Frequently obsession is paired with compulsion, an uncontrollable act. This is the desire to act out in a certain way against the conscious will of the individual. Some people joke about being "compulsive shopper" in that they can't help but buy something. While this is typically not a compulsion, it illustrates the idea.

Frequently obsessions and compulsions combine to form obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This disorder is characterized by a combination of repetitive thoughts and uncontrollable acts. The two most common types of OCD are chronic hand washers and "checkers," individuals who continually check things in a highly structured way.

• recurrent, persistent ideas, thoughts, images or impulses that are not voluntary
• attempts are made to suppress or ignore obsessions
• great source of distress
• interference with social functioning
• impairment is moderate to severe

OPTIONAL: Listen to a case study that involves obsessive-complusive disorder and notice, in particular, the obsessions, or uncontrollable thoughts, of the patient. Read through all the following instructions before proceeding to the taped case study.

• Be sure you have downloaded Real Audio for free. If not, click here.
• Listen to the case study on "Fearful Girl" by clicking here. The file will download to your computer and you can listen to it by opening up Real Player first, going to the File menu, selecting Open, and then opening up the file titled "w6audio.rm."

This case study gives you a little insight into the nature of obsessions.

Next, we get to our reading passage.

• Click here to download or view the excerpt from The Scarlet Letter (pdf).
• Answer the following questions (worth 5 points each):

1. Hawthorne writes about the deacon, "Never was there a more beautiful example of how the majesty of age and widsom may comport with the obeisance and respect enjoined upon it, as from a lower social rank and inferior order of endowment, towards a higher." From this passage how does Reverend Dimmesdale view both the deacon and himself?
2. What "blasphemous" suggestion did Dimmesdale want to utter in his conversation with the deacon?
3. What was Dimmesdale's reaction when this desire crossed his mind?
4. What was Reverend Dimmesdale's compulsive thought when he was speaking to the eldest female member of his church?
5. What did Dimmesdale want to say to the young girl who was coming up to him as he walked from church? What did Dimmesdale do regarding this thought?
6. What was Revernd Dimmesdale's compulsive thought when he saw "a know of little Purican children playing?"
7. To what extent does Reverend Dimmesdale meet the criteria of OCD?

When you've finished paste your work into an e-mail titled "Week 6 Homework." Then e-mail your work to me at aeaptl@gmail.com.