DOCSLIB.ORG

Gender Dysphoria: ‘I’M a Man, but ...’

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gender Dysphoria: ‘I’M a Man, but ...’ CP_1206_CASES.Final 11/14/06 12:40 PM Page 107 Current p SYCHIATRY CASES THAT TEST YOUR SKILLS In public, Mr. C is a “he-man.” In private, he wears lingerie, sees himself as a woman in sexual fantasies, and longs to develop breasts. Can you detect his problem? Gender dysphoria: ‘I’m a man, but ...’ Kari Ann Martin, MD ® Instructor of psychiatry DepartmentDowden of psychiatry Health and psychology Media Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ CopyrightFor personal use only HISTORY: NORMAL ON PAPER tioned his sexual identity in early childhood, when r. C, age 65, presents to an endocrinologist he sometimes dressed in his mother’s clothes for M complaining of hot flashes and low libido. play. As an adult, he mostly cross-dresses in lin- Initial testing shows low male testosterone, but a gerie; he wears a woman’s tank top in public once repeat test shows normal levels. No medical cause or twice weekly underneath his polo dress shirt. is found for his symptoms. Fifteen years ago, he suffered anorexia and bulimia “My testosterone might be normal on paper,” while trying to look as svelte as a woman. Mr. C tells the endocrinologist, “but I’m not. I think At 6 feet, 2 inches with good muscle tone and I’m a woman.” short, wavy black hair, Mr. C looks strikingly mascu- Mr. C requests referral to a female psychiatrist line. Now retired, he served in the Air Force and because he feels more comfortable discussing sex- later worked as a commercial pilot and in construc- ual issues with a woman. The endocrinologist refers tion. In private, however, he prefers gardening and him to me for evaluation. cooking over sports and cars. Over 7 years, Mr. C’s other psychiatrist—a Mr. C is married but seldom has sexual inter- man—has been treating him for obsessive-compul- course with women. He gains sexual fulfillment by sive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorder, and bipolar visualizing himself as a woman having sex with disorder type II. Mr. C takes paroxetine, 60 mg/d, for other women or with himself as a man. He denies depressive symptoms and was taking divalproex, interest in male-male sex. 1,500 mg/d, to stabilize his mood. He recently The patient has been masturbating since age 5, stopped divalproex because it was causing nausea mostly by rubbing his scrotum against a swing set and sedation. pole he still keeps in his utility shed. He often tucks During our initial visit, Mr. C says he’s “through his penis to mimic female genitalia and makes pretending to be a man.” He says he first ques- believe his rectum is a vagina. continued VOL. 5, NO. 12 / DECEMBER 2006 107 For mass reproduction, content licensing and permissions contact Dowden Health Media. CP_1206_CASES.Final 11/14/06 12:40 PM Page 108 CASES THAT TEST YOUR SKILLS Gender dysphoria: ‘I’m a man, but...’ Box The author’s observations Gender dysphoria encompasses I suspect gender dysphoria, which describes a these sexual identity disorders heterogeneous group of persons who express varying degrees of distress with their anatomic • Transsexualism sex and sometimes desire secondary opposite- • Pure transvestism (having a firm gender gender sexual characteristics (Box). identity but becoming sexually aroused by Sexual identity in gender dysphoria is often cross-dressing) fluid. Symptoms might suggest transvestism, • Dual-role transvestism (cross-dressing then evolve to transsexualism. Recognizing this solely to experience temporary heterogeneity and fluidity is crucial to diagnosis membership in the opposite sex) and treatment. • Stress-related cross-dressing Primary transsexualism. The term “transsexual- • Men who desire penectomy or castration ism” describes persons who want to live and be but no other gender-reassignment accepted within the opposite sex.1 The transsexu- interventions al identity persists for ≥ 2 years and is not caused • Congenital intersex conditions, such as by another mental disorder or intersexed condi- hermaphrodism tion. Fetishism is classically absent and cross- dressing is not sexually gratifying. Most transsex- uals want surgical and hormone treatment to Mr. C’s sexual identity and intimacy problems make their bodies as congruent as possible with destroyed three marriages. His first two lasted 6 the preferred sex. months and 2 years; the third ended after 10 years In 1994, DSM-IV recognized that some late- when his then-wife accused him of being gay. His onset transsexuals showed features of comorbid fourth marriage has lasted 22 years and harbors transvestism and were sexually aroused by much affection and foreplay but little intercourse. female dress and behaviors. Gender identity dis- Mr. C’s Mini-Mental State Examination score of order (GID) replaced the term “transsexualism” 30 indicates no underlying dementia. He shows sta- and includes these individuals. A secondary ble affect with no evidence of derailment, paranoia, diagnosis of transvestism is applied. thought blocking, or auditory hallucinations. Secondary transsexualism. Case reports2 describe Medical