M Abdullah Qureshi

I am a clinical psychologist and I am completely devoted to my profession. Currently, I teach psychology to undergraduate students at Government College, Renala, Okara.

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Dark Personality Psychology Personality Psychology

The Main Character Syndrome: A Philosophical Defence

the main character syndrome

Everything that we know about the world is filtered through our own subjective lens. Our trials and tribulations are unique. Our experiences might hold some similarities with others. However, they are distinct and separate from many of the people around us.

Even our siblings do not share the same views about everything. This reality is partly what causes the main character syndrome.

However, many of us are aware that we are not the only ones facing challenges very similar to us. Rather, every person we know has experienced almost the same spectrum of emotions as us.

But…

Plato posits the idea that some people are born different. And if they are cultivated in a certain way, they are the ones who are best suited to be leaders.

And is it not true?

I argue that it is desirable. But I am not sure if it is true.

A person with the main character syndrome, however, would agree with Plato. This person would believe that his/her goals in life are higher than others. This person would argue that they are destined to achieve ‘greatness’ in some way.

As most things in life, there is a positive aspect and a negative aspect to this thought.

Higher Goals in Life

Everyone’s goals are important to them.

But there still are goals that have a higher probability of making life better in some way for a large number of people.

You can either do it for the people around you. Or you can do it for yourself. In both cases, if one sets a high ceiling for themselves, there are chances you will be changing entire lives.

For example, Isaac Newton simply became curious about whether the speed at which the apple fell from the tree to the ground could be calculated, replicated and whether this rate was universal.

And he came upon the Law of Gravitation!

The goal does not have to address a global problem. But it is about solving a significant, functional problem. If it is a significant enough problem, even if you are doing it for yourself, you can help a lot of people!  

Belief in One’s Abilities

A clear positive of the main character syndrome is belief in one’s ability.

As social media grows in power with each passing day, we become even more embroiled in what we cannot do. According to a study, social media usage is linked to thinking that most problems in your life are caused because there is something wrong with you.

The main character syndrome can help you look on the other side.

I am bound to have a major impact on the world.

While the thought is not completely rational, it does provide you an opportunity to use your strengths.

Moreover, belief in possibilities can also reinforce you by itself. The higher goal that you have and the skills you develop along the way, all point to the confirmation that you are probably going to do something great.

There is obviously a mature way of looking at that.

But, what’s the point? The concept of destiny is in itself a motivator.  

Tendency to Improve

Research has indicated that grandiose narcissism is positively related to openness to change. That is, in order to improve one’s stature, grandiose narcissists can adapt to newer situations and skills.

When you are the main character, everything in your life is there to build your character. You are going to have entire character arcs and ultimately, you will get to the things you always wanted.

Or that’s basically what we think anyways.

Some important characters in your life fire you up. Some teach you important lessons. Yet others throw obstacles your way.

Being the main character that you are, you grow through it all. And you prove to your friends, family, the naysayers and the supporters that you truly are a force to reckon with.

This is actually a very useful approach to life.

Well, as long as you demonstrate enough grit.

Conclusion

The utility of any philosophy can be counted on how good it can either explain the world or improve it. For that reason, the main character syndrome can be a very positive condition for one to have. While it might not explain the world completely, it can make a person feel important in their life. They might actually end up doing a lot of good because of that.

However, there is always the danger of some event eventually knocking a person out of this mindset. Worse yet, such an event might knock them out of the positive part of this protagonist syndrome.

Whatever the case maybe, there are many positives to be gained from the main character syndrome.

Hell, even I might consider it!

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Dark Personality Psychology Personality Psychology

The Positives of Machiavellianism

Positives of Machiavellianism

Classically, Machiavellianism has been seen as a negative trait. To define it briefly, Machiavellianism is a tendency towards intentionally and strategically manipulating others to gain and keep power and control. It is also a part of the Dark Tetrad traits of personality.

However, is there nothing positive to be gleaned from Machiavellianism?

I argue that there are small snippets of lessons that we might learn from this Dark Tetrad trait.

Navigating Through Organizations

In unstructured organizations, Machs seem to have an edge. They do best when they have less management oversight, less regulations, and greater decision-making authority. While this is not an ideal environment – it does show that Machiavellians can navigate through and perhaps benefit from work environments in which there is less discipline.

Moreover, if the individual displays some genuine sincerity, there are higher chances of professional success. Not only that, another aspect of Machiavellianism, ‘planfulness’ also can be beneficial for one’s success. Some research has also indicated that people high in this trait have better political skills.

Political skills, while often considered undesirable, do predict career success in certain situations. This is because workers who possess strong political skills may be able to manage their staff more effectively than through management techniques

Furthermore, Machiavellians tend to do better in marketing occupations, somewhat. Their expertise or confidence while promoting a certain product or service could be invaluable here.

However, there is an important caveat here.

According to Zettler and Solga (2013), work performance and Machiavellianism share a complex relationship. Having a high Machiavellianism level might improve work performance in the short term by creating positive initial impressions or a positive social reputation.

But in the long run, these advantages are countered by manipulative and cynical interpersonal interactions.

Manipulation with Low Cost

The belief in using manipulation to accomplish one’s goals in the workplace, when required, is known as organizational Machiavellianism. People who are at ease taking advantage of others and do it when it suits them are known as organizational Machiavellians.

Manipulation does not always have to be at the cost of the other person.

Instead, people who have high Machiavellian tendencies may also be very flexible and courteous; they are not always vengeful, cruel, or callous.

