Obsessive Compulsive

[Marcus]

OK first up, will not mention names to protect the innocent.

We have been discussing obsessive compulsive behaviours at archery recently and are finding more and more cases of OC behaviour outside of archery in high end shooters.
For example we had 3 archers last night who have shot 300 indoor and all three have OC behaviour in their everyday lifes. Nothing extreme, just little things.
At the Nationals we noticed it in one of the top shooters while we were out for dinner.

So is it a coincidence or is it a personality trait that leads that person to become good. Do any of the top shooters here have small OC behaviours outside of archery? You can share them if you like.

[robbo]

I am not a top archer, but I do have a few small obsessive-compulsive behaviours. :-?

Nothing real serious, but can be a real pain in he butt. :roll:

[Shermo]

Marcus I know of a very capable field archer that has a few behaviour tendencies bordering on obsessive compulsive, maybe perfectionist is a better word :wink:

Maybe this personality trait/mind set makes them perform better in an archery situation for a few reasons.......

1) Ability to let down if everything isn't going right
2) Not satifisfied with a less than perfect aim, and strives to aim in a smaller pattern.
3) Meticulous when setting up a bow, taking out any variable that may cause a loss of points.
4) Always looking for the best option in either gear, technique or advice, and not just having a "she'll be right attitude".

[Sandy Hancock]

So is it a coincidence or is it a personality trait that leads that person to become good. Do any of the top shooters here have small OC behaviours outside of archery?

I have *large* ones, but I'm not a top shooter so it proves nothing :wink:

It surprises me you haven't made this observation before, Marcus. I would consider a degree of obsessionality a prerequisite for success in most sports, especially one as technical as archery.

[Eberbachl]

Obsessive Compulsive archers at DVA?

I don't know who you mean! :rofl:

Seriously though, whilst I'm certainly no shrink, I think those sorts of behavioural tendencies are likely to lead to archers caring more about their gear, form or score.

I guess in some that may lead to higher scores in some cases, providing the person is capable enough in the first place.

As for me - I'm not obsessive compulsive at all. No, not even one little bit. :D

[Marcus]

I've thought about it for some time. However we were discussing our own OC tendancies and that's when it really started to come out.

To expand on Shermo's observations:

[2Dogs]

At the Nationals we noticed it in one of the top shooters while we were out for dinner.




and...................?

:D

[Marcus]

At the Nationals we noticed it in one of the top shooters while we were out for dinner.




and...................?

:D.......and Erika and Zoe tormented him for the duration. :lol:

[2Dogs]

cruel cows!...the pair of them :D

[bugeater]

My guess is it has to do with the fact that OC people tend to be perfectionists. I've heard of other athletes who also have a bit of OCD.

A book I've got here lists the traits someone with OCD may exhibit:

preoccupation with details and routines
perfectionism
overfocussed on work and productivity
inflexibility and self-righteousness
hoarding
overcontrol
miserliness
stubborness

Supposively a dignosis of Obsessive Compusive Personality Disorder can be made when four of these are present.

Sounds like a few people I know.... :o maybe I should suggest they take up archery :P

[rabbitz]

[quote=Marcus]

[Marcus]

preoccupation with details and routines - yep, in some things
perfectionism - again, sometimes
overfocussed on work and productivity - yep
inflexibility and self-righteousness - only when I'm right. ;)
hoarding - uummmm yeah
overcontrol - someone has to do it
miserliness - no
stubborness - again, when I'm right.

[Purple Hats]

Obsessive Compulsive hitting of the X would help a lot :P

I think it could be more related to perfectionism rather than anything else, most of the examples given seem to point that way to me. I always let down if a shot's not going right, and check that the nock sits properly on the string after letting down (stupid, i know), only accept perfect paper tears etc. Does that mean I'm obsessive compulsive? Dont think so. Does it mean that I like things right? Yes. If these people you went out to dinner with displayed OC traits, then perhaps being a little finicky can help with archery, although I can't imagine it's a huge factor.

[Eberbachl]

A book I've got here lists the traits someone with OCD may exhibit:



preoccupation with details and routines

Only if requiring that the volume on my car CD player is only ever on even numbers (except 15, which is halfway between 10 and 20, so that's OK) is preoccupation with detail :lol:


perfectionism

Have you ever seen me weight match my arrows? :D


overfocussed on work and productivity

Actually...not really


inflexibility and self-righteousness

Umm yep.


hoarding

Only all my good stuff! :)



overcontrol

Yep.

miserliness

Nah, I don't think so.


stubborness


Definitely


Supposively a dignosis of Obsessive Compusive Personality Disorder can be made when four of these are present.



