Science and the Anabaptist tradition have been at loggerheads for a very long time. There is a basic mistrust of many popular scientific premises and a deep felt pain at the lack of limits when the observed is reduced far past the point of familiarity or recognition. Science logically says, "Let's look at the evidence. We can trust our five senses."In the past couple of years I have been giving science much more credit than I have all my life. The scientist was lumped with the group of heathens that I was trained to convert. We would refer to that group as "they" or "them" and it would be said with a bitter film coating the pallet. I now know many scientists and, strangely enough, their blood runs warmly just like mine. Perhaps I have subjected myself to a little too much sheltering...or have I?
Today I was the substitute teacher in a grade four class...a lovely group of nine and ten-year-olds. I took the teachers chair about 45 minutes before classes started so that I could have a good look at the day plan. Simple enough, I thought, as I fully understood each line and their intended outcome. I know the curriculum pretty well. Everything was clear until I came to the last page, where there was a description of one of the students in the class...a student with a problem. "You might want a heads up about 'Johnny' as he has Compliance Disorder. If you tell him to do anything, he won't do it. If you ask him nicely, he might. Just don't push him too hard as it will just cause him too much trauma."
Unless you have someone in your life with this same "disorder", your reaction is probably much like mine. "Compliance Disorder...what the hell is that? It sounds like spoiled brat who acts like a little shit until he's gotten his own way syndrom to me. After a good synical laugh I became curious enough to Google the brain institute...just to see what "they" know. Evidently this behaviour has been reduced to "brain malfunctions, themselves a consequence of faulty genes. The authoritative US-based Diagnostic and Statistical Manual now includes as disease categories "oppositional defiance disorder", "disruptive behaviour disorder" and "compliance disorder".Well there you have it...the evidence...and my Anabaptist roots scream to be heard, "Has science reduced human behaviour beyond conscience and personal responsibility?" Now wait a minute...my scientist friends are still good people here. What has happened to our warm blood connection? Are they correct in their assumtions? Could they be wrong? Am I over reacting?
Perhaps this will be much like when Prozac and it's many forms came on the scene as the wonder drug for depression and the like. Many people that I dearly love today live better lives because of Prozac. Constant assurance and a barrage of warm hugs wasn't enough to settle the brain.
Perhaps this is just another one of those things that we will all just have to get used to. Out with the old...in with the new. But this old teacher doesn't always want to learn new tricks.
14 comments:
I have to admit, I have been pretty ignorant in the whole mental health area. my massage therepist once told me(yes, my massage therepist, she acts as a great shrink too. Two for one deal!.....anyway.... Why is it that when an organ isn't functioning properly we get somthing to help it, but when the brain (an organ) isn't functioning right we say "get over it." Why does the brain get the raw end of the deal, it should have every right to get help too. By the way....I love her too.
Brian: So glad you posted about this. What I like best about the formal categorisation of behavioural disorders by the psychiatric profession is that it gives parents and professionals a starting point, a framework if you will, from which to work with and begin to understand the child. So many people will see acting-out behaviour as a character flaw rather than something neutral that is based on basic hardwiring (neurology) or trauma. I've had some experience in this matter and have made myself into something of a know-it-all regarding ADHD, and it's a desperately hard disorder for most people to wrap their minds around. It's ever so much easier to put it down to poor parenting, low IQ, bad manners, lousy character and, heaven forbid, 'too much sugar'. What surprises me is that often the people whose beliefs require that they be understanding and compassionate are the most judgemental and moralistic in this regard, reducing everything to a character issue. In many cases this is simply because it's never been explained to them in terms they can understand, so I think mental health professionals need to get off their ivory towers and their heads out of the DSM IV and learn to apply what they have learned when they created the DSM in the first place.
Time to get off my soap box and go to bed!
That ended up sounding like an attack on the science end when it was really support for a neutral approach that isn't all tied up in dehumanizing value judgements. I just think they need to take it farther so that the kind of confusion that currently exists about these issues is lessened ... somewhat.
Accepting new ideas is difficult at the best of times. According to the bumper-sticker philosophy: "If your mind is too open, your brain will fall out"
this is a well written piece, Brian! Very insightful, and non judgemental. :)
Shelley: The temptation to say "get over it" is still there often enough, even though we know better. But those are during lazy times...when we'd rather not be bothered to have a real relationship.
I'm glad you love her too...her life is all the richer for it.
Andrea: I just knew you would have something good to say, as I recall you have written about your fascination with brain research.
Your comment, "What surprises me is that often the people whose beliefs require that they be understanding and compassionate are the most judgemental and moralistic in this regard" is embarrassingly true. I come from the belief crowd who give great advice about whom to give grace to, and yet have the "SORRY,CLOSED" sign out when it comes to dispensing the said medication.
Kyknoord: Ha. I recall having read that same advice somewhere, too. It's similar to something I've wriiten before about the definition of an open mind. Having an open mind only seems to make sense if at some point there is something true upon which it can be closed.
Joyce: You're HOT! Ya wanna SHAG?
But what I want to know is? How was the kid?
Did he act like a little shit 'til he got his own way or was he off sick that day?
WOW! not much to add but your post was interesting and well written! And everybody's comments were so well thought out too! good stuff! Who did the drawing?
I just found you thru your comment at Andy's "Older and Wiser". Good stuff you've got here - I'll be back...