“(Monarchs) ought, at suitable seasons of the year, entertain the people with festivals and shows” (Machiavelli, p. 61).

Such conduct obviously comes across as courteous and accommodating.

As said earlier, manipulation done with genuine regard might actually portray the individual in a better light.

All without using deceit!

Learning Lessons from the Past

An important part of Machiavellianism is not repeating mistakes of the past. Also, incorporating positive points used previously can only increase your chances for success.

“… as to the mental training of which we have spoken, a prince should read histories, and in these should note the actions of great men, observe how they conducted themselves in their wars, and examine the causes of their victories and defeats, so as to avoid the latter and imitate them in the former.” (Machiavelli, p. 8)

If you disengage your personal cultural or social biases from your strategies you can also be open to try newer things.

This can actually be an adaptive attitude towards everything in life! Conventionally ‘good’ traits or practices can also be taken advantage of, if the person does not apply them smartly.

Competitiveness

According to a study on athletes, Machiavellianism is positively associated with task performance and competitiveness.

If you want to remain in power or gain it, you are likely to view others as your competition. This is, strictly speaking, not a bad thing. Competitiveness can predict better performance in various tasks. And competitiveness is associated with almost all the dark personality traits.

A Word of Caution

With the recent trend towards seeing ‘dark psychology’ as a positive thing, it does seem there are some benefits to it. Taking a look at authors like Robert Greene also would let you know some of the positives.

But there are major caveats to the popular explanation.

Is Machiavellianism Related to Intelligence?

Firstly, it is frequently believed that Machiavellians possess greater intellect. This perception is due to their proficiency in manipulating others, particularly when it comes to social comprehension. However, it is well documented that there is no connection between Machiavellianism and IQ.

One could also make the inference that Machiavellians would be better at interpreting emotions of others. However, here too there has been a negative correlation between Machiavellianism and emotional intelligence (EQ).

Conclusion

Niccolo Machiavelli was primarily concerned with advising rulers on how to best preserve order. He urged rulers to use a variety of actions, only a few of which were dishonest, in order to preserve the necessary order.

As a result, the Machiavellian concept is intrinsically complex.

Machiavelli’s manual translates into the use of dishonesty in the context of contemporary organizations, only when it is required to hold onto power and efficiently manage people.

Consequently, it should be evident that Machiavelli’s recommendations included more acceptable methods in addition to manipulativeness.

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Psychiatric Disorders

What Causes Stress Disorders (Acute Stress Disorder & Post-traumatic Stress Disorder)

How intrusive thoughts in PTSD pollute the mind

Stress disorders are psychiatric conditions that occur as a response to psychological trauma. In this article, I will attempt to explain how these symptoms can develop following a traumatic event. There are two major stress disorders, known as Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Trauma Response

Dramatic and malignant events in human life often can be traumatic. When a person’s sense of identity, worth and the meaning of everything they do has been challenged in a cruel incident, they tend to have long lasting effects. These vile incidents have two major aspects to them. They are

  • Physical
  • Psychological
  • Mixture of both

Physical Violence

Some traumatic incidents constitute physical or sexual violence. Both the actual happenstance of violence and the threat of violence can be considered ‘violent’ because of the involvement of extreme physical or sexual insecurity. If a certain incident made them extremely insecure about themselves, their life or autonomy, there is a chance that their responses to cope with it will be extreme as well.

Psychological Violence

Often events which cause a person extreme stress are psychologically violent. These incidents might involve exposure to or the response of extreme emotional disturbance and the loss of ‘belief’ or severe dysregulation of behavior. An example could be of a very emotionally draining divorce with a partner who was psychologically abusive.

Mixture of both

Traumatic events usually involve violence of both a physical and a psychological nature. For example, soldiers in war while also facing insecurity about their physical wellbeing also have to go through extreme amounts of psychological stress.

By the very nature of the extreme response to trauma in both Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, these violent incidents have both physical and psychological aspects.

Experience of Trauma in Acute Stress Disorder

Violence makes us hyperaware of the indications where that violence has a greater chance of influencing us. This includes the smell, sounds, and visual aspects that we were exposed to, during that incident.

So, every time the traumatized person is exposed to a similar environment or cue, they experience extreme psychological disturbance.

Why does this happen?

Well, because we want to protect ourselves from danger.

We are observing things around us, learning how things work so that we could either achieve a reward or stave off danger.

And when something really threatens our security, we tend to remember the cues around us. This is because the next time we are exposed to danger, we can cope better with it.

However, the emotional disturbance that a person with ASD or PTSD experiences during that traumatic event is too extreme. They can experience hyperventilation, severe anxiety, worry and their sleep cycle can also be disturbed significantly. These responses become conditioned to certain cues from the environment.

Thus, every time the person is exposed to similar cues, they generate such responses – especially if they pay attention to those cues.

In the case of Acute Stress Disorder, these conditioned responses become lesser and lesser, and stop before a month after the traumatic incident.

On the other hand, in the case of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, they persist for much longer periods of time.

Conclusion

Both Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder are very debilitating conditions. They can affect a person’s life to such a level that they might give up their jobs, shut off contact with others and even consider taking their own life. However, understanding how such a condition can start can help you cope with it and take the necessary actions.

If you or someone you know is experiencing this disorder, I would advise you to seek professional help. Do not take your mental health lightly!

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Brain Health Psychological Tips

Your Phone is Not Your Friend

your phone is not your friend

A friend is a being that is there when you require help.

Now imagine something or someone that provides you with exactly the things you lack at the time.

You’re feeling bored? This friend provides you a lot of entertainment to witness and talk about!

