├── contributing.md ├── img ├── Capgras-Syndrome.png ├── DKE.jpg ├── behaviour-understand.jpg ├── bystander-effect.jpg ├── munchausen-by-proxy.png └── munchausen-syndrome.png └── readme.md /contributing.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | # Contribution Guidelines 2 | 3 | Please ensure your pull request adheres to the following guidelines: 4 | 5 | - Search previous suggestions before making a new one, as yours may be a duplicate. 6 | - Make an individual pull request for each suggestion. 7 | - Check your spelling and grammar. 8 | - Make sure your text editor is set to remove trailing whitespace. 9 | - The pull request and commit should have a useful title. 10 | - Entries must be of this form : 11 | 12 | ```md 13 | #### [Item Name](link-to-wikipedia) 14 | 15 | > A one-line description of the item 16 | 17 | Succinct paragraph about the entry. (wrapped at 80 columns) 18 | 19 | [Reference Name 1](some-other-reference) 20 | 21 | [Reference Name 2](some-other-reference-1) 22 | ``` 23 | 24 | - **Reference Naming Guidelines**: If the article has a title that is related to the item 25 | in self explanatory way (such as `What is item-name?`, or `How item-name works?`, then, the source of 26 | the article must be mentioned in the format: 27 | ```md 28 | R: source-of-article.com 29 | ``` 30 | If not, then the title of the article may be used. 31 | ```md 32 | R: Title of the article 33 | ``` 34 | ) 35 | - You may shorten the name of the item to a suitable acronym for use in the item's entry. (Check [DKE](https://github.com/icyflame/awesome-social-scienc#dunning-kruger-effect-dke)) 36 | - Every entry must have atleast one reference apart from WikiPedia. 37 | - If the entry does not have a wikipedia page, then consider [writing one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page). 38 | - If the existence of a particular effect is popularly debated, then please 39 | mention the views of the critics in the succinct paragraph about the item. 40 | - You may add atmost three references, in one line. 41 | - A **soft upper bound** on references is 6. (excluding WikiPedia) 42 | - If your entry consists of an image, put the image inside the `img/` directory, 43 | with the name of your entry. 44 | - Thanks a lot to [@sindresorhus](https://github.com/sindresorhus) for the basic idea, and the help [selecting the name of this list](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome/issues/229) and [a tweet as well](https://twitter.com/_icyflame/status/630298201329786880) 45 | 46 | Thank you for your suggestions! 47 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /img/Capgras-Syndrome.png: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/icyflame/awesome-social-science/44a69bfe5f4b6c8cdb27d83977a211d9e5874965/img/Capgras-Syndrome.png -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /img/DKE.jpg: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/icyflame/awesome-social-science/44a69bfe5f4b6c8cdb27d83977a211d9e5874965/img/DKE.jpg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /img/behaviour-understand.jpg: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/icyflame/awesome-social-science/44a69bfe5f4b6c8cdb27d83977a211d9e5874965/img/behaviour-understand.jpg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /img/bystander-effect.jpg: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/icyflame/awesome-social-science/44a69bfe5f4b6c8cdb27d83977a211d9e5874965/img/bystander-effect.jpg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /img/munchausen-by-proxy.png: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/icyflame/awesome-social-science/44a69bfe5f4b6c8cdb27d83977a211d9e5874965/img/munchausen-by-proxy.png -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /img/munchausen-syndrome.png: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/icyflame/awesome-social-science/44a69bfe5f4b6c8cdb27d83977a211d9e5874965/img/munchausen-syndrome.png -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /readme.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | # Awesome Social Science [![Awesome](https://cdn.rawgit.com/sindresorhus/awesome/d7305f38d29fed78fa85652e3a63e154dd8e8829/media/badge.svg)](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome) 2 | 3 | > A curated list of adages, psychological syndromes and behaviour explaining aphorisms. 4 | 5 | Inspired by this [issue](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome/issues/229) and the [awesome](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome) list thing. 6 | 7 | Please read the [Contributing Guidelines](./contributing.md) before contributing. 