neurosis vs. neuroticism
As the word ‘neurosis’ became outmoded in psychiatric jargon and was limited to psychoanalytic circles, the concept of ‘neuroticism’ as a fundamental personality trait emerged as a useful concept. Whereas neurosis has been limited to psychoanalytic models of conflict and developmental deficits, neuroticism is thought of as a biologically-based, hardwired personality characteristic. This trait is thought of as a propensity for experiencing negative emotional states with consequent anger, anxiety and depression. We have exchanged blaming our ‘mothers’ for our troubles into blaming ‘our brains’ and ‘neurotransmitter’ apparatus! The interaction between our hardwired biology and our environment has baffled philosophers and scientists alike, but I tend to shy away from the ones who claim to have found the answer with oversimplified explanations.