The Abnormal Psychology An analysis of neorosis syndrome reactions in Mariam's character in the novel of A Thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseni

2. Kinds of Neurosis Syndrome Reactions viewed from theory of Alfred Adler

As the writer has read, Alfred Adler is an Austrian medical doctor, psychologist and founder of the school of individual psychology. In collaboration with Sigmund Freud and a small group of Freuds colleagues, Adler is among the co- founders of the psychoanalytic movement as a core member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. He is the first major figure to break away from psychoanalysis to form an independent school of psychotherapy and personality. Adlers book, Über den nervösen Charakter The Neurotic Character defines his earlier key ideas. He argues that human personality can be explained teleological, separate strands dominated by the guiding purpose of the individuals unconscious self ideal to convert feelings of inferiority to superiority or rather completeness. The desires of themselves ideally are countered by social and ethical demands. If the corrective factors are disregarded and the individual over-compensated, then an inferiority complex will occur fostering the danger of the individual becoming egocentric and aggressive or worse. Adler said that neuroses has an important certain social problem, this case neuroses including dependence of people means that they are sensitive people who always try to protect themselves and rely on other people. Their energy is not much and depends to other people. When they had suppressed, they will open their mindset which namely neurotic; phobia, obsessive-compulsive, anxiety and others, depend on their lifestyle. 34

a. Anxiety Reaction

It’s probably the most common neurotic condition, are emotional. A person an anxiety state is extremely irritable, or constantly worried and fearful. Usually he has accompanied bodily symptoms-nausea, sweating, palpitations of the heart. These reactions do not consist of occasional periods of worry over rational or partly rational problems, such as the normal person has, but prolonged periods of extreme, diffuse, and uncalled for nervousness and apprehension. Anxiety reactions are caused by a great anxiety and stress. Anxiety is much like stress in the way our bodies respond. There is feeling of being threatened, of being apprehension, tension, and worry. Anxiety affects a person’s performance. People can usually perform simple task better under higher anxiety. Since most situations are rather complex, it is not surprising that highly anxious people cope less adaptively of effectively. Clinical picture in generalized anxiety reactions . Individuals suffering from generalized anxiety disorder live in a relatively constant state tension, worry, and diffuse uneasiness. They are oversensitive interpersonal relationships, and frequently feel inadequate and depressed. 35

b. Obsessive-Compulsive Reaction

In obsessive-compulsive disorders, individual feel compelled to think about 34 C. George Boeree, Personality Theories Yogyakarta: Prismasophie, 1997, P.163 35 James C. Coleman et al., Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life London : Scott, Foresman and Company, 1964 , P. 207