8 | 9 | ![image](./img/behaviour-understand.jpg) 10 | 11 | ## Table of Contents 12 | 13 | - [Aphorisms / Adages / Epigrams](#aphorisms--adages--epigrams) 14 | - [Occam's Razor](#occams-razor) 15 | - [Hanlon's Razor](#hanlons-razor) 16 | - [Murphy's Law](#murphys-law) 17 | - [Godwin's Law](#godwins-law) 18 | - [Parkinson's Law](#parkinsons-law) 19 | - [Psychological Syndromes](#psychological-syndromes) 20 | - [Stockholm Syndrome](#stockholm-syndrome) 21 | - [Dunning-Kruger Effect](#dunning-kruger-effect-dke) 22 | - [Pygmalion Effect](#pygmalion-effect) 23 | - [Golem Effect](#golem-effect) 24 | - [Capgras Syndrome](#capgras-syndrome) 25 | - [Hawthorne Effect](#hawthorne-effect) 26 | - [Fregoli Delusion](#fregoli-delusion) 27 | - [Placebo Effect](#placebo-effect) 28 | - [Synesthesia](#synesthesia) 29 | - [Bystander Effect](#bystander-effect) 30 | - [Munchausen syndrome](#munchausen-syndrome) 31 | - [Munchausen syndrome by proxy](#munchausen-syndrome-by-proxy) 32 | - [Zeigarnik Effect](#zeigarnik-effect) 33 | - [Mere-exposure Effect](#mere-exposure-effect) 34 | - [Cotard Delusion](#cotard-delusion) 35 | - [Trichotillomania](#trichotillomania) 36 | - [Schizophrenia](#schizophrenia) 37 | - [Borderline Personality Disorder](#borderline-personality-disorder-bpd) 38 | - [Prosopagnosia](#prosopagnosia) 39 | - [Body Dysmorphic Disorder](#body-dysmorphic-disorder) 40 | - [Ganser syndrome](#ganser-syndrome) 41 | - [Multiple Personality Disorder](#multiple-personality-disorder) 42 | - [Acute Stress Disorder](#acute-stress-disorder) 43 | - [Hypochondria](#hypochondria) 44 | - [Diogenes Syndrome](#diogenes-syndrome) 45 | - [Oppositional Defiant Disorder](#oppositional-defiant-disorder) 46 | - [Bipolar Disorder](#bipolar-disorder) 47 | - [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder](#attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd) 48 | - [Autism Spectrum Disorder](#autism-spectrum-disorder-asd) 49 | - [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder](#post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd) 50 | 51 | ## Aphorisms / Adages / Epigrams 52 | 53 | #### [Occam's Razor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor) 54 | 55 | > Among competing hypotheses that predict equally well, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected 56 | 57 | For each accepted explanation of a phenomenon, there is always an infinite number 58 | of possible and more complex alternatives, but simpler theories are more preferable 59 | because they are easily testable. This is a line of reasoning often used in daily life. 60 | 61 | [R: ucr.edu](http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/occam.html) 62 | 63 | [R: howstuffworks.com](http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/scientific-experiments/occams-razor.htm) 64 | 65 | #### [Hanlon's Razor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor) 66 | 67 | > Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. 68 | 69 | A special case of Occam's razor, the history of this aphorism is controversial, 70 | but the applications are endless. [Miscommunications are often attributed](https://github.com/sindresorhus/ama/issues/48#issuecomment-118540912) 71 | to this aphorism in Open Source Projects. 72 | 73 | [R: jargon, node](http://www.jargon.net/jargonfile/h/HanlonsRazor.html) 74 | 75 | [R: rationalwiki.org](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Hanlon's_razor) 76 | 77 | #### [Murphy's Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law) 78 | 79 | > If anything can go wrong -- it will. 80 | 81 | People most often relate with `If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, 82 | it will happen then.`, especially after the dawn of mobile communication (no coverage 83 | right when you need it most) and the Internet (no connectivity, when you have to send 84 | that one life-changing email.) 85 | 86 | [R: Ultimate collections of Murphy's Laws](http://murphyslaws.net/) 87 | 88 | #### [Godwin's Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law) 89 | 90 | > As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1 91 | 92 | In many newsgroups, it is a tradition in which whoever mentions the Nazis automatically 93 | loses the debate that was going on, and the thread is finished there and then. Also, popularly 94 | referred to as `Playing the Hitler card`. 95 | 96 | > It was difficult, after attempting a greater psychological understanding of why the Holocaust 97 | > happened and how it was conducted, to tolerate the glib comparisons I encountered on the Internet 98 | > (Usenet in those days) - Mike Godwin 99 | 100 | [R: Mike Godwin on 18 years of Godwin's law](http://jewcy.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/i_seem_be_verb_18_years_godwins_law) 101 | 102 | [R: slashdot.com, history and popular use](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/godwins-law) 103 | 104 | [Bonus: an xkcd about this as well!](https://xkcd.com/261/) 105 | 106 | *** 107 | 108 | #### [Parkinson's law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law) 109 | 110 | > Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. 111 | 112 | This adage explains why you end up studying the majority of your syllabus one 113 | day before the exam despite the fact that you probably had over a week to 114 | study. Interestingly, it is used to explain the inefficiencies of bureaucratic 115 | systems. Having earlier deadlines can be a way to get around the problem. 