DSM-5 Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: Study Map

Here is the study map for obsessive compulsive disorders.

Note: I am looking for ways to improve all of these study maps and would like to hear (read) your feedback. Please write a comment below if you find errors or if you have any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Rant About Pride vs Shame

The color of human emotions chart (see Rant About Human Emotions post below) can be used as a tool to identify many basic emotions that are opposed to each other. Each of the seven primary colors on the chart is assigned to a pair of exact opposite emotions measured on a simple scale; the thesis and the antithesis. For example, if I were to be experiencing an uncomfortable level of shame, I could look in the row for the color indigo and identify or label my shame as the thesis. Furthermore, by looking at the opposite end of the indigo row, I can readily see that pride is the exact opposite emotion (antithesis).

The number scale on the chart can be useful in measuring a subjective self-reported magnitude for each specific emotion. Once the subjective self-reported magnitude for one emotion is identified, the number value also indicates the amount required to reach equilibrium between the thesis and the antithesis. For example, if I reported my shame to be in the scale of three (3), then the amount of pride required in order balance out my shame and bring that plane of emotion towards equilibrium would also be in the scale of three (3).

I would argue that equilibrium is only a temporary state that changes moment to moment. My cautious optimism leads me to believe that equilibrium is only a temporary and ideal state for any pair of exact opposite emotions. If this is true, then the emotional level for each of the seven opposite emotional pairs (color rows) is constantly fluctuating as the two opposite emotions in that color row change between thesis and antithesis. In other words, using my example of shame and pride, the magnitude of my emotional value in the indigo row will continuously fluctuate. Therefore, my emotional value in the indigo row will cross back and forth through equilibrium as my emotional state keeps changing between pride and shame.

DSM-5 Depressive Disorders: Study Map

Here is the study map for depressive disorders.

Note: I am looking for ways to improve all of these study maps and would like to hear (read) your feedback. Please write a comment below if you find errors or if you have any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Due Credit:
These mind maps were developed using Edraw Mind Map Software version 7.0 (www.edrawsof.com)

Rant About Human Emotions

We could apply the logic that George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel applied to Immanuel Kant's definitions for thesis, antithesis, and synthesis to describe and understand the constant tension that exists between the different human emotions that we may experience at any moment of our lives. However, in order to apply this logic to a particular human emotion, we would need to know which is the exact opposite human emotion that could be the cause of constant tension. For example, if we apply Hegel's logic to the human emotion of fear, first we need to define what we mean by fear. Then we would need to find the human emotion that can be defined as the complete opposite. In the interest of time, I propose that the human emotion opposite to fear is trust.

Following Hegel's logic, if fear and trust are the exact opposite of the same phenomenon, we could say that fear is the thesis and trust the antithesis, or vice versa. Once we have clearly defined and  identified the thesis and antithesis, the challenge becomes to be able to determine what the synthesis is. I believe that identifying the synthesis is much easier said than done, especially when we consider human emotions.

In order to facilitate the identification of several basic emotions in terms of thesis and antithesis, I have developed the following color of human emotions chart.

DSM-5 Schizophrenia Spectrum: Study Map

Here is another study map I put together for schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders listed in the DSM-5:

Constant Tension and the Cause of Human Existence: Late Night Philosophical Rant

German philosopher George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) talked about the constant tension that exists between any given phenomenon and its exact opposite. The given phenomenon can be a conceptual idea, a scientific fact, a substantial belief, a particular object, or a specific event. Hegel's rationale is that, since any given phenomenon has an exact opposite, then on one side we have the thesis and on the other side we have the antithesis. Today we commonly label this same idea in similar terms when we talk about matter versus antimatter, light versus darkness, yin versus yang, anger versus love, hostility versus peace, and pain versus relief.

The tension that exists between the two opposing sides is continuous and inevitable. This tension appears to be an essential ingredient that makes possible the creation of natural forces that are required for anything tangible to exist. From basic astrological principles, we understand that celestial bodies tend to rotate in order to retain their shape. For example, the Earth's continuous rotation about its axis at the speed of 1,047 miles per hour creates a very strong centrifugal force that is constantly pushing and trying to launch everything out into space. Fortunately, the gravitational force caused by the large mass of our planet is constantly forcing everything towards the center of the Earth. Another way of looking at this is as follows: The Earth's centrifugal force keeps everything in the planet from being sucked inwards, and the Earth's gravitational force keeps everything from being flung outwards.

We can say the force of gravity and the centrifugal force of the Earth are two necessary and opposing powerful forces that create a constant and turbulent tension in order to maintain just enough natural balance for the Earth to exist in its current state. Another way to say this is that one of the very things that makes the Earth's existence possible is the turbulent tension between the force of gravity and the centrifugal force. This reasoning suggests that the constant struggle between two opposing forces can be seen as a necessary condition for the existence of a given phenomenon. By the same token, when we try to apply this understanding to look at the existence of a human individual, and when we include the fact that within and around that human being there could be many different forces acting at the same time, we can say that there are many powerful opposing forces which continuously cause tension in that human individual. If this is true, then we can say that the constant struggle between opposing forces is a necessary condition of life itself.

According to Walter Kaufmann (1921-1980), the terminology of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis was developed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). Kaufman also explained that the main ideas for Kant's terminology had been expanded by Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814) when the founding of the philosophical movement known as German idealism took place.
Source: Jesus A. Sanchez Ohep (December, 11, 2013)

The short definitions below are useful in understanding the terminology (Source: wikipedia onThesis,antithesis, and synthesis):

• The thesis is an intellectual proposition.
• The antithesis is simply the negation of the thesis, a reaction to the proposition.
• The synthesis solves the conflict between the thesis and antithesis by reconciling their common truths and forming a new thesis, starting the process over.

DSM-5 Anxiety Disorders: Helpful Study Map

I wanted to share this study map I put together for the anxiety disorders listed in the DSM-5. I found the map very useful as a study and review tool.

The Heart of a Psychologist: Why is the field of psychology important to me?

I am a retired electrical engineer and worked as an engineer for almost 20 years. During all of that time, I was always intrigued by how the human mind works, how our perception influence our feelings, how our feelings shape our thoughts, and how our thoughts affect our behavior. I found myself many times daydreaming and even believing that I had figured out, not the answers to these questions, but how to ask the right questions that could at least shed some humble understanding.

I suppose that even when I worked as an engineer, I always had the heart of a psychologist.

In 2003, after being forced to retire from my engineering job, I decided to take that very opportunity to follow my psychologist heart and seek out a path that would bring me closer to finding the way of asking the right questions. In 2008, after my first book was published, I approached the office of admissions for the graduate program of North Carolina Central University (NCCU). I found out that I had to take at least seven prerequisite classes before I would even become eligible for admission in the psychology program. To make a long story short, it took me almost five years to complete all the prerequisites and was finally accepted to the Clinical Concentration of the Graduate Psychology program at NCCU. I begun the program as a full time student in August 2013 and last night was my last exam of the first of six semesters.

I will not pretend that I have been enlightened and that I know why the field of psychology is important to me. However, I do know: After almost five years of taking prerequisites and one full semester of graduate school, I am still exited to be where I am and I feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to be learning what I am learning. I can honestly say that this journey is not very easy. It may be fun at times, but never easy. I found that the best way to explain my experiences thus far is with the following metaphor:

I feel that I am just like a piece of cork. I may get pushed down again and again, but I always manage to come back up and stay afloat (JASO, December 2013).