Insanity: The Idea and Its ConsequencesIs insanity a myth? Does it exist merely to keep psychiatrists in business? In Insanity: The Idea and Its Consequences, Dr. Szasz challenges the way both science and society define insanity; in the process, he helps us better understand this often misunderstood condition. Dr. Szasz presents a carefully crafted account of the insanity concept and shows how it relates to and differs from three closely allied ideas—bodily illness, social deviance, and the sick role. |
Contents
Defining Illness | 9 |
Being a Patient | 27 |
Defining Mental Illness | 47 |
Being a Mental Patient | 99 |
THE CONCEPTUAL DIMENSIONS | 133 |
Mental Illness as Strategy | 281 |
Mental Illness as Justification | 297 |
Mental Illness as Legal Fiction | 319 |
Mental Illness as Explanation | 342 |
References | 367 |
Bibliography | 391 |
| 405 | |
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Common terms and phrases
abnormal American anorexia nervosa assertion atric behavior believe bodily diseases bodily illness body bona fide brain disease C.S. Lewis called mental century Chapter claim coercing coercion commit concept considered course crazy crime criminal cure define definition diagnosed doctors drapetomania drugs DSM-III example explain fact factitious illness faking Freud human Ibid idea of insanity idea of mental identify important incarcerated insane person insanity defense intentionality interventions involuntary John Hinckley Jones justified killing legal fiction lesion literal madness malingering means medicine mens rea mental diseases mental health mental hospital mental illness mental patient metaphor mind modern Molière moral murder namely pathological patient role physician political practice pretending problem psychi psychiatric psychiatrists psychoanalysis psychosis psychotherapy psychotic punishment reject religion religious responsible sane schizophrenia scientific sick role slavery social society suffering symptoms Szasz term thing tion treat treatment typically understand words