116 | 117 | [R: A Beginners Guide To Parkinson’s Law: How To Do More Stuff By Giving Yourself Less Time](https://impossiblehq.com/parkinsons-law/) 118 | 119 | [R: What is Parkinson's law: The Hindu](http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/what-is-parkinsons-law-in-management/article19758089.ece) 120 | 121 | ## Psychological Syndromes 122 | 123 | #### [Stockholm Syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome) 124 | 125 | > When the victim mistakes a lack of abuse as an act of kindness by the captor. 126 | 127 | Traumatic bonding that is most common in kidnapping situations, where the hostages 128 | express sympathy towards the captor, to the point of defending the captors. It may be 129 | attributed to the natural selection process that let our hunter-gatherer ancestors 130 | solve adaptive problems. 131 | 132 | [R: bbc.com](http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22447726) 133 | 134 | [Origin: Norrmalmstorg robbery 135 | ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norrmalmstorg_robbery) 136 | 137 | [R: Societal Stockholm Syndrom](http://web2.iadfw.net/ktrig246/out_of_cave/sss.html) 138 | 139 | [R: howstuffworks.com](http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/mental-disorders/stockholm-syndrome.htm) 140 | 141 | #### [Dunning-Kruger effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect) [DKE] 142 | 143 | > When unskilled individuals mistakenly assess their abilty to be much higher than is accurate 144 | 145 | ![Imgur](./img/DKE.jpg) 146 | 147 | [R: Dunning Kruger effect in Software Development](http://www.iainjmitchell.com/blog/dunning-kruger/) 148 | 149 | [R: Lessons learnt](http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/lessons-from-dunning-kruger/) 150 | 151 | [R: What DKE is and isn't](http://www.talyarkoni.org/blog/2010/07/07/what-the-dunning-kruger-effect-is-and-isnt/) 152 | 153 | #### [Pygmalion effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_effect) 154 | 155 | > the phenomenon whereby higher expectations lead to an increase in performance 156 | 157 | The idea behind this effect is that if a leader expects more of a follower, then the follower tends to 158 | improve their performance. Studies of this effect in action are hard to conduct because they are generally 159 | in an artificial, manipulated setting. Also, there is an argument that often the perception of a follower 160 | by the leader directly or indirectly affect the expectations that said leader has from the follower. This 161 | effect was shown to exist in schools in the Rosenthal-Jacobson study. 162 | 163 | [R: hbr.org](https://hbr.org/2003/01/pygmalion-in-management) 164 | 165 | [R: krauthammer.com](http://www.krauthammer.com/articles/the-pygmalion-effect) 166 | 167 | #### [Golem Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem_effect) 168 | 169 | > The phenomenon where lower expectations placed upon individuals leads to poorer performance 170 | 171 | The Golem effect is the negative corrollary of the Pygmalion Effect: Supervisors 172 | with negative expectations will inadvertently produce behaviours that reduce the 173 | efficiency of their subordinates. This effect has been most rigorously studied 174 | in Classroom settings. Teachers treat students performing poorly with high 175 | negative bias, this in turn leads the students to perform poorly, reinforcing 176 | the teacher's belief. This is one of the most problematic consequences of Golem 177 | Effect in the Classroom. A few studies have also been made on the Golem effect 178 | in the workplace. 179 | 180 | [R: 181 | buzzle.com](http://www.buzzle.com/articles/psychology-behind-the-golem-effect.html) 182 | 183 | [R: Seimnal 1982 Paper on Golem 184 | Effect](http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/edu/74/4/459.pdf) 185 | 186 | #### [Capgras Syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capgras_delusion) 187 | 188 | > Delusion that an individual's closed ones have been replaced by a double. 189 | 190 | ![image](./img/Capgras-Syndrome.png) 191 | 192 | Capgras Syndrome(a.k.a Capgras Delusion) is a psychiatric disorder in which a 193 | person holds a delusion that a friend, spouse, parent, or other close family 194 | member (or pet) has been replaced by an identical impostor. There is no 195 | definitive diagnosis available. 196 | 197 | [R:healthline.com](https://www.healthline.com/health/capgras-syndrome) 198 | 199 | [R:psychnet-uk.com](http://www.psychnet-uk.com/x_new_site/DSM_IV/capgras_syndrome.html) 200 | 201 | #### [Hawthorne Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_effect) 202 | 203 | > People behave better or improve their productivity when under observation 204 | 205 | The Hawthorne effect (a.k.a Observation Bias) was first noticed at Hawthorne 206 | Works in Cicero, IL where the correlation between lighting conditions and 207 | employee producitivty was studied. Critics who doubt that a correlation exists 208 | in reality argue that the Hawthorne effect is a variant of the demand effect. 