I've spoken many times about how people don't respond to our ideas with rationality and counter data, but instead just "react" and become defensive due to a perceived attack on their identity. If you are not familiar, see these posts:
http://tzmlaca.org/beta/discussion/topics/546302/messages
http://tzmlaca.org/beta/discussion/topics/546644/messages
Well these identities are strongly proposed to us by the society(ies) we live in. I feel that when I talk to many people about TZM and the problems with our various systems, I am not REALLY talking to an individual, but in some way I'm debating against this abstract representation of society; this "personality of society."
If an individual has a personality trait that is so distorted or overpowering that it prevents them from functioning healthily, we call it a personality disorder. Similarly, what if the prevailing ways of thinking and approaching situations given to us by society could fall victim to a similar distortions and overpowering values; can society have a personality disorder? In much the same way Peter talks about these value disorders as "virus-like" and us as an "immune system," I'd like to carry that tradition on and talk about society and its "personality disorders."
For people, the American Psychiatric Association has created a "bible" for disorders and this is known as the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). As wiki states, "currently the DSM-IV lists ten personality disorders, grouped into three clusters." Let's see what those are and explore whether "society" is a healthy person.
Cluster A (odd or eccentric disorders and fears Social relation)
1) Paranoid personality disorder: characterized by irrational suspicions and mistrust of others.
MY NOTES: TERRORISTS! WAR ON TERROR! WAR ON DRUGS! MUSLIMS! Minorities stealing our jobs! I see no problem here.
2) Schizoid personality disorder: lack of interest in social relationships, seeing no point in sharing time with others, anhedonia, introspection.
MY NOTES: Self-interest the basis of motivation? "Don't worry about society, worry about yourself." AhMERRiKA! "Our 'interests' in the middle east."
3) Schizotypal personality disorder: characterized by odd behavior or thinking.
MY NOTES: Every society past or present.
Cluster B (dramatic, emotional or erratic disorders)
4) Antisocial personality disorder: a pervasive disregard for the rights of others, lack of empathy, and (generally) a pattern of regular criminal activity.
MY NOTES: CISPA, ACTA, Patriot Act, NSEERS, Real ID Act, Military Commissions Act, No Fly and Selectee Lists, Material Witness Statute, etc.
5) Borderline personality disorder: extreme "black and white" thinking, instability in relationships, self-image, identity and behavior often leading to self-harm and impulsivity.
MY NOTES: DEM vs REP, Life or Choice, Man & Woman Only, 50% Productive & 50% Unproductive Citizens.
6) Histrionic personality disorder: pervasive attention-seeking behavior including inappropriately seductive behavior and shallow or exaggerated emotions.
MY NOTES: Britney Spears! Angelina Jolie! Brad Pitt! Super Models! Thigh Gaps! "Does this make me look fat?" Huge Boobs! Huge Cocks! Blonds have more fun!
7) Narcissistic personality disorder: a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. Characterized by self-importance, preoccupations with fantasies, belief that they are special, including a sense of entitlement and a need for excessive admiration, and extreme levels of jealousy and arrogance.
MY NOTES: All media? Hollywood? Entitlement? EPIC! HEAD SHOT! Every penny I make, it's cause I am intelligent and work hard...but if you make less it's because you're stupid and lazy and if you make more it's because you're corrupt of course. "I'm sexy and I know it."
Cluster C (anxious or fearful disorders)
8) Avoidant personality disorder: pervasive feelings of social inhibition and social inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation and avoidance of social interaction.
MY NOTES: "Capitalism is only failing because the market isn't free!" "An attack on Ammerrka is an attack on freedom!"
9) Dependent personality disorder: pervasive psychological dependence on other people.
MY NOTES: "It's governments job to take care of the problems." "The free market is positioned to solve our problems." "We can't change society, 'it is as it is.'"
10) Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (not the same as obsessive-compulsive disorder): characterized by rigid conformity to rules, moral codes and excessive orderliness.
MY NOTES: "Get Title 26 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (that's the part written by the IRS), all twenty volumes of it, at the bargain price of $974." Problem with society, make more laws! Vote on laws!
CONCLUSION: If I were a psychiatrist, I would commit society to an asylum, and in the spirit of America, prescribe it many many drugs.
