Article 20: Identification and Correction of Pathological Nostalgia and Pattern Misalignment

13. Pathological nostalgia

Pathological nostalgia refers to a psychological state in which one becomes excessively immersed in memories of the past and unable to adapt to real life. Appropriate nostalgia can provide warmth and strength, but pathological nostalgia can detach one from reality and negatively impact normal life and work.

Nostalgia arises from specific reasons: on the one hand, the disappointments of real life lead people to escape into fond memories of the past; on the other hand, as people age, they develop an idealized longing for bygone years. However, excessive nostalgia can cause people to lose their motivation to move forward.

It has positive functions such as harmony and a return to simplicity. The more these functions there are, the less unhealthy or negative mindset will be. Therefore, nostalgia should not be entirely opposed; normal nostalgia should still be encouraged.

14. Fixed pattern misalignment

"Setting pattern," also known as "mental orientation," refers to a state of readiness formed by certain psychological activities, which influences or determines the trend or formation of similar subsequent psychological activities. For example, people can perform routine work and study well based on their past life experiences and established patterns. However, some people exhibit a different mental orientation in social life, becoming unfamiliar with situations or people that are already very familiar. This situation is called "pattern misalignment," a pathological social psychological phenomenon.

Performance

(1) Misalignment of moral norms, such as the misalignment of advanced and backward.

(2) Civilization and ignorance are misplaced, such as regarding civilized behavior as pretentiousness and using foul language as generosity.

(3) Frugality and extravagance are misplaced.

(4) The misalignment of self-esteem and self-deprecation.

(5) Justice and evil are misplaced, such as heroes who stand up to fight criminals being called "fools".

(6) Psychological misalignment, including misalignment of needs, motivation, attitude, and values.

(7) Misaligned behavior, including abuse and mutual abuse, and thuggish behavior.

Adjustment

It is essential to establish correct views on life and values. Correct values ​​come from learning; one can glean principles of conduct from the works of sages and philosophers, and draw strength from the words and deeds of social role models. At the same time, one must be adept at critical thinking, viewing the world from a higher perspective, and using sound logical reasoning to make correct choices regarding the ever-changing social landscape.

We must strengthen our personal moral cultivation. Cultivated people are often able to "examine themselves three times a day" and possess the character of "being cautious even when alone." They have a sense of social responsibility, strive to fulfill their moral obligations, and do not pander to popular tastes.

Existing erroneous mindsets can be corrected using systematic desensitization. This means starting with correcting the smallest errors. For example, if the mindset is to distrust others, consider correcting it in the following order: trust yourself → trust friends → trust colleagues → trust superiors → trust strangers. Correct this gradually, from easy to difficult.

Sexual psychological disorders or sexual perversions

Sexual psychopathology refers to psychological disorders involving abnormal sexual behavior. These individuals have no desire for normal heterosexual sex but have a strong and recurring desire for pathological sexual behavior.

Exhibitionism is characterized by a recurring and intense sexual desire and fantasy of exposing one's genitals to strangers of the opposite sex, which is then acted upon. It typically lasts for at least six months and is predominantly seen in men. The frequency of exhibitionism varies significantly from person to person, ranging from a few times a month or year to several times a day or week. Some first-time offenders, deterred by the law, strengthen their control over exhibitionism and thus avoid recurrence. Generally, if it recurs, it is very difficult to control. Children who exhibit exhibitionism often have poor prognoses, and some may later develop pedophilia. The condition usually tends to subside after age 40. Exhibitionists act intentionally and with a clear mind, and therefore are considered responsible for their actions. Imprisonment and labor camps are not very effective, and relapse is common after release.

There is no specific treatment for exhibitionism; it must be managed flexibly based on the patient's individual circumstances. Relaxation therapy and cognitive-insight therapy can be used to alleviate the patient's abnormal emotions. For example, some patients have shown improvement after alleviating their anger towards their mothers and their fear of women.

Helping patients build confidence and self-esteem is beneficial. Furthermore, establishing a normal heterosexual relationship can greatly benefit their recovery.

2. Voyeurism

Voyeurism, also known as "voyeurism" or "voyeurism," refers to the act of secretly and repeatedly watching the genitals, nudity, or sexual activity of others to satisfy a strong desire for sexual arousal. This may involve masturbation during the act or recalling the voyeuristic experience and masturbating afterward to achieve sexual satisfaction. It is almost exclusively seen in men. Gaining sexual satisfaction from watching pornographic audio-visual materials does not fall under this category.

The exact cause of voyeurism is not fully understood. It is generally believed to be related to the following factors:

Childhood experiences. An analysis of eight cases of voyeurism revealed that five of them had spied on their mothers' naked bodies. Of course, voyeurism can be related to temptation.

They were already quite old when they got married, which led to a decline in their heterosexual function. In addition, their frequent crimes resulted in divorce or separation.

Treating voyeurism is quite difficult. Common treatment methods include:

① Cognitive Insight Therapy

Patients often suffer from social condemnation. In such cases, patient guidance and encouragement can help them think critically and analyze their behavior, ultimately leading them to understand the relationship between motivation and behavior. Once they realize the true source of their motivation, the pathological behavior can often be brought under control quickly.

②Aversion therapy

The goal is to associate the patient's voyeuristic behavior with an offensive stimulus. One case successfully treated a voyeur using electroshock as a negative stimulus. The method involved having the patient watch a slideshow being projected in the room through a distant window; whenever nudity or other sexually explicit content appeared on the slides, the patient would receive an electroshock.

In treatment practice, a variety of treatment methods are generally adopted flexibly according to the specific situation.