloquial use describes a state of Mind, one of unmanageable Fear or Emotional excesses The definitive symptom is anxieties. Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by Cognitive, Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral components Neurotic tendencies are common and may manifest themselves as depression, acute or chronic anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, phobias, and even personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by Cognitive, Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral components Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts Phobias Phobias (in the clinical meaning of the term are the most common form of Anxiety disorders An American study by the National Institute of Mental Health Personality disorder, formerly referred to as a Character Disorder is a class of mental disorders characterized by rigid and on-going patterns of feeling thinking and behavior Borderline personality disorder ( BPD) is a psychiatric diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-IV Personality It has perhaps been most simply defined as a "poor ability to adapt to one's environment, an inability to change one's life patterns, and the inability to develop a richer, more complex, more satisfying personality. " [2] Neurosis should not be mistaken for psychosis, which refers to loss of touch with reality. Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche" for mind or soul and -οσις "-osis" for abnormal condition with adjective psychotic
The term connotes an actual disorder or disease, but under its general definition, neurosis is a normal human experience, part of the human condition. Mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly The human condition encompasses all of the Experience of being Human. Most people are affected by neurosis in some form. A psychological problem develops when neuroses begin to interfere with, but not significantly impair, normal functioning, and thus cause the individual anxiety. Frequently, the coping mechanisms enlisted to help "ward off" the anxiety only exacerbate the situation, causing more distress. It has even been defined in terms of this coping strategy, as a "symbolic behavior in defense against excessive psychobiologic pain [which] is self-perpetuating because symbolic satisfactions cannot fulfill real needs. " [3]
According to psychoanalytic theory, neuroses may be rooted in ego defense mechanisms, but the two concepts are not synonymous. Psychoanalysis is a body of ideas developed by Austrian physician Sigmund Freud and his followers which is devoted to the study of human psychological functioning and behavior Id, ego, and super-ego are the three parts of the " Psychic apparatus " defined in Sigmund Freud 's structural model of Defense mechanisms are a normal way of developing and maintaining a consistent sense of self (i. e. , an ego), while only those thought and behavior patterns that produce difficulties in living should be termed neuroses. Id, ego, and super-ego are the three parts of the " Psychic apparatus " defined in Sigmund Freud 's structural model of
Effects and symptoms
There are many different specific forms of neurosis: pyromania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety neurosis, hysteria (in which anxiety may be discharged through a physical symptom), and an endless variety of phobias. Pyromania is an impulse to deliberately start fires to relieve tension and typically includes gratification or relief afterward Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by Cognitive, Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral components Hysteria in its colloquial use describes a state of Mind, one of unmanageable Fear or Emotional excesses Phobias Phobias (in the clinical meaning of the term are the most common form of Anxiety disorders An American study by the National Institute of Mental Health According to Dr. George Boeree, effects of neurosis can involve:
. . . anxiety, sadness or depression, anger, irritability, mental confusion, low sense of self-worth, etc. Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by Cognitive, Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral components Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression , behavioral symptoms such as phobic avoidance, vigilance, impulsive and compulsive acts, lethargy, etc. , cognitive problems such as unpleasant or disturbing thoughts, repetition of thoughts and obsession, habitual fantasizing, negativity and cynicism, etc. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts Interpersonally, neurosis involves dependency, aggressiveness, perfectionism, schizoid isolation, socio-culturally inappropriate behaviors, etc. Perfectionism, in Psychology, is a belief that perfection can and should be attained [4]
Treatment
Neurosis can be treated by different methods. There is psychotherapy, behavior therapy, and various drugs to alleviate the symptoms. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety mediactions will help the sufferer, and some drugs will boost up self-worth and self esteem. These methods will usually help neurotic sufferers in 4-5 weeks, and prognosis have been successful.
Jung's theory of neurosis
Jung found his approach particularly fitting for people who are successfully adjusted by normal social standards, but who nevertheless have issues with the meaning of their life. Jung 's theory of neurosis is based on the premise of a self-regulating psyche composed of tensions between opposing attitudes of the ego and
I have frequently seen people become neurotic when they content themselves with inadequate or wrong answers to the questions of life (Jung, [1961] 1989:140).
The majority of my patients consisted not of believers but of those who had lost their faith (Jung, [1961] 1989:140).
[Contemporary man] is blind to the fact that, with all his rationality and efficiency, he is possessed by "powers" that are beyond his control. His gods and demons have not disappeared at all; they have merely got new names. They keep him on the run with restlessness, vague apprehensions, psychological complications, an insatiable need for pills, alcohol, tobacco, food – and, above all, a large array of neuroses. (Jung, 1964:82).
Jung found that the unconscious finds expression primarily through an individual’s inferior psychological function, whether it is thinking, feeling, sensing, or intuition. The characteristic effects of a neurosis on the dominant and inferior functions are discussed in Psychological Types. Psychological Types is the title of the sixth volume in the Princeton / Bollingen edition of the Collected Works of Carl Jung.
Jung saw collective neuroses in politics. . . "Our world is, so to speak, dissociated like a neurotic" (Jung, 1964:85).
References
- Freud, Sigmund. Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. Trans. James Strachey. 24 vols. London: Hogarth, 1953-74.
- Horney, Karen. Karen Horney (pronounced "horn-eye" /hɔrnaɪ/ born Danielsen ( September 16, 1885 – December 4, 1952) was a German The Collected Works. (2 Vols. ) Norton, 1937.
- Jung, C. G. , et al. (1964). Man and his Symbols, New York, N. Y. : Anchor Books, Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-05221-9.
- Jung, C. G. (1966). Two Essays on Analytical Psychology, Collected Works, Volume 7, Princeton, N. J. : Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-01782-4.
- Jung, C. G. [1921] (1971). Psychological Types, Collected Works, Volume 6, Princeton, N. J. : Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-01813-8.
- Jung, C. G. [1961] (1989). 'Memories, Dreams, Reflections, New York, N. Y. : Vantage Books. ISBN 0-679-72395-1
- Winokur, Jon. Encyclopedia Neurotica. 2005. ISBN 0-312-32501-0.
External links
- Boeree, Dr. C. George, "A Bio-Social Theory of Neurosis".
- Janov, Dr. Arthur, "Neurosis".
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