Haven't we gone way too far in trying to explain every bad behavior as a medical condition with a fancy name that can be treated with a magic pill? Surely some of it is just what it appears to be - bad behavior - born of lousy upbringing, environmental factors, genetics, and simple mean streaks for no discernable reason. There is still a place for some stern discipline. The brain is sometimes quite impressed with a paddle applied to the butt.
Well, I guess I'll just hop in and add my bit from a high school teacher's point of view. At the beginning of each year, each teacher receives all kinds of paperwork regarding their students who are receiving special education services. There's a diagnosis of a learning disorder or emotional disorder (and often both) as well as a long list of modifications, etc. that the student must , by law, receive. For many students, the aware interaction between them and their teachers is positive. We know how to help them learn, and they are motivated to do their best. But often enough we get kids who, over the years, have learned the power of manipulation based on their disabilities, and it is incredibly negative for everyone invloved. What usually ends of happening is that the student does little work of poor quality and then receives a passing grade. This isn't a simple decision the teacher makes; instead, it comes about through the pressures of endless special ed meetings and administrative decisions. This situation is deplorable when it happens to a senior about to graduate; we send him or her off into the world of college where he or she will simply fail. That's it. No more pandering to the learned "I can't do it" manipulation. So, I agree with Andrea that there should be more scientific and definitve ways to diagnose and understand learning disorders. As it is, diagnosis is highly subjective, and in many cases is the result of parental pressure on schools to find a way for their children (who may or may not be truly disabled) to succeed by putting most of the burden on the school. If I am sounding judgmental, I'm sorry; that's not my intention. I am just summarizing observations I've made over 20 years of teaching.
And Brian - thanks so much for your very kind comments on my work. I really appreciate your feedback. I am also interested in hearing more about your custom guitar and your brother-in-law's car....two things that are of interest in our household! Good luck with the sub teaching:>
Cherrypie: The kid was fairly calm and compliant for most of the two days I was there. He did however take quite a bit of time to respond on several occasions, and the other students in the class remarked several times how unfair it was that he never gets in trouble for disobeying, when they would, very quickly, receive consequences for their poor choices. I found it frustrating and empathised with the others, and all I could say was that life wasn't always fair, and that I didn't understand it either.
Val: Thank you very much. And you bring up a very good question...one which I've had for some time regarding copyrights. I don't know who did the drawing which I posted...I simply Googled the word scientist and this was one of the options that came up. I liked it so I posted it. Now, I saw that there was a copyright symbol and a name on the picture, so I thought that as long as I was not claiming the drawing to be my own, there would be no problem. But there is this feeling in my gut that this is not completely the way it works. I would like it if you could shed some light on this for all who read this.
Winston: Thanks for visiting and your comment. I've read some of your comment as well on other's blogs and have found a lot of wisdom in your words. I paid a visit to your blog as well and read you latest post on death. I enjoyed that very much and saw that your topic was pulled at a few strings for others as well. Well done. You're a fine writer: a true word artist.
When I read your comment relating to my post topic I was with you 100%. The problem is, I was also with everyone else 100%. I just don't know where to stand on this. I want to be sypathetic simply because this issue is so much bigger than my perception. If you recall what I commented to Andy, I think the same heart applies here where I extend loads of grace to everyone and hopefully I'm not adding to the "disfunction", but giving it room to heal.
Carla: I had a hearty AMEN for your words, "diagnosis is highly subjective". Especially because there is such a difference in the people who are doing the evaluations. There are the bleeding hearts, who will bend over backwards to be accommodating. And then there are those at the opposite end of the symathy scale, who count dollars and cents. I actually don't see how it would ever be possible for there to be a completely definitive way to diagnose. People are just too complex - given their imbalance, environment, experiences, fears, and on and on. But this shouldn't paralyze us either, should it?
Your work, Carla, is delicious. I've seen other people use that word to describe art, but it seems to really fit the feeling I have for your work. I'm happy to comment on it.
About my guitar...I was out to buy a good one and had saved a significant amount of money for it. I wanted something Canadian made. I went to the local guitar shop and they had some Seagulls by Godin from Quebec. I was quite impressed, but they didn't have exactly what I wanted. I found out that they would build one to my specs if I would simply order it...so that's what I did. The sound is beautiful and the wood, as I described, is gorgeous. I only had to wait three months for it. It was totally worth the wait.
My brother-in-law's car, on the other hand, may not be that impressive. It's a 1977 Buick Regal in prime condition. Everything is original on it. He wanted it as that was the first car he had ever driven, and it was purely a nostalgic purchase for him. As it turns out, he has already had an offer which nearly triples his purchase price. What he really wants next is a 1970 Buick GSX, which is extremely hard to come by and very expensive. Maybe you guys have one?!
Brian, I've always had compliance disorder especially when Karen asks me to do something in the house!
I like this post very much! Very hard to believe that such a disorder exists!
Cream: Yes, this whole compliance thing could prove to be quite advantagous once in a while...especially at tax time.
Brian - your guitar experience sounds very wonderful, especially the part about only waiting 3 months to get it. My BF is an electric guitar designer. You can take a look at some of his stuff here. It's really quite gorgeous, if I say so myself! In the collectible car department - we each have a 1973 Porsche 911 RS, and Jol has a Chevron B23 that he vintage races. And thank you again for your kind comments...delicious art...I like it:>
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