While most writers are astute observers of human nature, they may not know the ins and outs of the psychotherapy field nor the specific symptoms and causes of various mental disorders.
As a reader, I sometimes wince at a blatant mistake regarding some aspect of psychology in an otherwise well-written piece of fiction.
I will be presenting at the WAG meeting at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 2024, on this topic (“Writing Acurately About Mental Health Issues”), but here’s a taste of what I will be talking about. Below are some common myths/misconceptions about psychology and/or therapy. Of course, I will be going into more detail during my presentation…
- Myth/Misconception: Schizophrenia means multiple personalities, like Sybil.
Nope. Schizophrenia means split mind and it refers to a biologically based thought disorder that can often lead to a full-blown loss of touch with reality. The diagnosis for multiple personalities is Dissociative Identity Disorder, in which the person’s personality is fragmented due to trauma.
- Myth/Misconception: Psychopath is an official diagnosis.
Actually, this is an outdated term, one rarely used by mental health professionals except when talking to lay people. The actual diagnosis is antisocial personality disorder. In this case, antisocial does not mean avoiding socializing, it means “against society.”
- Myth/Misconception: Psychopaths can come from “normal” families.
Only if one considers a highly abusive or very chaotic and inconsistent environment normal.
- Myth/Misconception: Therapists always blame mental disorders on the person’s parents.
This was true maybe 50/60 years ago, but not today. We now know that many disorders have a biological basis, and some are almost completely caused by biology/genetics. Also, there is more to a person’s environment than their home life.
- Myth/Misconception: Therapists will talk to the police about their clients if the client is suspected of a crime.
Nope. A therapist cannot even admit that a person is their client without express permission from the client to do so. There are only four exceptions to the rule of confidentiality. One is if a judge orders them to testify, but this rarely happens. The others have to do with protecting the client or others from harm.
- Myth/Misconception: Human memory is like a video camera; it accurately records pretty much everything that happens.
Actually, we record only a small portion of the information that we take in through our senses. And human memory is quite fickle and inaccurate. It can be influenced by a lot of different things, both when it is being recorded and when it is being retrieved.
- Myth/Misconception: Memories of traumatic events are less accurate than normal memory because the person is upset.
Not for the most part. The more intense moments of such an event are seared into the person’s memory and are usually more accurate than normal memory. But other details may be harder to retrieve.
I hope this information helps in writing your stories more accurately. Please stop by on Sunday to find out more.
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