Monday, October 3, 2011
Cbapter 2: The Emergence of Obsession
After reading this chapter, i learned that monomania was the first diagnosis specifically defining what we call today obsession. Monomania was defined as a preoccupation with single idea, passion, or train of thought that was obvious and knkwable while at the same time irresistible. Monomaniacs are aware of the wrongness or inappropriateness of some aspect of their behavior, but they are unable to stop a particular train of thought or action. Compared to OCD, people with obsessions realize that what they are doing is not normal, but they cannot seem to control themselves. This type of disease was connected to people who were civilized. "This is a disease of people with large, active brains." (Pg. 72) Monomania was thus seen as a lifestyle. But this disease greatly confused the mind, body, and soul.
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I guess the part that you speak about that it affects people who were civilized relates to what we spoke about in class that people like scientist, doctors and those with great knowledge are usually the ones that are affected by obsessions and OCD.
ReplyDeleteMonomania is definitely seen as a lifestyle because it arises from the effects of your daily activities. Like CaroRocks has mentioned, frequent brain activity and successful people were more prone to developing monomania, which raised the question is this the inevitable case for all intelligent people. This was also a factor mentioned in Davis' book. In reference to the book, I do understand why it would make sense that smarter people are more prone to monomania, but it was a belief that I strongly disagreed with of their time.
ReplyDeleteGREAT POST! I felt the same way and gathered the same ideas as I read the chapter as well. I never thought that obsession evolved throughout time. But now after reading the chapter I understand why it has changed so much and its because we learn more and more about obsession and its characteristics as time goes on. I agree with you also when it came to the "bigger brain" analogy because it is completely ludacris to believe in such a concept. Some may see it as a lifestyle because it affects people in the daily routines. However I saw this idea as a way to make the term seem unimportant instead of trying to help the ones dealing with it.
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