PSY 446 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Thomas Szasz, Human Body, Dorothea Dix
5 May 2018
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Department
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Dysfunctions
–Dysfunction does not always indicate psychological abnormality (Again, think of the
dysfunction inherently caused by being a social reformer)
–Dysfunction is subjective
•Abnormality as Dangerousness
•Behavior may be considered abnormal if it may cause harm to self or others
–E.g., suicidal thoughts, self-mutilation, violent actions or intentions
•Problems?
–Dangerousness is the exception, not the rule
–Is it always a symptom of mental illness to harm self or others?
•A Fuzzy Concept
•Each society has a general framework for defining abnormality, and decides about specific
cases based on these standards
– Often combine criteria discussed above
–May not do so consistently (e.g., college drinking)
• Most of us, however, do not question that mental illness exists
–It is something, e just do’t ko eatl hat
•A Fuzzy Concept
•The culturally and historically-based nature of definitions have lead a minority to question the
notion of mental illness altogether
–Thomas Szasz: The Myth of Mental Illness (1961)
•Differetiated or iolatios or proles i liig fro orgai dsfutio
•“a pshiatri diagosis as soiet’s oder th to eplai ethial, soial ad legal
discord
• Allows us to both deny responsibility and limit freedom
•
•Historical Trends in Understanding Abnormal Behavior
•Deiat ehaior has ee uderstood ad treated i arkedl differet as oer tie
–Ancient societies and the supernatural
•Human body as battleground for good and evil magic forces
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