PCP ( Phencyclidine )
Phencyclidine, also known as PCP, Angel, or Angel Dust, is a synthetic dissociative drug that induces hallucinations and feelings of euphoria in those who take it. It was originally developed in 1950 for use as an intravenous anesthetic for surgeries, but was discontinued from use medically after it was linked to psychotic episodes in patients post-operation. Now, it is considered a Schedule II drug (only legal through nonrenewable prescription) and most often taken recreationally.
People who have taken PCP report feelings of detachment, floatiness, or dissociation from reality, as well as a dulled sense of self. High doses of PCP may result in psychosis and violent behavior, which may result in death due to recklessness. Low doses of PCP tend to do less harm psychologically, but may induce dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and a loss of coordination. The effects of PCP can last from 4 to 6 hours depending on dosage and personal tolerance.
Personality
Personality is an enduring set of traits and patterns that reflect how a person thinks, behaves, and feels. Personalities are long-standing and not easy to change, typically staying consistent throughout one’s life barring drastic circumstantial changes (i.e. brain trauma). The word itself comes from the Latin word “persona”, which refers to theatrical masks a performer puts on to conceal their identity and play a different character.
The study of personality most likely began in ancient Greece with the physician Hippocrates and his theory of Humorism. Hippocrates believed that a person’s personality was heavily influenced by the distribution of four fluids in their body: blood from the heart, black bile from the kidneys, yellow bile from the liver, and phlegm from the lungs. According to humorist theory, one’s temperament at any given moment in time is determined by the circulation of these fluids through the organs of the body. This theory was widely discontinued following the medical advancements at the end of the 19th century that brought a greater understanding of the brain
Personality Disorder (General Definition)
Personality disorders are mental health conditions characterized by patterns of behavior that impact how a person thinks, behaves, and feels. The exact causes of personality disorders are unknown, but risk factors included genetics, childhood trauma/abuse, and culture, as different countries have noticeably different rates of personality disorders. For the U.S., around 9% of the adult population have some type of personality disorder. Many people with personality disorders find psychotherapy like CBT to be helpful as a form of treatment.
Personality disorders are categorized into three different clusters: A, B, and C. Cluster A is characterized by unusual patterns of thinking that impact a person’s perception of themselves and others, cluster B consists of patterns of erratic behavior and unstable emotions, and cluster C contains mostly anxiety-related disorders. Of the three clusters, cluster B is the most common, as it contains the two most frequently diagnosed personality disorders, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
Personality Trait
Personality traits are stable aspects of one’s personality that differentiate people from each other. Personality traits exist on a spectrum, meaning that every person exhibits certain aspects of a trait in different amounts. Modern psychological research has led to the creation of the OCEAN model, an acronym for the “Big Five” personality traits. OCEAN stands for openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. These traits are the five most influential categories of personal expression according to psychological researchers.
Here’s a breakdown of the Big Five personality traits and what they mean. Openness is the general quality of curiosity, creativity, and imagination. Conscientiousness refers to the ability to be thoughtful and organized. Extraversion (also spelt extroversion) measures a person’s sociability, expressiveness, and excitability. Agreeableness is similar to extraversion, but focuses more on empathy and altruism. Finally, neuroticism relates to a person’s mood, with high neuroticism correlating with sadness, anxiety, and irritability.