209 | Richard Nisbett, a distinguished professor of social psychology, has described 210 | the Hawthorne effect as "a glorified anecdote", saying that "once you have got 211 | the anecdote, you can throw away the data." 212 | 213 | [R: explorable.com](https://explorable.com/hawthorne-effect) 214 | 215 | [R: verywell.com](https://www.verywell.com/what-is-the-hawthorne-effect-2795234) 216 | 217 | #### [Fregoli Delusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fregoli_delusion) 218 | 219 | > Belief that different people are in fact the same! 220 | 221 | It is a rare disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that different 222 | people are in fact a single person who changes appearance or is in disguise! 223 | The syndrome may be related to a brain lesion and is often of a paranoid nature, 224 | with the delusional person believing themselves persecuted by the person they 225 | believe is in disguise. This delusion is related to [Capgras 226 | delusion](#capgras-syndrome). Psychiatrists believe it is the result of 227 | troubles with facial perception, which can be caused by traumatic brain injury. 228 | 229 | [R: delusionaldisorders.wordpress.com](https://delusionaldisorders.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/what-is-fregoli-delusion/) 230 | 231 | [R: glennmillermd.com](http://glennmillermd.com/the-fregoli-delusion/) 232 | 233 | #### [Placebo Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo) 234 | 235 | > Belief in a treatment may be enough to change the course of a person's physical illness. 236 | 237 | A placebo is a substance or treatment with no active therapeutic effect. A 238 | placebo may be given to a person in order to deceive the recipient into thinking 239 | that it is an active treatment. In drug testing and medical research, a placebo 240 | can be made to resemble an active medication or therapy so that it functions as 241 | a control; this is to prevent the recipient(s) and/or others from knowing 242 | whether a treatment is active or inactive, as expectations about efficacy can 243 | influence results. In a broad sense, the effect may be viewed as an improvement 244 | in patients' symptoms that are attributable to their participation in the 245 | therapeutic encounter, with it's rituals, symbols, and interactions. 246 | 247 | [R: Placebo Effects in Medicine](http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1504023) 248 | 249 | [R: betterhealth.vic.gov.au](https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/placebo-effect) 250 | 251 | #### [Synesthesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia) 252 | 253 | > When stimulation of one sense leads to involuntary experiences in another sense 254 | 255 | This neurological phenomenon occurs when stimulation of one sense leads to 256 | involuntary experiences in another sense or a "union of the senses" where for 257 | example taste and sound are joined together. Some people experience color when 258 | they hear sounds or read words and may be able to answer a question like "What 259 | color is A?" Over 60 types of Synesthesia have been reported. Approximately 1 in 260 | 2000 people are believed to have Synesthesia. 261 | 262 | [R: scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-synesthesia) 263 | 264 | [R: apa.org](https://www.apa.org/monitor/mar01/synesthesia.aspx) 265 | 266 | #### [Bystander Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect) 267 | 268 | > Phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when 269 | > other people are present 270 | 271 | ![bystander](./img/bystander-effect.jpg) 272 | 273 | This effect occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from 274 | intervening in an emergency situation. When an emergency situation occurs, 275 | observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses. 276 | Being part of a large crowd makes it so no single person has to take 277 | responsibility for an action. Knowing that the bystander effect exists 278 | consciously is thought to be enough to prevent it from happening when one is a 279 | bystander in a situation where a victim needs help. If you are the victim 280 | seeking help, singling out one person in the crowd and appealing to them for 281 | help is often recommended as the best strategy to get any required assistance. 282 | 283 | [R :verywell.com](https://www.verywell.com/the-bystander-effect-2795899) 284 | 285 | [R :thehindu.com](http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/bystander-effect-psychology/article17545542.ece) 286 | 287 | #### [Munchausen syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factitious_disorder_imposed_on_self) 288 | 289 | > Person pretends to have a physical or mental illness in an attempt to get 290 | > seek attention 291 | 292 | ![munchausen](./img/munchausen-syndrome.png) 293 | 294 | Munchausen's syndrome is a psychological and behavioural condition where someone 295 | pretends to be ill or induces symptoms of illness in themselves. Their main 296 | intention is to assume the "sick role" to have people care for them and be the 297 | centre of attention. People with this disorder are often willing to undergo 298 | painful and risky tests in order to get the sympathy and special attention given 299 | to people who are truly ill. People suffering from this syndrome suffer from 300 | severe emotional difficulties. 