PSYCHIATRIC COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE ESSAY

The Track Specific

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The Track Specific

Renowned English Philosopher John Locke’s concept of Tabula Rasa; the human mind as a blank slate hit the nail on my head because he propounded the most interesting notion in Psychological world regarding the development of human personality. He interlinked social environment of the person to his personality development; attributing human being as the product of his inner and outside world. He was in view that at the time of birth, human mind is similar to a blank slate; he has no memories (Smith, 1898). All that he has is the innate predispositions aimed at ensuring his survival. With the passing time, he interacts with his parents, siblings, relatives, friends, peers, teachers, colleagues and other members of the society and provides a sound basis to his personality development. Hence, life experiences are irrefutably significant in determining our future goals and aspirations.

John Locke’s idea was quite appealing for me because my personal life acted as an excellent verifier of his theory. From the very beginning, I had a very strong attachment with my Grand Parents. They were my best friends too because I shared significant ebb and flows of my life with them and they always suggested me with the good; acting as a sincere mentor for me. They were the most significant part of my life but the things do not turn to be up to our expectations always. They were getting older and this was the most unacceptable reality for me. I hardly noticed that my grandfather is forgetting familiar places, appointments, important dates until he forgot my birthday for the very first time. I felt unexplainably bad that day but could not say anything because he was diagnosed with dementia the same day.

I had read about dementia in books and journals but I was entirely unaware of the true essence of the behavioral ramifications associated with dementia. Soon, he started developing lower mood transitions; he used to remain quiet, worried and guilty for no reason. He was not happy while seeing my success in academics; he was not interested in attending marriage ceremony of my elder sibling and he left eating and wandered here and there aimlessly even in the midnight. His situation was quite devastating for us; for me specifically because I lost my mentor. He was diagnosed with dementia with depression and I eagerly wanted him to get better at any cost. I was studying nursing and in the free time I used to rush library and started reading books and latest journals of abnormal and clinical psychology, all this activity was centered on the single cause; finding an evidence-based remedy for the love of my life. However, I ended up knowing that dementia is not curable but only manageable. Surprisingly, my interest was developed in psychology because I realized that mental and emotional wellbeing is equally important as the physical one and I must chose this subject for clinical specialization. This event imprinted my tabula rasa so hard and I decided to label myself as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner after getting relevant degree.

Now coming to the main issue; individuals with a mental disorder must be prevented from purchasing firearms. Needless to say, mental disorders draw a fine line between normality and abnormality. A person who is having a mental disorder undoubtedly possesses some attributes and behaviors that are deviating from what the average population demonstrates (Coulter, 2013). For instance, a person who is suffering from psychosis may develop persecutory delusions that someone is intended at harming, exploiting ad killing him. He may use firearms for the sake of counterattack and ensuring his personal safety. In such cases, precious innocent lives are lost even without any serious intention (Metzl, 2010).

Secondly, individuals suffering from mania and hyperactivity might use firearms in an uncontrollable manner due to which similar consequences are drawn. Laws and legislations in USA support this view that individuals with mental health issues must not be given permission to keep weapons and firearms with them because they might use it inappropriately (Metzl, 2011). However, with these laws, mentally ill patient may lose their right of self defense when situation seriously demands for it. However, in my view keeping individuals refrained from possessing firearms is a fair decision because its pros always surmount the cons.

References

Smith, S. W. (1898). Cornish, F. Warre (ed.). A Concise Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. London: Spottiswoode and Co. pp. 608–9.

Coulter A. Guns don’t kill people, the mentally ill do. 2013. Retrieved from http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2013-01-16.html.

Metzl, J. M. (2010). The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease. Boston, MA: Beacon Press. 

Metzl J. M. (2011). Why are the mentally ill still bearing arms? Lancet, 377(9784),2172–2173.