examination results are normal. psychosis-induced transsexual desires in patients Negative urine toxicology screen rules out sub- with schizophrenia. Gender dysphoria improved stance abuse, and negative rapid plasma reagin as their schizophrenia symptoms lessened. rules out syphilis. Testosterone is not rechecked The relationship between transsexualism because levels were normal 2 days before. and schizophrenia has been debated. Hyde and Kenna3 view transsexualism as a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, whereas sexologists consider Mr. C’s symptoms suggest: transsexualism and schizophrenia distinct syn- a) pure transvestism dromes that can occur simultaneously. b) primary transsexualism (gender identity Affective disorders might also alter content- disorder of adulthood) ment with gender role, but the relationship is c) transsexualism secondary to psychosis unclear. Case reports of patients with bipolar dis- d) sexual obsession and compulsion of OCD order suggest that gender dysphoria intensity fluc- 108 Current VOL. 5, NO. 12 / DECEMBER 2006 p SYCHIATRY CP_1206_CASES.Final 11/14/06 12:40 PM Page 109 Current p SYCHIATRY tuates with affective excursions.4 O’Gorman,5 however, described a bipolar patient whose gender dysphoria was mitigated during manic episodes. How would you Paraphilias are sexual disorders with recur- handle this case? rent intense urges and fantasies that do not follow normative arousal patterns and can diminish 6 Visit www.currentpsychiatry.com capacity for sexual intimacy. Manifestations to input your answers and compare them with include exhibitionism, fetishism, frotteurism, those of your colleagues pedophilia, masochism/sadism, voyeurism, and transvestic fetishism. gender identification and sense of inappropriate- Dividing transsexualism and pure trans- ness with being a man indicate GID. His recur- vestism paraphilia into discrete categories is sim- rent sexual urges and fantasies and impaired plistic, as transvestites can develop secondary capacity for sexual intimacy suggest a paraphilia components of transsexualism. Hoenig and or transvestism. Kenna7 assert that transsexualism—though not an The significance of Mr. C’s comorbid bipolar anomalous erotic preference—is almost always disorder and OCD is unclear. Both appeared preceded by transvestism or accompanied by controlled, but the potential for mania-induced cross-gender fetishism. hypersexuality cannot be ignored. Nonparaphilic sexual addiction—included in DSM-IV-TR as sexual disorder not otherwise specified—describes culturally acceptable sexual DIAGNOSING GENDER DYSPHORIA interests and behaviors that are frequent or A thorough medical, psychiatric, and sexual his- intense enough to reduce capacity for sexual tory can reveal sexual identity symptoms’ source. intimacy. Such behaviors include compulsive Consider a medical cause. Your medical workup masturbation, repetitive promiscuity, and depen- may include a genital exam to check for irregu- dence on anonymous sexual encounters. larities such as hermaphrodism that can com- An addiction model conceptualizes para- pound questions of sexual identity, and kary- philia as a form of pleasure seeking that has otyping to probe chromosomal anomalies, such become habitual and self-destructive. Treatment as mosaicism or chimerism. involves directing patients to 12-step groups pat- Consider schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, as terned after Alcoholics Anonymous. mania or psychosis can cause aberrant sexual Other models place paraphilias and related behavior. In gender-dysphoric patients with disorders within the OCD spectrum.8-13 Persons either disorder, treating the psychiatric comorbid- with OCD often are obsessed with sexual con- ity might alleviate the dysphoria. Watch for fluc- tent and might grapple with religious and moral tuations in gender dysphoria intensity when you concerns about sexual issues. They typically con- treat other psychopathologies. sider their symptoms intrusive or senseless. Take a thorough sexual history. Being matter-of- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—the fact while discussing unusual sexual acts will standard medication for OCD—might alleviate help the patient “open up” about his sexual prob- paraphilia, but results are mixed.14 lems. Ask him if he: Mr. C’s symptoms. Mr. C shows features of GID • showed gender-atypical behavior as a child, and transvestism. His strong, persistent cross- which can predict transsexualism or homosexuality continued VOL. 5, NO. 12 / DECEMBER 2006 109 CP_1206_CASES.FinalREV 11/15/06 1:32 PM Page 110 CASES THAT TEST YOUR SKILLS Gender
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Sexual and Nonsexual Behavioral Signs of Child Sexual Abuse*
