How do we know precisely what constitutes “normality” or mental illness? Conventional wisdom suggests that specially trained professionals have the ability to make reasonably accurate diagnoses. In this research, however, David Rosenhan provides evidence to challenge this assumption. What is -- or is not -- “normal” may have much to do with the labels that are applied to people in particular settings.
While surfing the web, I came across this incredibly interesting article written on a study in which sane pseudopatients were secretly introduced into insane asylums to study the settings in which insane patients are kept, what dictates insanity, and the psychodiagnostic labels given to them. I believe that this says mountains about society in general.
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My favorite quote is:
"Whenever the ratio of what is known to what needs to be known approaches zero, we tend to invent “knowledge” and assume that we understand more than we actually do. We seem unable to acknowledge that we simply don’t know."
I would love to hear all of your input on this topic, but I request that you read the article in its entirety. . (YES IT IS LONG, BUT THE DISCUSSION IS ON THE ARTICLE) There is already a thread on sanity vs. insanity, but I would like this discussion to specifically involve this study.
:glugglug:belfastsixpack
PS. This discussion is not for everybody, I would like it to remain very serious and very focused. Please Please Please read the article before you comment!