You don’t feel good? This friend gives you a million things to watch and laugh at.

You feel heartbroken? This friend provides you with countless pieces of advice – often pretty contradictory.

But most of all, this friend provides you with exactly what you think you want.

And what we think we want is often not really what we require.

So, in this article, I will be talking about a few reasons why your phone is not your friend.

Easy Access to Lies

In your low mood, you can always pick up your phone, go on instagram, or facebook or tiktok and you would instantly see many people seemingly living their lives to the fullest.

Living their lives as no human can.

The simple fact of the matter is that social media portrays a very distorted version of reality. Everyone is often at their best – or worst – behavior and image.

Does a friend lie to you?

They certainly should not! I am not talking about the probability of whether a friend would lie to you or not. Rather the concept of a friend is someone who wishes you well.

Your phone, however, is not your friend.

Then what is your phone exactly?

Unhealthy Addictions

Simply put, social media, smartphones or any kind of technological devices are simply tools to help you perform specific functions. There is no ethical or moral substrate of such devices. However, what they can lead to is the main problem.

Vape pods were considered an innovation of technology. They were shown as a new way to help smokers quit tobacco! However, recently these pods are being banned across Europe because they have actually got many teenagers hooked on nicotine!

This was a device for helping people. But it ended up enabling an entire generation towards nicotine addiction.

Your smartphone on the other hand does not hand out just one problem.

This device, unlike the vape pods cannot be banned. Moreover, it has become a part of daily life. You need your phone to order food, get a cab, navigate the map, prepare and conduct meetings in the workplace. But just a few clicks away, there lie many of the most addictive applications ever created. These apps have been proven by research to induce stressful habits.

Among the myriad of issues, social comparison, anxiety, depression, loneliness are just a few of them.

Lower Productivity

 If you’re spending so much time on your phone, using social media, you are automatically letting it eat up your time to be productive!

Research has shown that social media usage drops employees’ productivity significantly. No wonder you are not able to get your tasks done on time! And even if you somehow get them done – think about how much better you can perform your tasks or go on new ventures just by using that time lost to social media!

Smartphone Addiction Can Mess up Social Interactions

Ever wonder why some of your elders complain about young people always being on the phone?

Well, try to get an important point across to someone who cannot maintain eye contact because they think something on their phone is more interesting.

Interesting does not equal to important. This is just one way constantly being on your phone messes up social interactions.

“The Machine is much, but it is not everything. I see something like you in this plate, but I do not see you. I hear something like you through this telephone, but I do not hear you. That is why I want you to come. Pay me a visit, so that we can meet face to face, and talk about the hopes that are in my mind.” (E. M. Forster, The Machine Stops).

While phones can be a tool to facilitate interactions, they reduce the human, irrational and emotional aspect of communication which is natural for us. Emotional expression serves an important function in our communication with other people.

Emojis may be able to give a surface level understanding of what you are feeling. But it cannot convey the entire emotion. Or the gravity of what you are talking about.

Conclusion

Our phones are devices that help us communicate. But unlike older times, they now also serve as portals to other people’s (slightly to highly) distorted presentation of the world. In fact, they have become a world in themselves because of the sheer amount of information they can give us access to.

But they are not a substitute for organic experiences. Much of the world is still organic. The food that we order, the cab driver we call, the people we see online – all are living inside an organic reality.

Let us not let our phones fool us into a world where we can access, download, delete and log out of any situation that we so desire.

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Uncategorized Psychological Interventions Psychological Tips

How to Deal with Boredom

Boredom is a common experience that everyone faces at some time in their lives. It certainly is annoying. But it also has a profound impact on our psychological well-being and productivity. In this essay, we will look at practical solutions to deal with boredom.

I will also ask questions along the way – try to answer them!

While sometimes boredom is natural, prolonged boredom can have a harmful impact on mental health. According to research, it can lead to feelings of emptiness, worry, and even sadness. When managed properly, boredom can actually be a stimulus for creativity, problem solution, and self-reflection.

Strategies to Overcome Boredom

To build a happy and interesting existence, boredom must be addressed immediately as well as over time. Here are some evidence-based approaches:

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness entails being completely present in the moment and accepting your current situation without judgment. By practicing mindfulness, you may have a better understanding of your emotions and ideas. And by understanding them better, you can actually identify the source of your boredom.

Are you aware of the things around you? Can you hear the little sounds you miss every day? The traffic outside, the chatter right out the door – or within your office or bedroom. There are many things that you have missed – just by being inside your head!

Deep breathing, body scans, and focused observation are simple approaches that may turn routine jobs into intriguing experiences.

Engage in Creative Activities

Boredom may be effectively alleviated via creativity. Painting, writing, and playing music engage the brain. We thus feel a sensation of achievement and delight. Cooking and gardening are also creative activities that you can do.

Have you thought about creating something lately? A dish, a painting, a poem, prose or whatever you want to create? Isn’t it time to resume that?

Set Goals and Challenges

Boredom typically occurs when we lack direction. Setting defined, attainable objectives may increase your sense of purpose and motivation. Break down major goals into smaller chores to maintain a sense of progress and success.

When was the last time you set a goal for yourself? Or have you already set one and don’t know where to start?

Change Your Environment

Sometimes a change of location is all that is required to reenergize your thoughts. Changing your environment, whether by exiting your office, going for a stroll, or visiting a new area, can bring fresh insights and inspiration.

Have you gone out recently? Or have you been living in the same environment day in and day out?

