Students in AP Psychology are currently engaged in a project to create a poster on a mental disorder, focusing on the three different D’s that affect human mental health.

According to teacher Tim Johannes, this perspective allows them to explore a wide range of elements related to cause and treatment.

“We talk about the three D’s: dysfunction, distress, or deviance,” Johannes. “On their poster, they get to create a poster over the causes and the symptoms, and they come up with a quote about it. It’s a good chance for them to do a deep dive into one disorder.”

Some students, like senior Prashubha Kamble, connect the project to real-life contexts, which helps them better engage with an audience.

“People can be genetically predisposed to narcissism, but environmental factors can also play a role,” Kamble said. “For instance, parents that excessively praise their children, or parents that don’t praise their children at all—both of these factors can cause a person to have extremely fragile self-esteem. That’s kind of what causes them to have that narcissistic personality.”

Other students, like senior Jaya Nanton, wanted to make their poster more detailed by narrowing their focus on causes and effects.

“I’m personally working on body dysmorphia for my poster,” Nanton said. “Basically, body dysmorphia is when you have a fear of your own perceived imperfections and fear that others may judge you. There are multiple treatments, from medication to cognitive behavioral therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy helps you understand that and develop a more positive view of yourself.”