    CSA Workshop Handout 6 Page | 1 SEXUAL AND NONSEXUAL BEHAVIORAL SIGNS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE* You should be more suspicious of sexual abuse when a child displays several signs, especially a combination of sexual and nonsexual signs. SEXUAL SIGNS Sexual signs are generally higher probability signs; in other words, these signs mean it is more likely that the child was sexually abused. Lower probability signs may indicate the child was sexually abused, but the child may display these signs for reasons other than sexual abuse. Sexual signs vary somewhat depending on the child’s age and development. The signs are divided into those likely to be found in younger children (10 years of age or under) who have been sexually abused, and older children (over the age of 10) who have been sexually abused. It is important to remember that this is somewhat arbitrary because within these two age ranges there are children at very different levels of development. SEXUAL BEHAVIORS FOUND IN YOUNGER CHILDREN Signs of Sexual Knowledge Not Ordinarily Possessed by Young Children The following are very strong signs that a child has been sexually abused because young children generally do not have the sexual knowledge to do the following: Sexual behavior with other people. Sexual aggression toward younger or more naive children. By behaving in this way, the child is identifying with the abuser. Aggressive or playful sexual behavior with peers. Such behavior indicates the child experienced a degree of pleasure from the abusive activity. Sexual invitations to older persons. This behavior suggests the child expects and accepts sexual activity as a way of relating to adults.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationship Between Sexual and Emotional Promiscuity and Infidelity
    Athens Journal of Social Sciences- Volume 4, Issue 4 – Pages 385-398 The Relationship between Sexual and Emotional Promiscuity and Infidelity By Ricardo Pinto † Joana Arantes The main aim of the present study is to relate, for the first time, the sexual and emotional sides of infidelity, that is characterized by any form of close physical or emotional involvement with another person while in a committed relationship with promiscuity, which is typically defined by the search for the maximum sexual pleasure or how easily and often someone falls in love. Another aim was to investigate potential sex differences within both domains. For that, 369 participants (92 males and 277 females) answered to an online questionnaire that collected information about infidelity and promiscuity. More specifically, participants were asked to complete the revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), the Emotional Promiscuity (EP) Scale, and the Sexual and Emotional Infidelity (SEI) scale. In addition, some sociodemographic questions, as well as history of infidelity questions, were also asked. The analyses included Pearson correlations, ANOVA and t-tests. Results show that all domains are related, specifically sexual and emotional infidelity with sexual and emotional promiscuity. Keywords: Emotional promiscuity, Emotional infidelity, Sex differences, Sexual infidelity, Sexual promiscuity. Introduction In a world where infidelity and promiscuity are increasingly experienced (Brand et al. 2007, Jones and Paulhus 2012), few studies have focused on their emotional and sexual domains. The infidelity and the promiscuity can have an important impact on individuals and on intimate relationships (Silva et al. n.d., Vangelisti and Gerstenberger 2004). For example, the infidelity is one of the most common reasons for divorce and couple therapy (Glass and Wright 1992).
    [Show full text]
  • Incestuous Abuse: Its Long-Term Effects
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 390 010 CG 026 765 AUTHOR Russell, Diana E. H. TITLE Incestuous Abuse: Its Long-Term Effects. SPONS AGENCY Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria (South Africa). REPORT NO ISBN-0-7969-1651-9 PUB DATE 95 NOTE 111p. PUB TYPE Books (010) Reports Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adult Children; *Child Abuse; *Family Violence; Females; Foreign Countries; *Incidence; Interviews; Parent Child Relationship; Qualitative Research; *Sexual Abuse; *Victims of Crime; Violence IDENTIFIERS South Africa ABSTRACT Despite the growing recognition of the prevalence of incest which is challenging-traditional views about the family as a safe haven for children, there is a serious paucity of scientific research on incest in South Africa in the new field of family violence. Almost a century after Sigmund Freud dismissed most women's reports of incest victimization as wishful fantasy, the extent of the damage done by this form of abuse remains controversial in South Africa, with some researchers maintaining that incest victims often suffer no severe effects. This report presents the findings of a qualitative study designed to explore the short- and long-term effects of incestuous abuse experienced by 20 adult women ince:-.t survivors. Although all but one of the in-depth interviews were conducted with women who at the time were residing in Cape Town, the places in which the incestuous abuse had occurred are dispersed throughout South Africa. The purpose of this study is to inform policy discussions on incestuous abuse, violence in South Africa, and violence against women in general. Includes information on prevalence of incestuous abuse, study methodology, characteristics of incestuous abuse, initial effects abuse; and long-terms effects.
