heliocentric
Registered Senior Member
I agree that an illness of the brain is quite different than one of the mind. That is why one usually sees those pertaining to the mind as disorders. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder whereas schizoid behavior refers to a personality disorder. I like the word disorder in this particular instance because it suggests that there is a normal thought process and several that are not.
Now it could be said that someone afflicted with a schizoid personality is normal and everyone else who thinks otherwise is not. This is what I'm thinking the thread has been about, one person's normal is another's disorder, or something like that.
Possibly. Either way i dont necessarily have a problem with the notion of 'personality types' the issue for me is the negative connotations that are attached personality categories once you start labeling them a disorder. I think this is why you find alot of aspie/schizoid-pride groups now - people coming together to say: "yes, i agree that i fit into your diagnositic criteria, however i take extreme offense to the idea that i must be treated and cured".
In the case of the schizoid, this personality type probably has good reason to be doubly pissed off, since in many other cultures and historical epochs he/she would have been far more likely to be branded a 'mystic' or 'brahmin'; possibly with a real active social role to play in the community too. In may infact be the case that the only reason the schizoid tends towards depression in our culture is not due to some inner-disturbance about the 'condition' itself, but rather the fact that the traditional social roles that the schizoid would have once easily acquired have been removed from him.
Look at someone Ram Bahadur Bomjon (AKA 'Buddha Boy') in his native country he is practically revered as a God, whereas in America or Europe i could well imagine him sat in a dirty bedsit somewhere addicted to meth, feeling bitter, pissed off and alone.
These are extreme examples im using here obviously, but hopefully the point im trying to make it clear.