The Definition of Neurosis Syndrome Reactions

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 something that they do not want to think about or to carry out some action against their will. These individuals usually realize that their behaviors are irrational but cannot seem to control it. The incidence of obsessive-compulsive reactions has been variously estimated to be from about 12 to 20 percent of the anxiety reactions. An obsession is a thought or image that keeps intruding into a person’s consciousness. The person finds the thought distressing and inappropriate and tries to suppress it, but still return. For example, an individual might have persistent fearful thoughts about coming into contact with dirt or contamination or about hurting someone else. A compulsion is an action that a person fells compelled to repeat again and again, in a rigid, stereotypical fashion, though he or she has no conscious desire to do so. People suffering from either obsessions or compulsions or, as are usually the case from both-are said to have obsessive-compulsive disorder. 36

c. Phobic Reaction

Phobia is a persistent fear of some object or situation the presents no actual danger to the person or in which the danger is magnified our of all proportion to its actual seriousness. 37 Phobic disorder occurs more commonly among adolescents and young adults than among older people. It is also more frequently diagnosed in females than in males, possibly because strong fears have traditionally been more compatible with female roles than with male roles of our society. People who suffer from phobias usually admit that they have no real cause to be afraid of the object or situation, but say they cannot help themselves. In addition a phobia may generalize to fear of situation only minimally related to the basic trauma. 36 Lauren B. Alloy et al., Abnormal Psychology New York: McGraw-Hill, 1972, P.154 37 Ibid. P. 218

CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS

A. Data Description

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a literary work, which describes the characterization of Mariam, as the main character. The novel opens with the introduction of Mariam. She was years old and lived with her mother Nana in a small hut kolba. She was born out of wedlock after a wealthy business man Jalil slept with his house maid Nana and got her pregnant but did not marry her. Jalil and his two sons build a kolba in outskirts of Herat in western Afghanistan, near the village stream for Nana to live in and have the child. From a very young age, Mariam was constantly and bitterly reminded by her mother Nana that she was a harami bastard and that she was destined to suffer and endure all her life, just like Nana has done. Here the uncertain characteristics of Mariam began until she grew up. Some characteristics of Mariam are; depression, disappointed, anxiety and hopeless. Those characteristics of Mariam who was always changeable in every situation and action that happens in the story because of that the development of her characteristic may be round. The writer tabulates some Mariam’s characteristics as follows: