This document discusses obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and how it relates to human development and socialization. It describes OCD as having unwanted and repetitive thoughts (obsessions) that drive behaviors (compulsions). The document examines how OCD affects people differently across development from children to adults, and how it can negatively impact socialization and education. It also explores the impact OCD has on society through economic losses and cultural influences on symptoms.

1. University of Phoenix
Abstract
This paper will examine the psychological disorder Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder and the relationship it has between human
development and socialization as well as how human development and
socialization affect people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Psychological Disorder Paper
The U.S. National Library of Medicine describes Obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) as, “ an anxiety disorder in which people have unwanted
and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), or
behaviors that make them feel driven to do something (compulsions).”
Essentially, the obsessions are the spontaneous and tedious
contemplations, while the compulsions are the actions that result from
the disorder. Even though OCD is exhibited as recurrent and persistent
thoughts and impulses, would it be just to consider every type of
compulsive behavior or obsessive thought as OCD? (Shiraev &Levy,
2010) According to Shiraev & Levy, “ Specific repetitive behavior –
praying, for example –– should be judged in accordance with the norms
of the individual’s culture and should clearly interfere with social role
functioning to be diagnosed as OCD (DSM-IV, P. 420) “ (2010, p. 231).
With this in mind a more concrete explanation of the relationship
between OCD and human development and socialization.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) OCD affects
more than 2.3% of the U.S. population. OCD affects everyone on the
spectrum from children to adults. This disorder is an “equal opportunity”
illness, which refers to the fact that it does not have a preference in
gender, age, or ethnic groups. In the past OCD was considered a rare
condition, which left sufferers from OCD in the dark and forced to keep
their illness a secrete. It was not until recent years that medical
professionals announced OCD to be a severe anxiety disorder. That led
many people to request treatment. Scientist have not been able to
identify the factors that predispose people to the development of OCD.
While the diagnosis in adults follows criteria from the DSM –IV– TR
modifications need to be made when diagnosing a child, because while
older children are able to recognize the unwanted symptoms, it is hard to

2. evaluate many of the younger children, because most children have
some rituals such as bedtime rituals, which should not be confused with
rituals of OCD.
OCD and Those Living with Symptoms
OCD can have a negative effect and critically harm the educational
experience of a school-aged child. The rituals related with the disorder
can humiliate a child and can delay their capability to perform properly in
school and school related activities. The symptoms of the disorder can
cause self – consciousness, which can lead to less socialization as well
as less interaction with other children. While there are therapies that
help the children with anxiety, it is the affects of social interaction that
affects the children.
Adults with OCD encounter more stressors that deal with the disorder,
besides the daily typical stressors other adults encounter. Adults with
OCD constantly have problems keeping relationships because they are
constantly late for school or work, are forced to quit a job because of
OCD symptoms, have made up excuses or lied as a result of their
symptoms and have avoided events they wished to attend. Not only
does the adult with OCD suffer through symptoms but their family and
friends also are affected. According to OCDCenter.org, “ A study of 225
family members of adult OCD patients identified the most frequent
concerns relating to OCD symptoms: Obsessive thoughts,
unemployment, ritual behaviors, noncompliance with medication,
depression, lack of motivation, excessive arguing. (n.a.)
Impact OCD has on Society
The impact OCD has on society is immense. OCD lead to social and
economic losses of more than $8.4 billion, which is nearly 6% of the
national’s total mental health bill. (NIMH, n.a.) Culture also has and
immense impact on OCD and it’s patients. Many people are scared to
seek treatment because of the fear of being labeled “crazy”. Many
scientist believe that religion may also have a connection with the
obsessions and compulsions of those diagnosed with OCD, “Effect of
religious culture on obsessive Cultural factors may influence the nature
of obsessions and compulsions associated with the obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD). The aid of this review is to evaluate the
effect of religious upbringing on OCD symptoms. In fact, a variety of
symptoms related to religious thoughts are more prevalent in clinical

3. populations from countries in which religion is at the central core of the
society, particularly in Muslim and Jewish Middle Eastern cultures, as
compared with clinical populations from the West. These findings
suggest that clinicians should be sensitive to the fact that religious
obsessions may be more prevalent in certain cultures with which they
may not be well acquainted.” (de Bilbao, F., Giannakopoulos, P., 2005)
People who suffer from OCD not only have to deal with the things that
typical stressors that life hands them, they must also deal with the
stressors that their disorder gives them, as well as the stressors they
undergo to having to deal with their unwanted obsessions and
compulsions and the reaction to them from others or their frustrations
they share with their family and friends about their rituals.
References
Shiraev, E., & Levy, D. (2010). Cross-cultural psychology: Critical
thinking and contemporary applications (4th ed). Boston: Pearson/Allyn
Bacon.
U.S. National Library of Medicine (2010). Obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001926/
U.S National Library of Medicine. (2005). Effect of religious culture on
obsessive compulsive disorder symptomatology. A transcultural study in
monotheistic religions. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16396372
National institute of Mental Health (n.a) Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved
from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-
disorders/treatment-of-anxiety-disorders.shtml
OCDCenter.org (n.a) Potential Impact of Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder(OCD) on Loved Ones, Friends, and Caregivers. Retrieved from
http://ocdcenter.org/treatments/ocd-for-caregivers.php