Project 2: Background Information: In keeping with the theme of mental disorders, I explored the uncanny ability of irrational and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) to cause specific behaviors (compulsions). Here is a definition of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Obsessive-compulsive disorder: A psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life. The individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome. OCD occurs in a spectrum from mild to severe, but if severe and left untreated, can destroy a person's capacity to function at work, at school, or even in the home. The obsessions are unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the mind of the person with OCD. Persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one, an unreasonable concern with becoming contaminated, or an excessive need to do things correctly or perfectly, are common. Again and again, the individual experiences a disturbing thought, such as, "My hands may be contaminated--I must wash them"; "I may have left the gas on"; or "I am going to injure my child." These thoughts are intrusive, unpleasant, and produce a high degree of anxiety. Sometimes the obsessions are of a violent or a sexual nature, or concern illness. (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4610) Class Activity: I chose to explore this clinical disorder by conducting a class activity. I designed an activity where each student was given a paper that guided them throughout the activity, simulating the experience of walking home from campus while being bombarded with intrusive thoughts. I did not state the purpose of this activity or mention anything regarding obsessions/compulsions unti the end. Each student started one one end of the Actlab room and was instructed to get to the other side. Everyone had the same instructions on their paper. The paper described situations such as seeing a banner and being compelled to count all the letters on it. When each student was faced with an obsessive thought, the activity presented two choices: 1) Pay attention to/spend time on the obsession, or 2) ignore it and proceed to the destination. I instructed each participant to collect a reward (I had various chocolates set out in bowls) if they acted out the compulsion. At the end of the activity, I directed everyone's attention to the fact that most of the candy was gone. I also noted how few people made it to their destination of "home." Mostly, people were in the middle and some had not gotten very far from the starting point. The majority of people allowed the irrational thoughts to interfere with the goal of getting across the room. The candy reward was incorporated to represent the feeling of temporary relief from anxiety which a person experiences when they act out a compulsion driven by an obsession. The compulsion is often imagined as warding off harm to the individual or their loved ones. Obsessive thoughts tend to be threatening, irrational thoughts. So one of the examples of an intrusive thought was: "Something terrible will happen to a loved one if you don't check the time right at this moment." I noticed most students checking their watches when they reached this part of the activity. Ultimately, this activity led to a very engaging discussion. A variety of views surfaced and the format of the class was later changed based on an appartent need for indefinite discussion time following a project.
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