Spin-Off: Mentally Unstable People with Advanced Degrees

[indygphib]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I've found that most psych majors have some serious problems themselves...

Boy, isn't that the truth. I've run across many a psych major with serious issues.

[Senusret I]

If psychology majors are psychopaths, are sociology majors sociopaths?

Are television majors telepaths?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Also, no one can stop a mentally ill person from obtaining an advanced degree since that is discrimination.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that mentally ill folks should not receive, or should be prevented from receiving, advanced degrees. Sometimes, when confronted with someone who is clearly mentally ill, people will say, "well, they have a Fillintheblank Degree so they must not really be crazy!" I think it happens in some communities more than others.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Are television majors telepaths?

Television major? Is that the proclaimed Couch Potato?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Television major? Is that the proclaimed Couch Potato?

LOL

At some schools I'm familiar with, there is an RTVF major (Radio, Television, Film) in the school of communications.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Television major? Is that the proclaimed Couch Potato?

Haha, don't know if you're joking or not...but some schools have television and film undergrad programs. My undergrad had one (out of the College of Communications), and it was essentially the film majors and those who wanted to go into TV and film production. Some of the programs are quite good; I know a bunch of people who have gone on to be producers of nationally-broadcast events, or some of the big national nightly news programs.

There are definitely crazies in every field, with any degree, from undergraduate degrees, to those with an M.D., J.D., MBA, etc.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I don't think anyone is suggesting that mentally ill folks should not receive, or should be prevented from receiving, advanced degrees. Sometimes, when confronted with someone who is clearly mentally ill, people will say, "well, they have a Fillintheblank Degree so they must not really be crazy!" I think it happens in some communities more than others.

Here is my take on it. I know many socially awkward people (some mentally ill, as well) who stay in school to avoid working with other people. Often they either become too stressed by human interactions or are extreme introverts. It is easier on them to dive into research and become experts in their field of study.

I remember one of my Calculus professors who was like this ("Dr. Tom"). He knew the material inside and out and often talked over our heads. Once in the middle of a problem. He stopped and stared at the board for 5 minutes without saying a word (we had a very small class and no one said a word - just shot glances an one another). Finally, he walked up to the board and placed his forehead on it, as if he was transmitting a signal between the chalkboard and his brain. Then, he turned around and just started lecturing again as if nothing happened.

Dr. Tom was also a concert pianist and never married. he lived at home with his parents and doubt he had any friends. The biggest kicker was during a final. Since several of his classes were small, he held all of the finals at the same time in an auditorium. About 15 minutes into the final, he sat down at the piano and started playing Beethovan's 5th. I think more than a few of us were freaked out.

[carnation]

Having several students with Asperger's, I recently read a great book about the condition that was written by a woman who has it. She felt that many academics had it and I believe this was confirmed by other people involved in writing the book.

We've had several really odd people on the faculties of colleges where I've taught and they were probably affected. Of course, Asperger's isn't a form of mental illness per se but if a victim is odd enough, it could certainly look like it.

BTW, has anyone mentioned serial murderer Ted Bundy? He had a JD.

[Tippiechick]

Ooooh, I know one...

Yes, I would say bipolar is a mental illness that makes people unstable.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Eccentricity has always been tolerated, if not accepted, in academia. Think of the "mad scientist" or the "absent-minded professor." Extreme success in one part of your life seems to excuse other, less savory aspects of your life. There are plenty of crazy-ass people who have PhDs or other advanced degrees. The ivory tower, and especially once tenure is granted, is far more accepting of certain nonsense than the private sector.

I can't speak for everyone who has an advanced degree, but in my area, life sciences / biomedical sciences, very often people are quite normal when they enter grad school. The 'craziness' usually comes during grad work because of all the pressure and expectations associated with obtaining an advanced degree. Not just that, working in a life science / biomedical lab can be very stressful. And, dealing with your grad committee is no picnic either.

When working on an advanced degree, you don't have a normal life. You have to give up a lot - hobbies, activities, relationships, for the degree. Some people can handle the pressure, some can not.

As for the crazy prof, obtaining tenure can be just as stressful as grad school. Some universities have dealt with tenure by eliminating it, or not making such a big deal out of it. And, for those schools that still have a tenure system, maintaining tenure can be stressful also.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by carnation

Having several students with Asperger's, I recently read a great book about the condition that was written by a woman who has it. She felt that many academics had it and I believe this was confirmed by other people involved in writing the book.

We've had several really odd people on the faculties of colleges where I've taught and they were probably affected. Of course, Asperger's isn't a form of mental illness per se but if a victim is odd enough, it could certainly look like it.

BTW, has anyone mentioned serial murderer Ted Bundy? He had a JD.

You hit the nail on the head. My brother's nephew has Aspergers and is highly functional. He received an Associates Degree in computers where he can concentrate (ok, more like obsess) over something that would drive someone else crazy. He can write a paper on anything you ask him, but if you want him to communicate orally he sounds like Rainman!


For years, I worked with a guy who was a Fulbright Scholar and never could quite figure him out. Highly intelligent, but socially awkward and speaks in a monotone voice. One day, we had someone come to speak at a Brown Bag Lunch on Autism and I brought up the quirky things that my brother's nephew does. Then it dawned on me. My co-worker has Aspergers.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

I can't speak for everyone who has an advanced degree, but in my area, life sciences / biomedical sciences, very often people are quite normal when they enter grad school. The 'craziness' usually comes during grad work because of all the pressure and expectations associated with obtaining an advanced degree. Not just that, working in a life science / biomedical lab can be very stressful. And, dealing with your grad committee is no picnic either.

When working on an advanced degree, you don't have a normal life. You have to give up a lot - hobbies, activities, relationships, for the degree. Some people can handle the pressure, some can not.

As for the crazy prof, obtaining tenure can be just as stressful as grad school. Some universities have dealt with tenure by eliminating it, or not making such a big deal out of it. And, for those schools that still have a tenure system, maintaining tenure can be stressful also.

A lot of signs of Schizophrenia appear in early adulthood, which would be consistent with College and Grad School. I think the additional pressures is often the catalyst for setting the illness into motion.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Dr. Tom was also a concert pianist and never married. he lived at home with his parents and doubt he had any friends. The biggest kicker was during a final. Since several of his classes were small, he held all of the finals at the same time in an auditorium. About 15 minutes into the final, he sat down at the piano and started playing Beethovan's 5th. I think more than a few of us were freaked out.

I normally don't actually "lol" but I just did. I'm just picturing what would happen had that happened in one of my classes. That's awesome. What did everyone do?

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I normally don't actually "lol" but I just did. I'm just picturing what would happen had that happened in one of my classes. That's awesome. What did everyone do?

A lot of jaws dropped, as did a few pencils. By that point in the quarter, we all knew how strange he was. Just the icing on the cake and something to talk about during the next quarter.

I just checked his CV. He is still teaching.

[Munchkin03]

Bump!