Today in my wonderful psychology class, which is taught by the best teacher to ever walk this earth Michael Kinsley, we learned about this type of mental retardation called "Williams Syndrome".
It really is quite fascinating. It causes the person to be very social and talkative but have extreme difficulties with deepening their relationships with people. It's like they know everyone but can count very few friends. They can hold a conversation but can't take the hints at the end of that conversation. They don't understand facial expressions or body language or anything like that, which is very frustrating for them and causes great stress on their emotional being.
Williams syndrome is only found in about 1/7500 births and it effects both male and females equally. It is genetic and occurs when the double helix of DNA splits and about 25 genes are lost. So when the half of the DNA groups with the other parents DNA it's impossible to function correctly because there are 25 missing genes..
This form of mental retardation is often linked with the "elfin" look so that the people with this syndrome appear elf-like and cheerful. Williams shares some characteristics with autism in that, they both express difficulty with understanding numbers and puzzles and such. Most adults with Williams can't even solve a 6 piece jigsaw puzzle.
Now, although we all love a good conversation most conversations held under Williams syndrome are awkward and very elongated. They tend to interrupt and drag on without end.
It is really fascinating..
I just can't seem to get my head around it. It's as if, sure I would love to always have something to talk about but the people who suffer from this syndrome can never really have real deep and meaningful relationships. It's like, they know everyone around them but aren't their friends.. It's very sad and must be frustrating. It's learning about things like this that make me cherish not suffering from something like that. I feel for all the people who do and for all the families who take care of them and I wish them nothing but the best in their lives and I want them all the know that they are all perfect and special in their own little way and they have a spot in our world.
I just wish more people saw it that way..
Sometimes, all we need is a packet of paper in a high school psychology class to help us see how fortunate we really are.
well..
that's it folks.
I urge you to look up more on this fascinating syndrome, you may be surprised.
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2 comments:
Yup, that was pretty interesting. i also feel fortunate on this fine afternoon! i love kinsleys class. i like this site, the blob looks very official. good shit.
oh nikki, could you imagine not having kinsley's class?
we've learned heeeella.
from how to protest the budget cuts, how things would look like if our brain didn't flip it right side up, how fortunate we are for being genetically "normal" and whatever else we've learned.
this year's been awesome.
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