Ummm...I'm in trouble! :o

:rofl:

[John K]

A book I've got here lists the traits someone with OCD may exhibit:



preoccupation with details and routines

Only if requiring that the volume on my car CD player is only ever on even numbers (except 15, which is halfway between 10 and 20, so that's OK) is preoccupation with detail :lol:


Oh thank christ, I thought I was the only one who did that with their car stereo :rofl:

[The One]

You're not alone :D

[New Tricks]

The number of times I hit refresh on this page weekly I am beginning to think I may have OCD. If you ask Teelow, I fit the Miserly part as well!! :lol:

[Eberbachl]

The number of times I hit refresh on this page weekly I am beginning to think I may have OCD. If you ask Teelow, I fit the Miserly part as well!! :lol:

Yep, you can always tell an AF user, when their [F5] key is getting nicely worn.

:D

[primal]

Yep, you can always tell an AF user, when their [F5] key is getting nicely worn. :D

ahhh... thats why.....

[ArcherySource]

I am not a good shooter (yet i hope) but i have small oc behaviours, i tap my foot 3 times before every shot... this happens in other stuff as well though

Visit the Archery Source for Archery Information (http://www.archery-source.net).

[Drummo]

Supposively a dignosis of Obsessive Compusive Personality Disorder can be made when four of these are present.
for future reference for all: dsm-iv-tr criteria, or anything of the sort, are not to be used as a checklist for a disorder. they're simply a guide. besides, just because the signs observed or symptoms experienced may meet the minimum number of criteria for a particular disorder, does not automatically mean a clinical disorder is present. the dsm criteria are only a minute part of the biopsychosocial approach used to test for the presence of a clinical disorder.

thus, it is highly likely for the thing just to be routine, and not a personality disorder.

i don't mean to toot my own horn, but i get the ****s when common sense diminishes, and ignorance prevails.

[Bia]

ok... I was just fine until I read this topic!
And I do check my sight stalilizer every shot... and also do some otther mentioned things...

Now... Whos paying for my therapy:: :changes: :roll:

[Jason.P]

oc can greatly affect you archery skills .
Those previous symptoms are if at all just very mild oc tendencies
Nothing a couple of tablets can't fix

[Zoe]

Definitely some tendencies among archers. I'd hazard a guess though that anyone with a valid OCD that manifested during archery would have immense trouble. I can envisage a process of:

Draw, did I load an arrow, yes I remember doing it, don

[hoyt for life 2]

I find when i make strings i cant leave the knot i tied to hold the strands in place tied to the post i have to chop it off, not a big problem until last night when the back of my knife cut through like 5 strands of my string. :x

[c3]

Zoe, I think you have paranoia and OCD mixed up there. Anyone who spends the better part of 6 or 8 hours a day shooting, talking and fiddling about archery has OCD. None of which I consider a bad thing :)

Isn't "process process process process process process process process process process process process process process process...." all the Kisik Lee coaches?

Cheers,
Pete

[Archangel]

Damn it, I do the stereo thing too!

When it comes to things having to be 'just so', at what point does it stop being perfectionism and become obsessive-compulsive? I'd admit to being the former, but I'd put up a fight about the latter...

[unclepete]

It's perfectionism. It only becomes a 'Disorder' when it has a negative effect on your life.

Hmmm. Does that mean I have AD (Archery Disorder)?

[frommy]

It's perfectionism. It only becomes a 'Disorder' when it has a negative effect on your life.

Hmmm. Does that mean I have AD (Archery Disorder)?

Yep. :wink: 8) :)

Just like me. :oops: :lol:

[John K]

It's perfectionism. It only becomes a 'Disorder' when it has a negative effect on your life.

It might do. The wife now knows about my car stereo habit and occasionally reaches over and tweaks the volume to an odd number, which of course distracts me from driving as I turn it back.

For safety reasons I'm thinking of installing a passenger ejector seat. :D

[unclepete]

It's perfectionism. It only becomes a 'Disorder' when it has a negative effect on your life.

It might do. The wife now knows about my car stereo habit and occasionally reaches over and tweaks the volume to an odd number, which of course distracts me from driving as I turn it back.

For safety reasons I'm thinking of installing a passenger ejector seat. :D

No need. Hand her the street directory with North to the front of the car, when you are heading, say, East. Make sure to hang on to a corner so she can't rotate it, then ask whether the next turn is left or right :)

[hoyt for life 2]

I used to get the sterio thing when the car radio was one with a button for volume up and down but since the new car has a knob which you turn I just seem to turn it till its at the right volume without looking at the screen.