Sam, a child with epilepsy, begins to experience seizures soon after his grandmother pasts

away. Later, its discovered that any association with death triggers his attacks, and that his
seizures are influenced by 3 factors: bodily tension, state of mind, and social forces.
According to Erikson, the meaning of one factor is co-determined by its meaning in the
other two, which indicates that the mind, body, and social forces are dependent on one-another-and therefore occur (and are able to cause stress for the individual) because of their co-existences
(37). For instance, Sam had a counterphobic defense mechanism, which made him attack
others when he was scared and ask questions whenever he was put into situations that made
others feel uncomfortable (35). This defense mechanism allows him to cope through shocks
[that threaten] discontinuities in the organism as well as in the milieu (35). Overall, Sams
outside, social forces make him act a certain way.
Despite being well nourished and that his general health was excellent, Sam
experiences somatic tension (which is a form of body anxiety, thats commonly experienced by
those with PTSD) due to his individual anxiety. He feels anxious by the thought of death because
it makes him feel as if hes a bad person.
Society has taught Sam that, a little Jew had to be especially good in order to not be
especially bad, and because he blames himself for someones death, he feels extremely bad;
because his teasing, behavior stressed his grandmother and gave her a heart-attack. This guilt
causes psychological issues.
Simple things such as crushed butterflies cause Sam to have a seizures because his
grandmothers death has created a schema that associates all deaths with that experience. Death
has become a psychic stimulus that exerts something in Sams brain that physically affects
Sam and causes attacks (26).
As I read this work, I noticed that Sams condition is one big loop and chain of
connecting factors which made the whole scenario sound like the ever-prevalent question, what
came first, the chicken or the egg? Although Sams grandmothers death was the source to his
epilepsy, I started to wonder if the outcome would have differed if he didnt feel guilty. If we
take into account that no matter if she lived or died, Sam would still have a counterphobic
defense mechanism and social issues that pressure him, would the combination of these two still
force him into a physical condition? The conflict of these factors would always be present in
Sams life. Would Sam develope some physical condition at some point, even if the situation was
entirely different?