301 | 302 | [R: nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/munchausens-syndrome/) 303 | 304 | [R: my.clevelandclinic.org](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/munchausen-syndrome) 305 | 306 | 307 | #### [Munchausen syndrome by proxy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factitious_disorder_imposed_on_another) 308 | 309 | > Person acts as if an individual he or she is caring for has an illness when 310 | > the person is not really sick. 311 | 312 | ![munchausen-by-proxy](./img/munchausen-by-proxy.png) 313 | 314 | Munchausen by proxy syndrome is a relatively rare form of child abuse that 315 | involves the exaggeration or fabrication of illnesses or symptoms by a primary 316 | caretaker. The adult perpetrator lies about illness in another person under his 317 | or her care, usually a child under 6 years of age. The female antagonist of the 318 | book [Sharp Objects by Gillian 319 | Flynn](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18045891-sharp-objects) suffered from 320 | this disorder. 321 | 322 | [R: healthline.com](https://www.healthline.com/health/munchausen-syndrome-by-proxy) 323 | 324 | [R: medicinet.com](https://www.medicinenet.com/munchausen_syndrome_by_proxy/article.htm) 325 | 326 | #### [Zeigarnik Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeigarnik_effect) 327 | 328 | > People remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed ones! 329 | 330 | Psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik observed the effect of interruption on memory 331 | processing in 1927. Whilst studying at the University of Berlin, her professor, 332 | Kurt Lewin, had noted how waiters in a cafe seemed to remember incomplete tabs 333 | more efficiently than those that had been paid for and were complete. Zeigarnik 334 | decided to test this hypothesis in an experimental setting, and published her 335 | findings in On Finished and Unfinished Tasks, 1927. Zeigarnik’s initial 336 | findings revealed that participants were able to recall details of interrupted 337 | tasks around 90% better than those that they had been able to complete 338 | undisturbed. 339 | 340 | [R: spring.org.uk](http://www.spring.org.uk/2011/02/the-zeigarnik-effect.php) 341 | 342 | [R: goodtherapy.org](https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/zeigarnik-effect) 343 | 344 | [On Finished and Unfinished Tasks (Bluma Zeigarnik, 1927)](http://archive.is/rZC00) 345 | 346 | #### [Mere-exposure Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effect) 347 | 348 | > Repeated exposure of something leads to a more positive feeling about it 349 | 350 | The mere-exposure effect is a psychological phenomenon by which people tend to 351 | develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. In 352 | social psychology, this effect is sometimes called the familiarity principle. In 353 | studies of interpersonal attraction, the more often a person is seen by someone, 354 | the more pleasing and likeable that person appears to be. Another application is 355 | in seen in concerts where the crowd is more excited to listen to the cover of a 356 | popular song or an older song of the performing artist, as compared to a new, 357 | unheard one. Yet another application is related to advertising, where customers 358 | are more likely to buy a product that they have seen advertised several times 359 | before as compared to a product that they haven't ever seen before. 360 | 361 | [R: socialpsychonline.com](http://socialpsychonline.com/2016/03/the-mere-exposure-effect/) 362 | 363 | [R: psychologytoday.com](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/200811/know-me-is-me-i-mere-exposure) 364 | 365 | #### [Cotard Delusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotard_delusion) 366 | 367 | > A rare mental disorder where the patient thinks they are dead or are missing some organs. 368 | 369 | This delusion, a.k.a the Walking Corpse Syndrome, is a rare mental disorder in 370 | which a person mistakenly believes that they are dead, do not exist or are 371 | putrefying. Patients claim that they do not have internal organs or blood. The 372 | illness can be simply described as the denial of self-existence. Some patients 373 | may have delusions of immortality. The Cotard delusion withdraws the afflicted 374 | person from other people due to the neglect of their personal hygiene and 375 | physical health. The delusion of negation of self prevents the patient from 376 | making sense of external reality, which then produces a distorted view of the 377 | external world. 