Disinhibition...

A couple weeks ago, I didn't know this word.  Now, thanks to some recent family events, I do.  And it got me to thinking...

Inhibitions are actually really important; some kinds, anyway.  Most of us have inhibitions about murdering random strangers, sexually attacking people, stealing, etc.  These inhibitions make human societies work – without them we would live short, nasty lives under constant threat. 

Mostly I think we take these inhibitions for granted.  I know I do.  I expect people to behave in an inhibited way.  Whenever someone behaves in an uninhibited way, we find that shocking. 

What is especially shocking is when someone you know, possibly even someone you love, exhibits uninhibited behavior after a lifetime of normal inhibited behavior.  This is the essence of “disinhibition” – when someone loses the inhibitions they once had.  There are several causes for this, but the most common is dementia or Alzheimer's.  These patients aren't really aware of what's happening to them, but those around them certainly are.

Anyway, this just got me to thinking about how absolutely essential these “normal” inhibitions are.  I never really thought about inhibitions as a positive thing before...