Psychological Concepts, Theories, Model, and Environments (Dwarfism)

(Nickalo Designs, 2020). 

Psychological Concepts 

The influence of the psychosocial environment upon both the physical health and emotional well-being of infants and children has been known anecdotally since medieval times. It documented in the twentieth century (Green, 2020). 

Psychosocial dwarfism (PSD) is where severe and dramatic abnormalities, physical, behavioral, and psychological, are caused in the child by a markedly disturbed parent-child relationship (Green, 2020). Psychosocial stresses mediated through the cerebral cortex appear to bring about intermittent and reversible alterations in hypothalamic function (Green, 2020). Green hypothesised that the production or section of growth hormone releasing factor and other hypothalamic factors inhibited and was responsible for the decreased growth hormone secretion by the pituitary and perhaps other hormonal abnormalities seen in psychosocial dwarfism (Green, 2020). 

The noticeable dwarfism seen in psychosocial dwarfism is reversible upon removal from the harmful environment without any medical, hormonal, or psychiatric treatment. With these physical changes psychosocial little people will also have bizarre behavioral abnormalities and developmental delays which improve upon removal from their environments (Green, 2020). Psychosocial dwarfism may be biologically or psychologically vulnerable they are able to regain normal functioning once placed in a favorable psychosocial environment (Green, 2020).   

Theories 

"A diminutive species of human whose remains were found on the Indonesian island of flores could have shrunk as a result of island dwarfism as it adapted to its environment" (Ghosh, 2013, para 1). 

There is a theory is that a hobbit evolved from a large brained and large bodied human and it was prevalent in east Asia, known as Homo Erectus (Ghosh, 2013). The theory is that after H. Erectus moved to Flores, it began to shrink in size over generations by the process known as island dwarfism. Alternative therpies have been made that creatures are a small group of humans whose brains and bodies were prevented from growing due to a wasting disease (Ghosh, 2013). Or these humans are descendants of tiny-brained ape creatures. 

(Ghosh, 2013). 

Models 

(Goldberg, Hood, Hartwell, 2021). 

Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism and it is caused by mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. This gene results in over-activation of the receptor, interfering with skeletal development leading to disproportional short stature (Shazeeb, Cox, Gupta, Tang, Singh, Pryce, Fogle, Mu, Weber, Bangari, Ying, & Sabbagh, 2018). Multiple Mouse Models have been created to study achondroplasia. The characterization of these models were done by 2D measurements. The authors of this study explore the transgenic model expression Mouse FGFR 3 containing the achondroplasia mutation G38OR under the Col2 promoter (Shazeeb et al, 2018). Survival and growth rate of the mouse with achondroplasia was reduced compared to the wild-type mouse. "Axial skeletal defects and abnormailites of the sternbrae and vertebrae were observed in the achondroplasia mouse" (Shazeeb et al., 2018, para 1). Additionally, evaluation of the achondroplasia mouse model was performed by developing 3D parameters from a micro-computed tomography along with magnetic resonance imaging (Shazeeb et al., 2018). Between the 3-week-old mouse and the 6-week-old mouse is that their were greater difference between ACH and WT in all parameters. Deeper understanding of abnormailites in the skeletal view  of this model will help future studies for evaluating novel and effective therapeutic approaches for treatment of achondroplasia.  

How others can help those with Dwarfism

If someone is dealing with dwarfism there are things that can be done to help them cope with the challenges and function independently such as: 

Seeking Help: Nonprofit organization 'Little People of America' provides social support, information about disorders, advocacy opportunities, along with resources. Those with dwarfism are active in this organization (NCH, 2016). 

Modify your home: Depending on if someone with dwarfism is in the home than it is important that the home is modify for the little person to live independently. Such as extensions on light switches, lower handrails, and replacing doorknobs with levers (NCH, 2016). 

Provide personal adaptive tools: Activites and self-care can be a problem for little people with limited arm reach and problems with dexterity. Little People of American has companies that sell adaptive personal products and clothing (NCH, 2016). 

Talk to educators: Talking with teachers, professors, and educators in general about what someone might need in the classroom etc. There are needs that are going to be meet if a little person attends school at any age or time (NCH, 2016). 

Talk about teasing: Encourage little people to talk about their feelings and practice responses to insensitive questions and treasing. Little people are more likely to face taunting and bullying due to looking different than the 'average' person (NCH, 2016).  

References 

Green, H., W. (2020). Psychosocial Dwarfism. Springer Link. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4613-9823-3_8 

Goldberg, M., Hood, L., & Hartwell, L. (2021). Genetics. Chegg Study. https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/diagram-knockin-construct-could-used-create-mouse-model-ach-chapter-17-problem-14p-solution-9780073525310-exc

Ghosh, P. (2013, April 17). Study backs "hobbit" island dwarfism theory. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-22166736

Nickalo Designs. (2020). Dwarfism Awareness Decals. https://www.nickalodesigns.com/dwarfism-awareness-decals

NCH. (2016, April 3). Dwarfism.  https://www.nchmd.org/education/mayo-health-library/details/CON-20032297

Shazeeb, S., M., Cox, K., M., Gupta, A., Tang, W., Singh, K., Pryce, T., C., Fogle, R., Mu, Y., Weber, D., W., Bangari, S., D., Ying, X., & Sabbagh, Y. (2018, January 11). Skeletal characterization of the FGFR3 Mouse Model of Achondroplasia using Micro-CT and MRI Volumetirc Imaging. Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-18801-0