    [Show full text]
  • Use of DSM Paraphilia Diagnoses in Sexually Violent Predator Commitment Cases
    SPECIAL ARTICLE Use of DSM Paraphilia Diagnoses in Sexually Violent Predator Commitment Cases Michael B. First, MD, and Robert L. Halon, PhD There is legitimate concern in the psychiatric community about the constitutionality of sexually violent predator (SVP) commitment statutes. Such constitutionality depends on the requirement that a sexual offender have a mental abnormality that makes him commit violent predatory sex offenses and reflects almost exclusively a concern for public safety, with little regard for notions of clinical sensibility or diagnostic accuracy. However, given that mental health experts’ diagnostic opinions are, and will continue to be, important to the triers of fact in regard to the application of the SVP statutes, we describe valid means of making a DSM-IV-TR paraphilic diagnosis. We also provide a three-step approach for the judicious application of the diagnosis in the context of SVP commitment evaluations that emphasizes the importance of not making a paraphilia diagnosis based solely on the sexual offenses themselves. Finally, we discuss the appropriate use of a paraphilia NOS diagnosis in SVP cases. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 36:443–54, 2008 In 1990, the state of Washington passed the first Despite several challenges to the constitutionality sexually violent predator (SVP) involuntary commit- of SVP statutes, the U.S. Supreme Court in two sep- ment statute, which was designed to allow for the arate rulings (Kansas v. Hendricks3 and Kansas v. civil commitment of sex offenders to mental hospi- Crane4) upheld the constitutionality of the Kansas tals after they complete mandatory prison sentences. State Sexually Violent Predator laws, essentially mak- According to the Washington SVP statute, the of- ing similar laws with analogous proof requirements fender must be found to be “a person who has been constitutional in all states.
    [Show full text]
  • Disciplining Sexual Deviance at the Library of Congress Melissa A
    FOR SEXUAL PERVERSION See PARAPHILIAS: Disciplining Sexual Deviance at the Library of Congress Melissa A. Adler A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Library and Information Studies) at the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON 2012 Date of final oral examination: 5/8/2012 The dissertation is approved by the following members of the Final Oral Committee: Christine Pawley, Professor, Library and Information Studies Greg Downey, Professor, Library and Information Studies Louise Robbins, Professor, Library and Information Studies A. Finn Enke, Associate Professor, History, Gender and Women’s Studies Helen Kinsella, Assistant Professor, Political Science i Table of Contents Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................iii List of Figures........................................................................................................................vii Crash Course on Cataloging Subjects......................................................................................1 Chapter 1: Setting the Terms: Methodology and Sources.......................................................5 Purpose of the Dissertation..........................................................................................6 Subject access: LC Subject Headings and LC Classification....................................13 Social theories............................................................................................................16
    [Show full text]
  • Split Identification: Representations of Rape in Gaspar Noé's Irréversible
    DOUGLAS KEESEY California Polytechnic State University Split identification: Representations of rape in Gaspar Noé’s Irréversible and Catherine Breillat’s A ma soeur!/Fat Girl ABSTRACT This article critically examines rape scenes in two films of the ‘new extreme cinema’, Gaspar Noé’s Irréversible (2002) and Catherine Breillat’s A ma sœur!/Fat Girl (2001). On the surface, Noé’s disturbing long-take rape scene is clearly designed to foster empathy with the woman’s experience and to induce a physical aversion to rape. However, a deeper examination of the scene’s ambiguous techniques reveals that they actually work to split the viewer’s identification between the rapist and the woman he attacks. One function of this split is to lead the viewer – who is presumed to be male – along an emotional path from lustful aggression towards empathic understanding. Similarly, the film also provides audiences with a transitional figure – a male character who is almost raped – as someone with whom they can identify on the way towards identifying with the female. But this male character ultimately serves as a negative example when he moves to take revenge – an act which is shown to be an extension of the rape, part of the same masculinist ideology or myth of male inviolability perpetuated through the violation of others. Furthermore, the revenge is revealed as being the male character’s denial of his own complicity in the rape and of his own participation in ‘rape culture’. The rape scene in Breillat’s 1A ma sœur! also induces in the viewer a split identification with the rapist and with the female subjected to attack – in this case a young girl who disturbingly seems to ‘acquiesce’ to the assault.