Learn Something New

Challenging your brain with new information or abilities can also prevent boredom. Consider taking up a hobby, enrolling in an online school, or delving into a topic you’ve always been interested in.

What are the things you are interested in? Or had an interest in?

Continuous learning maintains the mind sharp and interested.

Connect with Others

Human connection is a natural cure for boredom. Contact friends, relatives, or coworkers to arrange a discussion or shared activity. Social relationships not only ease boredom, but also improve general well-being.

Are you neglecting your friends? Are you neglecting important relationships? Should you, maybe, check in with them?

Embrace Solitude

You don’t always have to run away from boredom. Sometimes, sitting with your boredom and allowing yourself to contemplate may lead to great insights and self-discovery. Journaling or meditating during these times might help you examine your ideas and feelings more fully.

Do you think you have been neglecting yourself?

If you have been, then perhaps it is time for a change!

Limit Passive Consumption

While surfing through social media or binge-watching TV shows may appear to be simple ways to relieve boredom, these activities frequently leave us feeling disappointed. Instead, choose active participation, such as reading a thought-provoking book, engaging in a virtual workshop, or doing a hands-on project.

Exercise Regularly

Physical activity is a known mood enhancer and boredom killer. Exercise causes the release of endorphins, which boosts mood and energy. Yoga, jogging, and dance may all bring a sense of purpose and success.

Have you been moving around lately? How about going out for a walk alone? Or getting that gym membership you have been thinking about recently?

Cultivate Gratitude        

Gratitude changes your focus away from what you lack and toward what you value. By keeping a thankfulness book or just focusing on the wonderful parts of your life, you may cultivate a sense of fulfillment and prevent boredom.

Is there something in your life that you are glad you have? It could be anything, a pet, a good friend, family – a good bedroom or bed.

Why not make it a point to acknowledge these things once a day, maybe?

Perhaps, it might change your mind.

When to Seek Help

Boredom that persists and interferes with your everyday functioning may indicate the presence of underlying disorders such as depression or anxiety. In such instances, receiving assistance from a mental health expert is critical. Therapy may help you recognize and treat the fundamental causes of your feelings, giving you the tools to manage them successfully.

Conclusion

Boredom, while frequently seen negatively, is a normal and important aspect of the human experience. By recognizing its psychological roots and implementing proactive techniques, you may turn boredom into an opportunity for growth, creativity, and self-improvement. Accept it as a signal to realign your life with activities and goals that are actually meaningful to you.

After all, in the words of existential psychologist Viktor Frankl, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Categories
Psychological Tips

5 Ways to Make Winter Holidays the Best Time of the Year!

The winter holidays have just arrived as the world experiences the coldest days of the year. Whether you are religious, or not, there is something very cheery about the last week of December and the New Year to come! For some, this is a time of festivities. For others it is a time to relax and get cozy. However, for some it is not perhaps the season that they look forward to.

Whatever the case might be, winter holidays provide us with a chance to rejuvenate ourselves. It has been a long year after all.

So let’s go over 5 ways you can really enjoy your time off!

Set Realistic Expectations

The holiday season carries a slew of expectations. We expect that our décor would be beautiful. We believe that we will give and/or receive ideal presents. We also expect that the family gatherings would be warm and cozy.

Realistically, however, not all of our goals or expectations can or should be met. Setting unreasonable standards can cause tension and disappointment. Here are a few things you can do instead!

  • Prioritize traditions: Keep up with traditions that give you and your close ones joy and let go of the more burdensome ones.
  • Communicate your expectations: Talk about what you are expecting from the upcoming dinners or gatherings with family and friends to avoid misunderstandings.
  • Practice gratitude: Focus on what you have rather than what you need.

Controlling expectations can vastly decrease stress. It can also make it easier for you to relish the times that are most important.

Cultivate Meaningful Connections

Holidays and festivities can provide a fantastic time to enhance your social ties. However, socializing around this time can be overwhelming. This is especially true if you are dealing with family disputes or feel alone. So,

  • Connect more: Hang out with your friends, attend community events, or volunteer to alleviate loneliness.
  • Set boundaries: Limit encounters that are emotionally taxing or harmful to ensure your well-being.
  • Have quality interactions: Deep, meaningful communication frequently outperforms surface-level small conversations. Share memories, show appreciation, and participate in activities that promote intimacy.

Social ties are a vital component in promoting happiness and minimizing feelings of loneliness, making them essential over the holidays.

Embrace Mindful Practices                

The holiday season can be a flurry of shopping, cooking, and partying. This leaves little time for relaxation. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily practice might help you remain grounded.

  • Be present: Enjoy every moment, whether it’s a peaceful evening with hot chocolate or a festive Christmas celebration.
  • Meditate: Set some time aside for some peace and quiet for a few minutes everyday to decrease stress and enhance emotional resiliency.
  • Refrain from over-scheduling: Make time for self-care activities, such as reading a book, going for a stroll, or having a sleep.

Mindfulness enables you to appreciate the now instead of stressing about the past or future, which improves your whole holiday experience.

Balance Giving and Receiving

Gift giving is a ritual in many festivities, but it can also be stressful. Finding a balance between giving and receiving might make the encounter more enjoyable.

  • Keep it meaningful: Prioritize meaningful presents above expensive ones. Handmade objects, customized remarks, or experiences can have a greater meaning.
  • Express gratitude: Accept presents with thanks and avoid feeling obligated to return in like.
  • Be generous: Offer your time, attention, or aid people in need. Volunteering or supporting a good cause might increase your sense of accomplishment too.

Giving and receiving gifts are both important components of pleasure. Generosity activates brain areas associated with pleasure and happiness, generating a positive feedback loop.

Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health

One can easily neglect healthy habits during the holidays. However, maintaining balance is critical for overall well-being. Here are a few things you can include in your checklist:

  • Physical exercise: Regular physical exercise helps alleviate seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and improve mood. Consider winter sports such as ice skating, skiing, or a brisk stroll in nature.
  • Eat mindfully: Limit holiday sweets and prioritize healthful meals.
  • Sleep adequately: Get enough sleep to manage stress and preserve emotional balance. Establish a consistent sleeping schedule, especially throughout the holidays.
  • Seek support from a trustworthy friend, family member, or therapist if experiencing stress or mental health difficulties.

Prioritizing self-care guarantees that you’ll have the energy and emotional capacity to truly enjoy the holiday season.

Bonus Tip: Create Your Own Traditions

The temptation to follow long-standing customs may often take away from the joy of the holiday season. Consider inventing new routines that appeal to you and your loved ones.

  • Cultural fusion: Combine customs from many origins to create a unique family or community.
  • Go on a personal trip: Enjoy your trip alone by pampering yourself or going on a solitary excursion.
  • New Year’s Resolution: Use the holidays to write, establish plans for the coming year, or relive memories.

Personalized rituals may make the holiday feel more real and meaningful.

The winter holidays may be spectacular. But remember, they don’t have to be flawless to be fun. You may make this season more joyful and fulfilling by following all of the little tidbits listed above. Remember, the holidays have typically the smallest moments of connection, thankfulness, and self-compassion.

Categories
Personality Psychology

Psychoeducation: Do I have Personality Issues?

Navigating through one’s troubles is difficult. To have issues is part of being human. However, it can often feel as if our problems are not really solvable.

So what does one do?

Perhaps one of your colleagues said something particularly rude to you. Or maybe things at home seem to be conflicted. Maybe the person you love or have feelings for has started acting cold. Problems in relationships are inevitable.

But do you feel as if others can never understand you?

Do you try to one-up every other person you are in conflict with?

Or perhaps you feel incredible ‘pain’ when the people you trust do not meet your expectations.

And you do not see this level of pain in others.

It’s not that you don’t feel happy. You feel very happy when things are going right.

But when things are not going okay, it becomes impossible to stand it. So, to cope with this, you react explosively or even violently. This can even mean that you try to control this pain by hurting yourself physically.

If you have felt this way throughout most of your life, you might have features of a personality disorder.

What is a Personality Disorder?

Personality is a complex system of enduring traits and/or behaviors. It remains generally stable throughout life. So, a personality disorder is basically enduring sets of traits or behaviors that cause significant problems throughout one’s life.

How does a Personality Disorder Develop?

Most personality researchers agree on the fact that personality starts developing during childhood when an individual is exposed to various concepts, beliefs and behaviors. For example, a child born to more conservative parents is more likely to have conservative beliefs and behaviors. However, as the child grows older, other people begin influencing him/her. Friends and peers became a major part of life during school years. Teachers also play a major role.

Nevertheless, at some point, the individual gathers enough information to adopt certain patterns of thinking and behaving.

Following this line of reasoning, a personality disorder emerges when there are some major conflicts early on in an individual’s life. These could be a very conflict-ridden relationship between the parents. Or it could be how a caregiver might be too strict or too lenient with this person.

Moreover, a child might be shamed publicly at school or in the playground, which could make them behave in ways to protect themselves. And these behaviors could then become very inflexible.

Experiencing Personality Issues

If an individual feels as if the environment that his or her parents or caregivers have given them does not match the environment of practical or general life – this causes problems. This happens for most – if not all – of us. However, imagine if your childhood environment was very mismatched with the environment outside, in practical life.

Personality issues and disorders are ‘out of the social norm.’ If they were within the social norms, they would not be called major problems.

Hence, people who experience these personality problems tend to feel as if they are separated from everyone else’s experience. They might not understand how ‘regular people’ deal with life’s tribulations so easily.

On the other hand, some people with personality issues might feel as if they deal with these problems better than others. They may view themselves as superior. Because that is what they have felt much early on in life.

Such individuals might try to seek out people who are like them. A person with narcissistic personality disorder might thus try to associate with individuals who they perceive better than others. Similarly, an individual with borderline personality disorder might feel more drawn to people that have been traumatized as well.

If you find that your attachment styles in social relationships compromise them, especially if this has happened throughout your life, there is a high probability that you have personality complications. Furthermore, if your social behaviors seem to cause others a lot of issues – or even if you alone think that they have always troubled others – there too is a high probability of personality issues.

However, how can you be sure that there really is a significant problem?

Why Self-Diagnosis Can Do More Harm than Good

Self-diagnosis is the behavior of assigning oneself a disorder and/or disease without consulting with a certified practitioner. This behavior is concerning because it can make the individual try to act according to the condition they have diagnosed themselves with. They might not have that issue. But they might try to assume the stereotypical image of the disorder.

Moreover, relying solely on self-diagnosis might result in the person not seeking the relevant management for the problem. The presentation of bipolar 2 disorder and borderline personality disorder can often be very similar. But the way they are treated is very different. Wrongly assuming that you have a personality disorder can unnecessarily put off the correct management plan.

Personality issues are significant problems in behavior that might elude to a personality disorder. If you believe that you or someone you know might have this, it is important to seek the relevant help. By doing so, you can help improve or even save lives.

