Introduction The human body consists of a complex array of organs and organ systems that need to coordinate with the utmost precision for optimal functionality. Any disruption in the conventional operation of these bodily systems occasions a disorder of some sort. A case in point is schizophrenia, which is a mental disorder that affects a significant number of people globally (Nordqvist, 2014). This essay explores schizophrenia in a bid to understand what it really is, how it affects the development and relational abilities of its victims, and why these effects qualify it as a mental disorder. Synopsis of Schizophrenia Nordqvist (2014) defines schizophrenia as a severe mental disorder that adversely alters the conventional flow of an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Consequently, schizophrenia victims lose their ability to distinguish between real and imagined scenarios. According to Nordqvist (2014), the brain consists of billions of nerve cells that issue or receive messages from other nerve cells across the body via neurotransmitters. For schizophrenia victims, this messaging system is erratic. Hence, their brains cannot tell the difference between real-world scenarios and imaginary scenarios. Schizophrenia victims experience delusions, hallucinations, avolition, and thought disorder (Pagsberg, 2013). Additionally, they are poor at expressing their emotions, have cognitive difficulties, may be unable to realize that they are ill, and most importantly, they suffer from social withdrawal (Nordqvist, 2014). The condition is reportedly prevalent among adolescents and young adults. Nordqvist (2014) notes that in men, schizophrenia mostly attacks between the age of 15 and 25 years while, in women, it attacks between the age of 23 and 25 years. Only in exceptional cases does it attack other groups such as young children as well as people beyond the age of 45 years (Nordqvist, 2014). Therefore, these groups are not entirely safe from the threat of schizophrenia and its consequences. Effects of Schizophrenia on Human Development and Socialization Schizophrenic individuals are not able to build and sustain healthy interpersonal relationships (Nordqvist, 2014). This state of affairs results from their inconsistent behavior. Sometimes they hear voices that are nonexistent and believe that the people around them can see through their minds and control what goes on in their minds (Nordqvist, 2014). These misguided beliefs make schizophrenic individuals distrustful and withdrawn. In extreme circumstances, they may become frantic around people. As such, schizophrenia impairs its victims’ ability to socialize normally. Sometimes they can sit still for a long time, but when they talk, they cannot maintain a coherent line of argument (Nordqvist, 2014). A study by Andreasen (2013) revealed that people who suffer from schizophrenia have a smaller cranial size compared to average people. She, therefore, argues that for this disparity to exist there is a developmental problem that is typical of schizophrenic individuals from an early age. It has not been figured out yet, but it is known the cranial nerves control an individual’s ability to see, taste, hear, smell, and taste. Consequently, a less than normal cranial size translates to erratic patterns in the operation above-mentioned senses. As a result, the person may not relate to people as expected. The Implication of Development and Socialization Impairments occasioned by Schiz