When you hear the word “syndrome,” does your mind tend to jump to a medical condition? Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Reye’s Syndrome, Restless Leg Syndrome–they all have triggers which make our bodies do things we have no control over.
What about the psychiatric field? Eckbom’s Syndrome, Munchausen Syndrome, Rumination Syndrome–these all have things that trigger something in the brain.
But are some “doctors” making up syndromes to excuse bad behavior?
Case in point, Dr. Joy DeGruy. According to her bio she “holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications; two master degrees in Social Work and Clinical Psychology; and a PhD in Social Work Research. With over twenty years of practical experience as a professional in the field of social work, she gives a practical insight into various cultural and ethnic groups that form the basis of contemporary American society.”
Dr. DeGruy has a theory and she calls it PTSS, or Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. She has also written a book on the theory.
P.T.S.S. is a theory that explains the etiology of many of the adaptive survival behaviors in African American communities throughout the United States and the Diaspora. It is a condition that exists as a consequence of multigenerational oppression of Africans and their descendants resulting from centuries of chattel slavery. A form of slavery which was predicated on the belief that African Americans were inherently/genetically inferior to whites. This was then followed by institutionalized racism which continues to perpetuate injury.
Thus, resulting in M.A.P.:
M: Multigenerational trauma together with continued oppression;
A: Absence of opportunity to heal or access the benefits available in the society; leads to
P: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.Under such circumstances these are some of the predictable patterns of behavior that tend to occur:
KEY PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR REFLECTIVE OF P.T.S.S.
Vacant Esteem
Insufficient development of what Dr. DeGruy refers to as primary esteem, along with feelings of hopelessness, depression and a general self destructive outlook.
Marked Propensity for Anger and Violence
Extreme feelings of suspicion perceived negative motivations of others. Violence against self, property and others, including the members of one’s own group, i.e. friends, relatives, or acquaintances.
Racist Socialization and (internalized racism)
Learned Helplessness, literacy deprivation, distorted self-concept, antipathy or aversion for the following:
The members of ones own identified cultural/ethnic group,
The mores and customs associated ones own identified cultural/ethnic heritage,
The physical characteristics of ones own identified cultural/ethnic group.
I have a few questions for the doctor.
In order to have “post trauma” anything, wouldn’t someone first need to have suffered the trauma to which you are referring? And since no one in America today has ever experienced “chattel slavery,” how can anyone have been traumatized by it, much less have any post traumatic symptoms?
Isn’t it rather insulting to those who have actually suffered a severe trauma and have real post traumatic issues when you make a mockery of a legitimate syndrome such as PTSD? I know we have people in our community who deal with this issue, so please feel free to rant until you’re breathless. You can also go to her Facebook page and her Twitter page to let her know your thoughts since she so kindly linked them on her webpage.
Since syndromes of the brain fall under the mental disorder category, wouldn’t this theory suggest that all black people have mental disorders?
I’m not sure the “doctor” thought this theory through very well.
I did find two people who agree with Dr. DeGruy: Mickey Fearn, the National Park Service Deputy Director for Communications and Community Assistance, and Carolyn Finney, a diversity advisor to the U.S. National Parks Advisory Board. These two brainiacs use the doctor’s theory to tell us that trees and national parks are racist and they trigger stress in blacks because blacks were lynched in trees, and the uniforms park rangers wear look too much like border patrol uniforms.
You can read about that here because some other blogger already took one for the team and wrote about it.