378 | 379 | [R: thesun.co.uk](https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2303771/what-is-cotards-delusion-what-are-the-symptoms-and-why-is-it-called-walking-corpse-syndrome/) 380 | 381 | [R: medigoo.com](https://www.medigoo.com/articles/cotards-delusion/) 382 | 383 | #### [Trichotillomania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichotillomania) 384 | 385 | > This disorder causes an urge in patient to pull their hair out 386 | 387 | It is often caused by post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive 388 | disorder. A study has identified some gene mutations that increase the 389 | vulnerabilities. Treatment includes Habit Reversal Training where the patient is 390 | trained to recognize this abnormal impulse. The condition may also occur in 391 | early childhood. 392 | 393 | [R: National Health Service ](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trichotillomania/) 394 | 395 | [R: Kid's Health](http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/trichotillomania.html) 396 | 397 | #### [Schizophrenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia) 398 | 399 | > Psychological disorder characterized by symptoms of lack of contact with reality 400 | 401 | It was coined in 1910 by the Swiss psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler derived from 402 | the Greek words schizo (split) and phren (mind). An illness closely resembling 403 | schizophrenia can be found in an ancient Egyptian medical text, dating back to 404 | 1550 BC. It causes a disconnection between what a person perceives as reality 405 | and what truly is reality. This mental gap can be extremely confusing, 406 | upsetting, and causes intense psychological distress to the patient. 407 | 408 | [R: nihm.gov](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml) 409 | 410 | [R: rethink.org](https://www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/conditions/schizophrenia) 411 | 412 | [R: mentalhealthamerica.net](http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/schizophrenia) 413 | 414 | #### [Borderline Personality Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder) [BPD] 415 | 416 | > Long pattern of abnormal behaviour including varying moods and self-image 417 | 418 | People suffering from this disorder can experience anger, depression and anxiety 419 | which may last from a few hours to days. People may experience unstable 420 | relationships, indulge in risky activities, isolate themselves, feel 421 | diassociation or engage in self-harming behaviours. The cause for BPD is 422 | unknown. Although, studies show that many individuals with BPD report abuse, 423 | neglect and separation as young children. This syndrome can be treated using 424 | techniques such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour 425 | Therapy. 426 | 427 | [R: National Institute of Mental Health](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml) 428 | 429 | [R: psycom.net](https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.borderline.html) 430 | 431 | #### [Prosopagnosia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia) 432 | 433 | > A cognitive disorder that impairs the patient's recognition of familiar faces 434 | 435 | This disorder is caused by lesions in the brain's occipital areas or due to 436 | Alzheimer's disease. People suffering from this disorder can still differentiate 437 | between people based on their hairstyle, their gait or their voice, but even 438 | these strategies don't always work, especially when meeting people out of 439 | context. There have been no treatment methods discovered as of now. 440 | 441 | [R: National Health Service](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/face-blindness/) 442 | 443 | [R: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke](https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Prosopagnosia-Information-Page) 444 | 445 | #### [Body Dysmorphic Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder) 446 | 447 | > A mental illness involving obsessive focus on a perceived flaw in appearance 448 | 449 | Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental disorder characterized by the 450 | obsessive idea that some aspect of one's own appearance is severely flawed 451 | and warrants exceptional measures to hide or fix it. In BDD's delusional 452 | variant, the flaw is imagined. If the flaw is actual, its importance is severely 453 | exaggerated. 454 | 455 | [R: adaa.org](https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd) 456 | 457 | [R: nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-dysmorphia/) 458 | 459 | #### [Ganser syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganser_syndrome) 460 | 461 | > Patient responds to questions with an incorrect answer 462 | 463 | Ganser syndrome is a rare dissociative disorder previously classified as a 464 | factitious disorder. It is characterized by nonsensical or wrong answers to 465 | questions or doing things incorrectly, other dissociative symptoms such as fugue, 466 | amnesia or conversion disorder, often with visual pseudohallucinations and a 467 | decreased state of consciousness. This syndrome is still shrouded in mystery, 468 | owing mainly to the difficulty in conducting objective research. A patient might 469 | deliberately give odd approximate answers to a series of questions in an effort 470 | to confuse researchers. 