Descriptionary

multiple personality a rare dissociative disorder in which the person develops or displays more than one distinct personality.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator a personality test used to determine one's preferences, as toward introversion or extroversion, and other personality aspects, to aid in choosing appropriate educational and career pursuits.

mysophobia pathological fear of dirt, filth, and germs, with the repeated washing of hands, a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Also known as germaphobia.

Napoleon complex colloquial term for a form of inferiority complex once believed to be suffered by some people of short stature, so-called after French emperor Napoleon I (Bonaparte), who was perceived to be a small man when standing next to his oversized guards but who in reality was of normal height. The complex supposedly drives shorter men to seek power as compensation for their lack of physical stature, but studies have failed to show any real connection and is today considered a myth. Also known as short man syndrome.

narcissism excessive self-love, selfishness, and self- centeredness.

narco hypnosis hypnotizing a person who is under the influence of drugs.

necrophilism sexual attraction to or sexual inter­course with a corpse. Also, a death wish.

neologism a new or nonsensical word coined by a schizophrenic person to describe a complex or abstract state.

nervous tic an involuntary muscle spasm, particularly around the face, that is illustrative of inner tension.

nihilistic delusions delusions concerning annihila­tion of self or body organs.

nocebo a sham pill or treatment that, through the power of suggestion, may have a negative effect or actually make someone ill, the opposite of a placebo.

numbing shutting down one's emotional responses to reduce stress, a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder.

nystagmus involuntary eye tics or spasms, with the eyeballs jerking rhythmically in one direction, a sign of a brain or balance disorder.

obsessive-compulsive disorder a mental disor­der characterized by thoughts, actions, or rituals repeated again and again, such as checking 10 times to make sure the iron is unplugged before leaving the house.

Oedipus complex the sexual feelings of a child, usually male, for a parent of the opposite sex, and accompanied by feelings of hostility to the parent of the same sex.

olfactory hallucination a hallucination involving smells.

oppositional defiant disorder a disorder in chil­dren characterized by an unusual level of defiance, hostility, and spiteful behavior, with frequent lashings out at authority figures. Often evolves into conduct disorder.

organic behavior disorder a disorder caused by physical damage to the brain or nervous system.

organic psychiatry psychiatry emphasizing the physical causes of behavior disorders.

Othello syndrome a syndrome characterized by delusional jealousy and repeated accusations of infi­delity, with the scantest of evidence or no evidence at all, and may include constant surveillance of one's partner and eruptions of violence, named after the Shakespearean character who murdered his wife out of the irrational belief that she was adulterous.

out-of-body experience the mysterious but false perception that one is floating outside of one's body and sometimes even observing it. Although little is known about them, out-of-body experiences have been strongly associated with psychedelic drugs, trauma, near-death experiences, and the state of mind that occurs between waking and sleeping.

overvalued idea not quite reaching the level of delu­sion, a strongly held or extreme belief that is not held by the rest of society.

panic disorder a disorder in which a subject com­ing face to face with an irrationally feared object may hyperventilate, break into a cold sweat, suffer out-of-control heartbeat, and even pass out, and con­sequently takes pains to avoid that object.

paradoxical psychology any counterintuitive ther­apy technique or approach, such as telling a person who is afraid of failure that they probably will fail. Also known as reverse psychology.

paramnesia a state of confusion between one's fan­tasies and dreams and reality.

paranoid ideation belief that one is being perse­cuted, targeted, harassed, or treated unfairly, but not quite rising to the level of a delusion.

paranoid personality disorder a disorder charac­terized by the irrational mistrust of others.

paranoid schizophrenia a schizophrenic disorder in which the person suffers from delusions of persecution.