Literature not only entertains, but also holds up a mirror to us, revealing the hidden corners of the human soul. It is no coincidence that many psychological phenomena are named after famous literary figures who perfectly embody these states of mind. In our article, we will now trace known and lesser-known syndromes that were first born in the pages of books.
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- Munchausen syndrome
Munchausen syndrome is a psychological disorder in which someone intentionally creates or fakes symptoms of illness to gain attention and sympathy from those around them. It is named after the work of Rudolf Erich Raspe, which The Adventures of Baron Munchausen The Baron was a real person who invented incredible, unrealistic stories about his exploits.
- Anna Karenina syndrome
In Tolstoy's world-famous work, the tragically Anna Karenina obsessively clings to a toxic love relationship, leading to irrational actions. The extreme emotional choices are driven by an intense love affair and are often accompanied by self-destructive behavior and the idea that love is worth any sacrifice. The person feels that without their loved one, they are nothing, just as the unforgettable female figure of Russian literature felt.
- Alice in Wonderland syndrome (Todd disease)
This is actually not a psychological but a neurological disorder, which is associated with Lewis Carroll's famous novel. A condition in which a person perceives their own body or environment as distorted compared to reality - as being enormously large or even too small. This is often accompanied by a loss of time perception and hallucinations. Just like Alice experienced during the novel. Most often, epilepsy or a viral infection can be the cause.
- Dorian Gray syndrome
In Oscar Wilde's famous novel, In the Picture of Dorian Gray The main character never wants to grow old, but instead wants his portrait to bear the marks of the passage of time. The work reflects the cult of beauty, the idolization of youth, and the rejection of the physical and mental changes that come with age – as in the condition named after him, where the individual compulsively wants a young and perfect appearance.
- Othello syndrome (pathological jealousy)
Shakespeare was an excellent connoisseur of the human soul, which is how he was able to create unique personalities for his characters. The character of Othello in the play struggles with jealous and distorted thoughts, and eventually kills his wife after he believes she has cheated on him. In psychology, this pathological jealousy gives rise to a serious, irrational state of mind, during which the person concerned is convinced that their partner is unfaithful, and therefore aggressively and constantly controls them. The play itself depicts the destructive effect of jealousy, which in reality may require complex therapy to treat.
- Polyanna syndrome
In Eleanor H. Porter's 1913 novel, Pollyanna is an orphaned girl who always sees the good in every situation and in everyone, a kind of idealized worldview. She believes that there is something good in everything bad, but she is psychologically naive and detached from reality. The compulsion to see the good in everything and reject the negativity of reality requires an urgent solution, which in many cases is accompanied by the suppression of real emotions and the denial of problems.
- Narcissistic personality disorder
Although it is not a literary work but a mythological figure, it is still worth taking a look at the origin of the word narcissism, which comes from the name of the ancient Greek figure Narcissus, whose myth was adapted by Ovid. According to the story, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in the water of a lake and was unable to separate himself from it. Eventually, he died, and a flower called the daffodil grew at the site of his death. As a psychological concept, it is a very broad personality trait that encompasses a wide range of behavioral patterns. A narcissistic person craves attention and admiration, but is also manipulative and envious of others. The parallel between the personality disorder and the mythological figure is that both are too immersed in their attachment to their own image and importance, while ignoring the feelings of others.
- Hamlet syndrome
Hamlet syndrome is a state of indecision and overthinking, during which the person is simply paralyzed by their inner anxieties and dilemmas and is unable to take any real action. Shakespeare Hamlet, the Danish prince It was inspired by his play "To Be or Not to Be", in which the monologue "To Be or Not to Be" is a literary example of internal, moral conflict.
- Odysseus syndrome
The main character of Homer's epic, Odysseus, wandered at sea for ten years and yearned for Ithaca. Experts call Odysseus syndrome the migration stress that occurs when someone is in a foreign country for a long time. It is mainly observed in refugees and foreign workers, and its typical symptoms are homesickness, anxiety and difficulties in integration.
- Werther effect
In Goethe's famous novel In the sufferings of young Werther the main character, Werther, commits suicide because of his hopeless love. After the book was published (1774), the number of similar suicides increased throughout Europe, which is why the effect was called the Werther effect. According to this, the suicide of a well-known personality has an influence on society and can increase suicidal tendencies. Today, there are ethical regulations for dealing with suicides in public (especially media publicity) in order to avoid the Werther effect.
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