... the psychology of michael jackson ... (philippines, life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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i had the privilege of being interviewed by veteran broadcast journalist sol aragones for tv patrol. the interview was on the eccentricity of michael jackson's personality, and the intriguing evolution (or devolution) of his face.
. what i basically shared was that michael jackson's facial transmogrification may have been due to a psychiatric condition known as "body dysmorphic disorder."
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body dysmorphic disorder is characterized by (1) a preoccupation or obsessive concern over a slight or imagined physical defect, and by (2) significant distress or impairment in work life, social life, and/ or personal life.
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in michael's case, he was obsessed with the size and shape of his nose, which he apparently thought was unattractively bulbous or wide. michael probably thought that he had a "mountain" on his face which he wanted to reduce into a "molehill." too many surgeries though brought that molehill of a nose to near-total erosion.
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to a family friend, michael admitted that as a teenager, his nose was so large that people didn't recognize him to be the cute little child star that they had known. he felt that people had rejected him for his looks and vowed to make people "love him again."
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of course, there are other factors that may have contributed to michael's odd personality and his body dysmorphic disorder. first, he was emotionally and physically abused by his father. second, his superstardom as a child deprived him of the usual developmental experiences of childhood. third, he probably suffered from chronic major depression since he reported experiencing an overwhelming sense of loneliness and alienation as he was growing up as a teenager. fourth, gender identity confusion and and a forbidden sexual attraction to young male children may have been issues festering in the attic of his psyche. fifth, he probably feared that he may never equal or surpass the previous successes he had achieved. sixth, as with all people with a peter pan complex, he may have been struggling with the inevitable onslaught of the aging process. and lastly, he also suffered from chronic pain disorder with a concurrent addiction to painkillers.
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here are some artists' renditions of michael jackson's aging process sans surgery:
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and here are some renditions of michael jackson if he lived on to a ripe old age, with all the surgeries he's had:
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with all these said, it is only fair to acknowledge the "familiar side" of michael. despite all flaws as a person, the legendary michael jackson will forever be loved and remembered for his creative genius which has inspired the artistic pursuits and development of many.
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