Alexithymia

Alexithymia is a psychiatric term describing the inability to express and identify one’s feelings. In my experience, most people can’t adequately understand their own inner-workings and lack meta-awareness. Not only are they out of touch with themselves, but often can’t recognize social behavioral patterns or decipher meaning behind them. This psychological unawareness makes them prone to fall for their own biases and abstractions. It also makes them ignorant to dangerous psychopathic and narcissistic behaviors, such as manipulation and abuse, whether within their own circles or in the media. This can lead to cyclical group behaviors, such as heightened animosity toward a minority. After a year in which it became apparent that history was repeating itself in Western society, psychology is extremely relevant at this time. Using my degree to become a therapist, I hope to give individuals a deepened sense of the inner and outer workings of the human
The IB psychology HL course gave me great insight into this area while honing my knowledge of the other fundamental aspects of modern psychology. We explored the neurobiological and genetic components of mental illness and how they can manifest cognitively as maladaptive patterns and dichotomous thinking. The course covered diagnosis, current treatment options and helped me better understand the complex nature of mental health and the role medication and counseling play in managing the symptoms. We studied abnormal psychology from different perspectives, pursuing social and developmental factors. Examining Piaget’s studies in the stages of cognitive and neurological maturation, I grasped the importance of the developmental niche in a person’s likelihood to later develop a mental illness. This course gave me a strong foundation upon which to build, but I still have far to go to become an adept professional in this