Answer: One level of the lobotomy operation that Freeman (1950) discussed was the frontal lobotomy, which involved cutting the connections between the frontal lobes and the rest of the brain. This was the most radical and invasive type of lobotomy, and it often resulted in significant personality changes in the patients. Some of the observable effects of frontal lobotomy were:
- Loss of initiative and spontaneity
- Apathy and indifference
- Emotional blunting and reduced affect
- Impaired judgment and reasoning
- Lack of foresight and planning
- Reduced creativity and curiosity
- Impulsivity and disinhibition
- Memory impairment and confabulation
These personality changes would have a profound impact on an individual's lifestyle, as they would impair their ability to function independently, maintain social relationships, pursue their interests, and cope with challenges. Many patients who underwent frontal lobotomy became dependent on others for their basic needs, lost their sense of identity and purpose, and experienced a diminished quality of life.