    [Show full text]
  • Fashion, Bodies, and Objects
    Studies in 20th Century Literature Volume 20 Issue 2 French Issue: The Object in France Today: Six essays collected and edited by Article 7 Martine Antle with five essays on French narrative 6-1-1996 Fashion, Bodies, and Objects Jean-François Fourny Ohio State University Follow this and additional works at: https://newprairiepress.org/sttcl Part of the Film and Media Studies Commons, and the French and Francophone Literature Commons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Fourny, Jean-François (1996) "Fashion, Bodies, and Objects," Studies in 20th Century Literature: Vol. 20: Iss. 2, Article 7. https://doi.org/10.4148/2334-4415.1397 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Studies in 20th Century Literature by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Fashion, Bodies, and Objects Abstract This essay is based on the assumption that the body has undergone a process of fragmentation that started with "modern" art and commodity fetishism that is being amplified today by an increasingly fetishistic high fashion industry itself relayed by music videos and a gigantic pornography industry. This article begins with a discussion of fetishism and objectification as they appear in high fashion shows where underwear becomes wear (turning the inside into the outside), thus expanding (or dissolving) the traditional notion of pornography because they are both reported in comparable terms by mainstream magazines such as Femmes and less conventional publications such as Penthouse.
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual Fantasy and Masturbation Among Asexual Individuals: an In-Depth Exploration
    Arch Sex Behav (2017) 46:311–328 DOI 10.1007/s10508-016-0870-8 SPECIAL SECTION: THE PUZZLE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION Sexual Fantasy and Masturbation Among Asexual Individuals: An In-Depth Exploration 1 1 2 Morag A. Yule • Lori A. Brotto • Boris B. Gorzalka Received: 4 January 2016 / Revised: 8 August 2016 / Accepted: 20 September 2016 / Published online: 23 November 2016 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016 Abstract Human asexuality is generally defined as a lack of pants(bothmenandwomen)wereequallylikelytofantasizeabout sexual attraction. We used online questionnaires to investigate topics such as fetishes and BDSM. reasons for masturbation, and explored and compared the con- tentsofsexualfantasiesofasexualindividuals(identifiedusing Keywords Asexuality Á Sexual orientation Á Masturbation Á the Asexual Identification Scale) with those of sexual individ- Sexual fantasy uals. A total of 351 asexual participants (292 women, 59 men) and 388sexualparticipants(221women,167men)participated.Asex- ual women were significantly less likely to masturbate than sexual Introduction women, sexual men, and asexual men. Asexual women were less likely to report masturbating for sexual pleasure or fun than their Although the definition of asexuality varies somewhat, the gen- sexualcounterparts, and asexualmen were less likely to reportmas- erallyaccepteddefinitionisthedefinitionforwardedbythelargest turbating forsexualpleasure than sexualmen. Both asexualwomen online web-community of asexual individuals (Asexuality Visi- andmen weresignificantlymorelikelythansexualwomenand
    [Show full text]
  • List of Paraphilias
    List of paraphilias Paraphilias are sexual interests in objects, situations, or individuals that are atypical. The American Psychiatric Association, in its Paraphilia Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM), draws a Specialty Psychiatry distinction between paraphilias (which it describes as atypical sexual interests) and paraphilic disorders (which additionally require the experience of distress or impairment in functioning).[1][2] Some paraphilias have more than one term to describe them, and some terms overlap with others. Paraphilias without DSM codes listed come under DSM 302.9, "Paraphilia NOS (Not Otherwise Specified)". In his 2008 book on sexual pathologies, Anil Aggrawal compiled a list of 547 terms describing paraphilic sexual interests. He cautioned, however, that "not all these paraphilias have necessarily been seen in clinical setups. This may not be because they do not exist, but because they are so innocuous they are never brought to the notice of clinicians or dismissed by them. Like allergies, sexual arousal may occur from anything under the sun, including the sun."[3] Most of the following names for paraphilias, constructed in the nineteenth and especially twentieth centuries from Greek and Latin roots (see List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes), are used in medical contexts only. Contents A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z Paraphilias A Paraphilia Focus of erotic interest Abasiophilia People with impaired mobility[4] Acrotomophilia
    [Show full text]
  • How to Feel Like a Woman, Or Why Punishment Is a Drag Mary Anne Franks University of Miami School of Law, [email protected]
