Monday, February 23, 2009

PSYCH 101

One of my greatest pet peeves are people who have taken a psychology class who know think they are experts at diagnosis. A couple examples:

  • I overheard a girl telling her friend that he had Asperger syndrome because he doesn't like small talk. Idiot. Asperger syndrome is difficult to diagnosis even by professionals and is also characterised by physical clumsiness. Considering that this guy is a lifeguard and avid bike rider it is highly doubtful.

  • My grade 9 English teacher took me aside because she was concerned I had a drug problem. A 14 year old girl with well-behaved friends, good marks and a well kept appearance having problems staying awake in class. Doesn't that scream drug fiend? As a teacher I would have loved if my students would finish their work early and the room was so quiet they fell asleep.

  • Don't get me started on people diagnosing ADD, ADHD and OCD.

3 comments:

roger said...

No diggity . . . no doubt. It's silly they just want to "diagnose" everyone with something and keep makin' that money!

roger said...

I need a semicolon up in there.

The Wisper said...

Amen. Another few for your list: Attatchement Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder. 90% of files I read have diagnosed the person with at least two of that list: ADHD, OCD, AD, ODD, or CD.