Categories
Dark Personality Psychology Psychological Tips

The Positives of Psychopathy

M Abdullah Qureshi

Psychopathy is a psychological construct that refers to callous and unemotional patterns of attitudes or behaviors. While much of the popular opinion on psychopathy is actually negative, there are some behaviors of psychopaths which are also seen positively. An evidence of the allure of psychopathy can be seen in the fact that Ted Bundy, the American serial killer who reportedly killed 30 women between 1974 and 1978, received fan mail during his incarceration.

But this article does not talk about why psychopathy is attractive. Rather, I argue that certain behaviors that are classically found in psychopaths can actually produce good outcomes.

Psychopathy can actually be a helpful trait in various contexts.

As evidence, there was a large survey of psychologists, attorneys, and professors. The researchers gave them a list of psychopathic features. Following this, they asked the volunteers to say if they knew someone in their field who had those traits and was either good at their job or bad at it. The findings were interesting because the people who took part did say that successful psychopaths can be found in all fields.

The question this article attempts to answer is: what are the positives of psychopathy?

So, let’s dive straight into it!

Charisma

A study looked at the personalities, behaviors, and results of the lives of 315 people. They discovered a link between psychopathy and charm. They also discovered that these people were more likely to “work the system” in order to get ahead. People in general gravitate towards charismatic individuals. It can be through the way that they conduct themselves with others.

Charisma can elevate others’ perception of you. For example, another study showed that the superiors of ‘corporate psychopaths’ thought they were great at their jobs and should get awards. According to the higher-ups, these people were organizational stars.

Problems with Charisma

It is also important to consider that charisma is often used as a mask in psychopathy. The first study I quoted also indicated that many times, psychopathic people who were very charming were able to cheat on their partners, lie, abuse their work rights, or commit crimes without getting caught or punished. This was more common for psychopathic people who were less charismatic.

Moreover, studies also showed that these corporate stars bullied, scared, and forced those below them to do things that were not acceptable.

So, I would recommend you to separate the wheat (charisma) from the chaff (exploitation).

Confidence

People who are psychopaths are known for not being able to change their bad habits or stop responding to punishments. This is not exactly a desirable trait.

However, consider this persistence in the context of pursuing a tough goal. Whatever the world throws at you, you remain persistent. That’s not really bad at all!

Some scientists link psychopaths’ inability to change old habits to a “low fear IQ,” or a higher threshold for reacting to things that make you afraid. People who are less sensitive to dangerous cues tend to have a fearless personality as kids, which can grow into social confidence, daring behavior, and mental strength as teens and adults.

Problems with Very High Confidence

If we generalize this very low fear to one’s entire life – that’s when we get into the problematic waters. It could happen that in one’s high confidence level, they might perform tasks very wrongly. This would lead to eventual failures.

Moreover, if this is a recurring behavior, the individual might continue to fail again and again.

Having sais that, as long as the low fear is used in a few demanding situations, psychopathy could actually make a person confident in themselves.

Target-directed Attitude

Psychopaths have been proven to be less affected by conflicting information. It has been shown in task-based studies that they only attend to the prepotent goal-related information.

They do not seem to be affected by peripheral non-target information.

This means that psychopaths focus less on information that is not directly related to a goal they have if they are on to something. The pinpoint focus on the goal at hand is actually a great trait to have – as long as it can be controlled.

By focusing on the target and remaining fixated on it, one could ignore unnecessary anxiety-causing information. We already know that anxiety can be debilitating in itself. So, only attending to the goal might actually cause you much less distress.

Problems with High Levels of Target-directed Attitude

One can very easily overlook important conflicting information – much as is the case with too high confidence. In fact, pursuing a target single-mindedly could also mean that the individual neglects other responsibilities.

This could then cause major issues in domestic life. This tilt towards just one direction would mean that other important things would just be ignored completely.

High Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is the psychological trait which signifies how we feel about ourselves. People who have psychopathic personality problems are said to have high self-esteem.

However, this can vary with the subtypes of psychopathy.

Researchers have found that there are two types of psychopathy: main psychopathy and secondary psychopathy. These two types share antagonism, hostility, and rashness.

But the two are different in a way that has to do with their social habits called “withdrawal–sociability.”

Psychopaths who are of the primary type tend to be outgoing, dominating, confident, and low in anxiety. Secondary psychopaths, on the other hand, tend to be less social, have low self-esteem, be moody and nervous, and have more mental health problems.

Feeling good about oneself can lead to various desirable outcomes, even a decade onward!

Problems with Very High Self-Esteem

However, having too high a self-esteem could lead to a lack of insight – a problem with most psychopaths. This, conversely, has bad outcomes because out of very high self-esteem, the person might not take into account all the risks involved in setting unrealistic goals.

This could lead to major failures.

Conclusion

While psychopathy is considered to be a part of the dark tetrad of personality, it is a nuanced trait. There are factors of psychopathy which in many situations could actually be considered very ideal. Perhaps that is the main reason why many psychopaths continue to build successful careers and lives. However, it is also very possible that such individuals have built up many adaptive behaviors to either mask or manage their psychopathy.

Whatever the case might be, there is definitely a lot to be learnt from even dark personality traits!

Categories
Brain Health Psychiatric Disorders

Psychoeducation: Understanding Your Addiction

Addiction to chemical substances is not a comfortable condition. According to a study, 2.2% of people in the world have a problem with drugs or alcohol. 1.5% of people have an alcohol use disorder, compared to 0.8% of people with all substance use disorders put together (0.32% had a cannabis use disorder, 0.29% had an opioid use disorder, and 0.1 % had an amphetamine use disorder).

