Summary Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Summary - Research Paper Example The nature of a designer personality has been understood in a variety of contexts. Broadly speaking, it’s understood that designer personalities constitute personalities or behavioral patterns that are ‘treated’ through a variety of pharmacological options. The late 20th century witnessed an explosion in this realm of health care. Still, it’s noted that, â€Å"the idea that personality is mediated by biological chemicals is not new; it dates back to Hippocrates and the ancient Greeks† (Carson 2008). Today, however, a myriad of personality characteristics are treated through pharmaceutical options. Such treatments began with chemical responses to such severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Chemical treatment for severe dysfunctioning soon gave way to chemical options for a variety of elements of personality. In these regards, pharmaceutical options exist prominently for the treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms, with Prozac and Zoloft, being among the most prominently prescribed drugs (Baghai & Rupprecht 2006). In addition to depression and anxiety, traits such as attention-deficit disorder are regularly treated through chemicals. There are a variety of advantages and disadvantages to the modern tendency towards ‘designer personalities’. Obvious advantages can be witnessed in individuals who contain severely debilitating personality disorders. For instance, it would be impossible for many individuals with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or severe social anxiety to function without the aid of chemical intervention. Still, it’s clear there are a number of disadvantages. Perhaps the most prominent negative aspects of this occur with the glut of children diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder. Rather than restructuring the education system to adapt to the students, society has attempted to re-wire human consciousness. Another concern is that diversity of personality is an important part of a c reative and innovative culture. In simply medicating society to a perceived ideal, important and unique personality characteristics are being eliminated. In conclusion, this essay has examined what are termed ‘designer personalities’. In this context of understanding, it’s revealed that designer personalities are already a prevalent part of the contemporary cultural climate, as individuals are readily medicated for depression, anxiety, and a variety of personality ‘shortcomings’. Ultimately, while there are advantages for individuals with severe dysfunction, the disadvantages are the threat of a monotone culture. References Baghai TC, Moller HJ, Rupprecht R (2006). "Recent progress in pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options of major depression". Curr. Pharm. Des. 12 (4): 503–15. Carson, S. (2008). "designer" personalities . Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/life-art/200807/designer- personalities 2. One of th e largest-scale scientific undertakings in recent years has been the human genome project. The Human Genome Project is a multinational effort to identify and map the approximately 20,000 – 25,000 genes of the human genome (McElheny 2010). The project was launched in 1990 and in 2000 a working draft of the genome was announced (McElheny 2010). 2003 witnessed the development of a complete draft of the human genom