471 | 472 | [R: emedicine.medscape.com](https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/287390-overview) 473 | 474 | [R: minddisorders.com](http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Ganser-s-syndrome.html) 475 | 476 | #### [Multiple Personality Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder) 477 | 478 | > A disorder characterised by the presence of two or more distinct personality states 479 | 480 | Dissociative identity disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder, 481 | is a mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring 482 | identities or dissociated personalities. These states alternately show in a person's 483 | behavior, accompanied by memory impairment for important information not explained 484 | by ordinary forgetfulness. 485 | 486 | [R: Psychology Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder) 487 | 488 | [R: nami.org](https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Dissociative-Disorders) 489 | 490 | #### [Acute Stress Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_stress_reaction) 491 | 492 | > As a response to the traumatic event, the individual develops dissociative symptoms 493 | 494 | Acute stress reaction (also called acute stress disorder, psychological shock, 495 | mental shock, or simply shock) is a psychological condition arising in response 496 | to a terrifying or traumatic event, or witnessing a traumatic event that induces 497 | a strong emotional response within the individual. It should not be confused with 498 | the unrelated circulatory condition of shock/hypoperfusion. 499 | 500 | [R: psychologytoday.com](https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/acute-stress-disorder) 501 | 502 | [R: healthline.com](https://www.healthline.com/health/acute-stress-disorder) 503 | 504 | #### [Hypochondria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochondriasis) 505 | 506 | > Obsession with the idea of having a serious but undiagnosed medical condition 507 | 508 | Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a condition in which a person is inordinately 509 | worried about having a serious illness. It has been claimed that this 510 | debilitating condition results from an inaccurate perception of the condition of 511 | body or mind despite the absence of an actual medical diagnosis. Hypochondriacs 512 | demand more tests at a time when physicians are under pressure to curtail 513 | unnecessary procedures -- and they move among multiple providers, making it 514 | difficult to manage their care. As a group, hypochondriacs cost billions of 515 | dollars a year in unnecessary medical tests and treatments that are many times 516 | not borne by the individual, but by all the people whose insurance premiums rise 517 | because of these bills. 518 | 519 | [R: psychologytoday.com](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/life-after-50/201703/hypochondria) 520 | 521 | [R: medicalnewstoday.com](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9983.php) 522 | 523 | #### [Diogenes Syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_syndrome) 524 | 525 | > Involves excessive hoarding of garbage and severe self-neglect 526 | 527 | Diogenes syndrome is characterised by abnormal possessiveness, excessive hoarding, 528 | severe self-neglect, social withdrwal, apathy, distrust and refusal of help and 529 | dirty homes. Diogenes syndrome tends to occur among the elderly. It occurs in both 530 | men and women. The syndrome is named after an ancient Greek philosopher 531 | 532 | [R: medicalnewstoday.com](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314595.php) 533 | 534 | [R: healthline.com](https://www.healthline.com/health/diogenes-syndrome) 535 | 536 | #### [Oppositional Defiant Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder) [ODD] 537 | 538 | > A pattern of irritable mood, aggressiveness and vindictiveness 539 | 540 | Children and adolescents with Oppositional Defiant Disorder tend to very quickly 541 | lose their temper, are disobedient, apt to rebel against authorities and quick to 542 | blame others. These impulses are acted out so often that they compromise the ability 543 | to get along with ohers. The refuse to cooperate even before knowing what is expected 544 | of them. Children with ODD often have mood disorders like depression, anxiety disorders, 545 | or learning or communication disorders. 