331 – The „lord Jim” Syndrome

Abstract

The authors present an original concept of a psychopathological disorder syndrome which leads a person burdened with it to depression-anxiety behavior and consequently even death. The model describing the disorder was taken from the novel by Joseph Conrad entitled “Lord Jim”. The main hero is a young officer in the merchant navy, the son of a pastor, who dreams of fame. When fate places him in a situation where he may make a name for himself, he behaves inversely to his own envisions, like a nefarious coward. The axial symptom of this syndrome is the presence in the thinking strategy of seeking for situations which will bring success in life. When such a situation occurs, what inevitably follows are decisions which lead to disaster. Then, there are intrusive self-destructive thoughts linked to the sense of lack of self-worth. Contrary to D. Owen’s “Hubris syndrome” recognized among politicians, the “Lord Jim” syndrome can occur in any occupational group. The knowledge of this psychopathological syndrome should be of importance when filling the decision-making positions and particularly in fields such as healthcare, military, police, transport and communication. According to the authors, the “Concordia” ferry catastrophe is an example of how often the “Lord Jim” syndrome is present in our lives. A person charged with this disorder, if not subjected to appropriate psychotherapy, will not be able to function correctly. The weight of previous traumas will increase the suffering and generate further traumatic experiences, leading in result to low quality of life and even death.