    University of Miami Law School University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository Articles Faculty and Deans 2014 How to Feel Like a Woman, or Why Punishment Is a Drag Mary Anne Franks University of Miami School of Law, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.miami.edu/fac_articles Part of the Law and Gender Commons, Law and Society Commons, and the Sexuality and the Law Commons Recommended Citation Mary Anne Franks, How to Feel Like a Woman, or Why Punishment Is a Drag, 61 UCLA L. Rev. 566 (2014). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty and Deans at University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Articles by an authorized administrator of University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. How to Feel Like a Woman, or Why Punishment Is a Drag Mary Anne Franks ABSTRACT If a man in prison says that he was made -to feel like a woman," this is commonly understood to mean that he was degraded, dehumanized, and sexualized. This association of femininity with punishment has significant implications for the way our society understands not only the sexual abuse of men in prison but also sexual abuse generally These important implications are usually overlooked, however, because law and society typically regard prison feminization as a problem of gender transposition: that is, as a problem of men being treated like women. In contrast, this Article argues that feminization is punitive for both men and women.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Juvenile Law Cover Pages.Pub
    2018 JUVENILE LAW SEMINAR Juvenile Psychological and Risk Assessments: Common Themes in Juvenile Psychology THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018 PRESENTED BY: TIME: 10:20 ‐ 11:30 a.m. Dr. Ed Connor Connor and Associates 34 Erlanger Road Erlanger, KY 41018 Phone: 859-341-5782 Oppositional Defiant Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Conduct Disorder Substance Abuse Disorders Disruptive Impulse Control Disorder Mood Disorders Research has found that screen exposure increases the probability of ADHD Several peer reviewed studies have linked internet usage to increased anxiety and depression Some of the most shocking research is that some kids can get psychotic like symptoms from gaming wherein the game blurs reality for the player Teenage shooters? Mylenation- Not yet complete in the frontal cortex, which compromises executive functioning thus inhibiting impulse control and rational thought Technology may stagnate frontal cortex development Delayed versus Instant Gratification Frustration Tolerance Several brain imaging studies have shown gray matter shrinkage or loss of tissue Gray Matter is defined by volume for Merriam-Webster as: neural tissue especially of the Internet/gam brain and spinal cord that contains nerve-cell bodies as ing addicts. well as nerve fibers and has a brownish-gray color During his ten years of clinical research Dr. Kardaras discovered while working with teenagers that they had found a new form of escape…a new drug so to speak…in immersive screens. For these kids the seductive and addictive pull of the screen has a stronger gravitational pull than real life experiences. (Excerpt from Dr. Kadaras book titled Glow Kids published August 2016) The fight or flight response in nature is brief because when the dog starts to chase you your heart races and your adrenaline surges…but as soon as the threat is gone your adrenaline levels decrease and your heart slows down.
    [Show full text]
  • APPROVAL SHEET This [Thesis] [Dissertation] [Case Study
    RUNNING HEAD: DETERMINING A CORRELATION BETWEEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA & VIOLENT ACTS 1 APPROVAL SHEET This [thesis] [dissertation] [case study] [independent study] is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of [example degree designation: Master of Science] [Student Name] Approved: [Example date: March 15, 2019] Committee Chair / Advisor Committee Member 1 Committee Member 2 Committee Member 3 Outside FGCU Committee Member The final copy of this thesis [dissertation] has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. RUNNING HEAD: DETERMINING A CORRELATION BETWEEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA & VIOLENT ACTS 2 Identifying Patterns Between the Sexual Serial Killer & Pedophile: Is There a Correlation Between their Violent Acts and Childhood Trauma? ______________________________________________________________________________ A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences Florida Gulf Coast University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science _____________________________________________________________________________ By Alexis Droomer 2020 RUNNING HEAD: DETERMINING A CORRELATION BETWEEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA & VIOLENT ACTS 3 Abstract Studies have been conducted to determine if a sexual serial killer and pedophile are similar and/or different to one another. Despite the difference in their criminal acts, sexual serial killers and pedophiles have similar characteristics. Biological, environmental and psychological theories of criminal behavior were studied which illustrated their significance to how a person can choose to commit a crime. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a presence or absence within multiple forms of childhood trauma experienced between the sexual serial killer and pedophile.
    [Show full text]