546 | 547 | [R: childmind.org](https://childmind.org/guide/oppositional-defiant-disorder/) 548 | 549 | [R: aacap.org](http://www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Children_With_Oppositional_Defiant_Disorder_72.aspx) 550 | 551 | #### [Bipolar Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder) 552 | 553 | > A disorder characterized by extreme mood swings, from depression to euphoria 554 | 555 | During a manic episode, people may feel excited, have lots of energy, increased 556 | activity, do risky things and can be agitated easily. During depressive episodes, 557 | they feel sad, down, hopeless, have decresed activity levels, trouble sleeping and 558 | eating. Sometimes, a person with severe episodes of mania or depression also has 559 | psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions. In the TV series 560 | [Homeland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_(TV_series)) protagonist Carrie 561 | Mathison suffers from this disorder. 562 | 563 | [R: National Institute of Mental Health](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml) 564 | 565 | [R: mentalhealthamerica.net](http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/bipolar-disorder) 566 | 567 | #### [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder) [ADHD] 568 | 569 | > Neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by inattention and hyperactivity 570 | 571 | The people with this disorder have problem in paying attention, organising 572 | activities, are easily distracted, constantly "on the move", fidget, and make 573 | impulsive decisions. For a person to receive a diagnosis of ADHD, the symptoms 574 | of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity must be chronic or long-lasting, 575 | impair the person's functioning, and cause the person to fall behind normal 576 | development for their age. Some conditions, such as learning disabilities, 577 | anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, depression, and substance abuse, are common 578 | in people with ADHD. 579 | 580 | [R: National Institute of Mental Health](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml) 581 | 582 | [R: add.org](https://add.org/adhd-facts/) 583 | 584 | [R: cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/index.html) 585 | 586 | #### [Autism Spectrum Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism) [ASD] 587 | 588 | > A serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact 589 | 590 | Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by troubles with social 591 | interaction and communication. Often there is also restricted and repetitive 592 | behavior. Parents usually notice signs in the first two or three years of their 593 | child's life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with 594 | autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then worsen. 595 | Autism is a wide-spectrum disorder. No two people suffering from ASD will 596 | exhibit the exact same symptoms. Although, some commonly found characterisitcs 597 | include: reduced social skills, lack of empathy, an aversion to physical contact 598 | with strangers, an aversion to loud noises and bright lighting. 599 | 600 | [R: medicalnewstoday.com](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/autism) 601 | 602 | [R: autism.org.uk](http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asd.aspx) 603 | 604 | [R: nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/) 605 | 606 | 607 | #### [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder) [PTSD] 608 | 609 | > Mental disorder developed after a traumatic event in a person's life 610 | 611 | PTSD is a disorder that people develop after experiencing a life threatening or 612 | traumatic event. PTSD can happen to anyone and is not a sign of weakness. To 613 | be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 614 | month: at least one re-experiencing symptom such as flashbacks or bad dreams, 615 | at least one avoidance symptom such as avoiding a place or thought, at least 616 | two arousal and reactivity symptoms such as feeling irritated or angry, and at 617 | least two cognition and mood symptoms such as negative thoughts and feelings. 618 | The risks of PTSD are increased if after a traumatic event, there is lack of 619 | social support or extra stress due to the loss of a loved one, loss of a job or 620 | home. The risks of PTSD can be reduced by seeking out a support group after a 621 | traumatic event, by having a positive coping strategy and by learning to feel 622 | good about one's own actions in the face of fear. Everyone who goes through a 623 | traumatic event will not develop PTSD, in fact, most will not. There are some 624 | events in the past, such as childhood trauma, which may make a person more 625 | susceptible to PTSD. Genetic reasons may also make some people more likely to 626 | develop PTSD than others. 627 | 628 | [R: National Institute of Mental Health](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml) 629 | 630 | [R: ptsd.va.gov](https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/what-is-ptsd.asp) 631 | 632 | *** 633 | 634 | ## License 635 | 636 | [![CC0](http://i.creativecommons.org/p/zero/1.0/88x31.png)](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) 637 | 638 | To the extent possible under law, [Siddharth Kannan](http://icyflame.github.io/) has waived 639 | all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this work. 640 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------