BEING MENTALLY ILL - A SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

• NCJ Number: 7501
• Author(s): T J SCHEFF
• Date Published: 1966
• Length: 210 pages
• Sale Source: Aldine Publishing Co
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS IS IN PART A SOCIAL ROLE AND SOCIETAL REACTION IS USUALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT FOR ENTRY INTO THAT ROLE.

Abstract

THIS SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY RELEVANT TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR FIELD STUDIES REPORTED IN THE LATTER PORTION OF THE BOOK. THE DISCUSSION SUGGESTS THAT BOTH THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PSYCHIATRIC SCREENING TENDS TO BE BIASED TOWARD SEEING BEHAVIOR OF THE ALLEGED MENTALLY ILL AS MEANINGLESS AND THEREFORE SYMPTOMATIC. ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR, A BASIC REORIENTATION IN PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY AND RESEARCH CONCERNING MENTAL ILLNESS IS NEEDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)