There are many factors that can affect a person’s development. One of which is isolation. There have been many tests to determine the effects of isolation on children and the makeup of their brain compared to a normal child. Isolation can lead to many mental illnesses over time, some of which can be fixed through therapy and medication. Boo Radley suffered one of these mental illnesses because of his living conditions; however, it is difficult to determine an exact diagnosis with the information given about him. Two likely ailments are Social Anxiety Disorder and Schizoid Personality Disorder.
Physical isolation and environmental deprivation affect development immensely. One of the most important factors is the timing of which the person is …show more content…
When Boo was eighteen, he mixed with the wrong crowd and joined a gang, but he was not mentally ill. Boo was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct but Mr. Radley, Boo’s father, made a deal with the judge. Mr. Radley said that if he let his son go, he would make sure he didn’t misbehave again; Mr. Radley always keeps his word. After that, nobody saw or heard from Boo for fifteen years. When he was thirty-three, rumors went around that he had taken scissors and stabbed his father in the leg and then continued his activities. He was locked in the moldy, damp courthouse basement instead of getting the proper help for his condition. Fifteen years of isolation and being locked up can lead to mental illness. If Boo was not mentally ill at eighteen, he likely was now. At first, he was forced to stay inside as a recluse, but over time, it is quite possible he developed Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD. Boo was afraid to go outside and talk to people, but he showed his affection in strange ways. A common symptom for SAD is the fear of being the center of attention which describes Boo perfectly. Another possible diagnosis of Boo is Schizoid Personality Disorder, or SPD. This disorder typically begins in early adulthood. The subject would rather be alone than with others, even family members. They have trouble expressing anger which causes a lack of emotion. “Schizoid personality disorder is
Physical isolation and environmental deprivation affect development immensely. One of the most important factors is the timing of which the person is …show more content…
When Boo was eighteen, he mixed with the wrong crowd and joined a gang, but he was not mentally ill. Boo was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct but Mr. Radley, Boo’s father, made a deal with the judge. Mr. Radley said that if he let his son go, he would make sure he didn’t misbehave again; Mr. Radley always keeps his word. After that, nobody saw or heard from Boo for fifteen years. When he was thirty-three, rumors went around that he had taken scissors and stabbed his father in the leg and then continued his activities. He was locked in the moldy, damp courthouse basement instead of getting the proper help for his condition. Fifteen years of isolation and being locked up can lead to mental illness. If Boo was not mentally ill at eighteen, he likely was now. At first, he was forced to stay inside as a recluse, but over time, it is quite possible he developed Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD. Boo was afraid to go outside and talk to people, but he showed his affection in strange ways. A common symptom for SAD is the fear of being the center of attention which describes Boo perfectly. Another possible diagnosis of Boo is Schizoid Personality Disorder, or SPD. This disorder typically begins in early adulthood. The subject would rather be alone than with others, even family members. They have trouble expressing anger which causes a lack of emotion. “Schizoid personality disorder is