There are four major concepts that are central to addiction. These major concepts are expanded upon briefly in the DSM V TR. In this written piece of psychoeducation, I will attempt to unpack substance addiction and open a framework by which you can control it.

The four major concepts of addiction are:

  • Habits
  • Compulsivity
  • Personality factors
  • Physiological effects (tolerance and withdrawal)

These aspects can and are, in fact, present in many addictions, not just those related to chemical substances. For example, gambling disorder also is characterized by compulsions, habits and certain personality factors. One prominent aspect, however, which is a core feature of substance addiction are the physiological effects of tolerance and withdrawal.

So, without further ado, let us dive into the experience of addiction, factor by factor.

Habits

According to some researchers, addiction can be explained as an adapted habit. An adapted habit is a complex of behaviors that an individual seeks to adapt to, due to the reinforcing aspects of the behaviors. There are three major elements of such a habit:

  • Initial capture
  • Development of behavioral action schemata
  • Cognitive expectancies concerning the habit
Initial Capture

The word capture here is used in the invasiveness of the habit, due to its desirability and reinforcement. Individuals who are addicted to substances often talk about a drug capturing their state of mind. The initial capture is often when the action has already been performed and the reinforcement has already been significantly experienced.

What then happens is that this action is associated with a desirable outcome (e.g euphoria, stimulation, more relaxed social interactions etc.). Adapted habit theory of addiction – and scientific research – put forward the notion that drugs actually become a primary reinforcer. This means that they are on the same level as a reward for person as food is.

This is how the habit captures a person.

Action Schemata

Action schemata or behavioral action schemata are a thought based conceptualization of one’s plan to perform the habit. Schemata refer to many ideas about a particular thing being grouped together in order.

So, behavioral action schemata refer to the addicted individual’s conceptualized plan of how they will follow their addiction further. For example, a person addicted to pain killers will have an entire action sequence in mind where they acquire the pain killer and use it.

This is the result of a habit.

Expectations

For one to have motivation to perform a habit, there have to be some expectations of what they hope to achieve. Since the substance(s) can become a primary reinforcer, this shows that one’s expectations for the substance use is far reaching.

Mind altering substances can provide an individual with psychological and physiological relief. Conversely, some substances can energize an individual.

Regardless, these effects usually make one’s expectations for the drug use stronger and more mentally intrusive.

Compulsivity

Compulsions are constant urges to perform an action. Compulsivity is the lack of control of one’s behavior over acting against these urges. Substance use disorders also feature the element of compulsivity, much like obsessive compulsive disorder.

There are two ways by which compulsivity plays a role in addiction. The first way is by the way of carrying on a learned and reinforced habit. An individual could thus have compulsions regarding performing a habit again and again because it is rewarding.

The second way compulsions have a major part in addictions is that one’s urge to consume drugs is fueled by their urge to get rid of a bad experience or event. This is most notable in individuals engage in substance abuse and who have higher levels of stress. The substance provides them with relief from an aversive state.

Personality Factors

Personality is a pattern of multiple complexes of behaviors that seem to be constant through age and context. It is based on environmental and genetic predispositions, with both of them contributing simultaneously. To say that one is born an addict would be unscientific and untrue. However, if a young individual has a higher affinity towards seeking excitement, it reflects a predisposition towards addiction. Excitement seeking is actually a facet of trait extraversion of the five factor model of personality.

Other important personality traits that can contribute to addiction are of neuroticism and conscientiousness.

Neuroticism is a personality trait that signifies emotional instability. Thus, one could see this as playing a major role in compulsivity. Furthermore, neuroticism also includes being impulsive. Impulsivity is the failure to control one’s actions in the context of a momentary urge. Unsurprisingly, individuals that have addictions are also often impulsive.

On the other hand, conscientiousness, which is a trait that relates to one’s ambitiousness and orderliness, can have a negative impact on addiction. In fact, if an individual has higher levels of conscientiousness, there is a greater possibility that they can recover from addiction more effectively. Conscientious individuals want their life to be in order and they usually have high ambitions and desire to achieve more. So, they might see their addiction as a major hindrance that they eventually have to overcome

It is important to remember, however, that psychiatric conditions are not just a product of the environment or genetics as a whole. Rather, both of these factors contribute significantly. Personality traits are much the same.

So, by understanding one’s behaviors and working towards goals which offer pleasure but stability can have a major effect on the person’s addictions.

Physiological Effects

Substance addiction can majorly change our body’s physiological condition. While some of the physical effects are indirect (for example, weight loss), the substance can directly affect the way chemicals in our brain act.

Many of these substances, by binding with chemical receptors in the synapses of our brains increase the duration the ‘happy chemicals’ stay out in the synapse.

This is usually what causes the euphoria one might feel. This also produces the relaxing effects.

Since this change is not what our body is used to, our body tries to adapt to it. Our brain might gradually stop releasing its own ‘happy chemicals’. Or our blood vessels might remain dilated for longer times.

As our body adapts to the drug, we might start to feel as if the effects of the drug are lesser. So, one could start taking more drugs to help them get the same feeling. Their body has developed a tolerance to the effects of the drug. This is what can greatly increase one’s substance use.

Another important point to remember is that these changes that I talked about earlier, only adapt our bodies to the time when we are using the drug. When one suddenly stops using the drug, for some time, their body doesn’t just go back to normal. It is adapted to the effects of the drug.

The happy chemicals do not release at the same rate they did before. In fact, many other effects, such as slowing down of the heart rate in alcohol, do not return to normal initially after the addiction is dropped. This is our body’s way of withdrawal from the effects of the drug.

Unfortunately, in cases of potent drugs such as methamphetamine and heroine, the withdrawals can endanger life. This is because many of the physiological functions of the body are no longer being performed as correctly as before.

This is why medications are often used to treat withdrawal symptoms. They do not lead to the same euphoria, but they allow the body to return to normal through a controlled and safer dosage.

Conclusion

Substance abuse and addiction is a psychiatric condition. If it is severe, it can cause long lasting social and psychological trauma. In fact, withdrawal symptoms and overdoses can be fatal. This is why it is necessary to treat them appropriately. Not every kind of drug is fatal though. However, habits that cause harm to oneself and others are rarely sustainable.

If you or anyone you know might have a substance problem, it is probably good to seek help.

Categories
Cognitive Psychology Dark Personality Psychology

Why Do Pathological Liars Lie?

M Abdullah Qureshi

Lying is a very common behavior per se. There are various reasons one might choose to lie. Perhaps you do not want to cause trouble with your boss, so you might lie that there no problems at work. Perhaps a young adolescent might lie to his parents to cover up the fact that he was hanging out with his buddies.

Pathological lying is different. Pathological lying occurs even in situations where there is no harm in telling the truth.

I have talked in great detail how one could identify pathological lying behavior. To put it very shortly, pathological lying is the continuous behavior of lying irrespective of the consequences of a situation.

In this article, I will explain why pathological lying occurs in the first place.

Why would a person choose to lie even when there is no discernable gain?

I detail multiple reasons for this behavior. Let’s begin!

Shielding from Cognitive Dissonance

Well, consider something that you believed in since childhood. If that belief were to be violated by some new information, how would you feel?

Very anxious, fearful, depressed.

This is because of cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the disruption of one’s thoughts when the belief that they held is successfully antagonized or challenged by a new belief or reality. The newer belief seems to be antithetical to the prior belief.

This is not exactly a comfortable situation. Here’s why.

To make room for the new belief, not only is the previous one challenged but many implications of the previous belief no longer seem to have a logical basis. So, there is intense tension of thoughts. It could be that you might not know what to do anymore. And if the belief was a core one, it becomes even harder to accept either of the beliefs.

Cognitive dissonance can be observed in people who, for example, get disfranchised with religion.

So, to stave off cognitive dissonance as much as they can, some people might lie to maintain a maladaptive belief. As this belief cannot stand the test of maturity, or is too painful to handle, a pathological liar will attempt to challenge the competing belief, even if it means foregoing logic.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a mechanism of learning or adopting behaviors by actively influencing an environment. While there is surprisingly sparse research, there is some case-study based evidence that pathological lying can develop in children as the result of their behavior being reinforcing for them.

So, for example, an individual might find that simply denying any wrongdoing, no matter the magnitude, helps them get out of trouble. As a result, they can repeat this behavior in further circumstances.

This is an example of operant conditioning as the individual operates on the environment (by lying) and they receive negative reinforcement (possibility of their punishment decreases). As they have discovered their action to be reinforcing, the individual will practice this behavior again, as it could help them out of tricky situations in the future.

With this, I will now move on to reasons which might lead to pathological lying through indirect ways. Let’s explore further!

Cognitive Distortions

A maladaptive or irrational belief is not based on a logical and balanced assessment of reality. It could be formed by demandingness, as Albert Ellis would have put it. It could be formed by an antagonistic or traumatic event. Whatever the case may be, irrational beliefs are distorted versions of the perception of reality.

One class of agents which form such irrational beliefs is of cognitive distortions.

To define very simply, cognitive distortions are elements of subjective interpretations of reality which subjectively distort the content or information of one’s beliefs about the reality.

In the case of pathological lying, one could think along certain cognitive distortions. For example, an individual could view the other person as an enemy, engaging in dichotomous thinking (all or none thinking), even when they are relatively neutral in their stance towards the person. As a result, the individual, under the influence of dichotomous thinking – which is a cognitive distortion – could start fabricating information out of paranoia or dislike for the other individual.

Psychiatric Disorders

The psychiatric disorders which contribute the most to pathological lying are usually those that are associated with impulse control. These are usually substance use disorders, gambling disorder, or kleptomania. On the other hand, pathological lying can also be found in individuals with personality disorders – particularly Cluster B personality disorders.

If a person has an impulse control problem, they might try to lie in order to maintain their condition. For example, if one has a substance use disorder, they might lie to their physician about things which could lead to desirable outcomes. They could exaggerate their experience of pain to receive more painkillers. However, this can also fall under the ambit of malingering, which is a psychiatric diagnosis.

Another example could be of lying in personality disorders. An individual with narcissistic personality disorder might lie compulsively in situations where they wish to portray a grand image of themselves.

Much like cognitive distortions, psychiatric disorders might contribute indirectly to pathological lying.

Conclusion

Cognitive dissonance, conditioning, distortion and psychiatric issues, all are interconnected phenomena. All of these aspects can be seen contributing to the incidence of pathological behavior. This is no different in the case of pathological lying. If one follows the psychoanalytic perspective strictly, this behavior could originate from one’s childhood experiences which might be traumatic or disorienting.

Safe to say, pathological lying is not a fun condition. It can disrupt one’s life greatly, causing major problems at work, home, school or any other setting which involves communication. In fact, people who have this issue might find themselves being socially isolated from their protective circle. This, as mentioned earlier, could lead to an even more intensification of their compulsive lying behavior.

If you believe that you or someone you know might have a major issue with it, perhaps speaking to a mental health professional could be the best way to ease your discomfort.