Law, Psychology, and the "New Sciences": Rethinking Mental Illness and Dangerousness

• NCJ Number: 194034
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 46 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 6-29
• Author(s): Christopher R. Williams; Bruce A. Arrigo
• Date Published: February 2002
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines the contributions of the new sciences (quantum physics and chaos theory) to an understanding of the nature and meaning of psychiatric disorder and the forecasting of violence; it also suggests how the new sciences advance the regard for citizen justice within the domain of mental health law.

Abstract

Two general and critical psycholegal propositions are assessed by using several insights based in the new sciences. They are as follows: at the macro level, the prevailing understanding of the nature and meaning of mental "illness," in contrast to mental "health," reduces and therefore limits the humanity of psychiatric citizens; and at the micro level, the expert authority used to justify clinical predictions of dangerousness represses, and therefore harms, the identity of psychiatric citizens. The first proposition involves "deconstructing" the myth of mental illness (Szasz, 1974). The second proposition involves "delegitimizing" the notion of epistemic certainty (Ennis, 1972). Both propositions are informed by a variety of key principles drawn from quantum physics and chaos theory. The authors argue that to the extent that the dangerous mentally ill are an effect of social fear, misunderstanding, and a commitment to positivism, order, and rationality, there must be a shift in the metaphysical framework to allow, instead, for multiple realities and diverse interpretations that more fully embody the identity of psychiatric citizens. To the extent that environmental conditions are effects that contribute to mental illness, dangerousness, and other social maladies, there must be a shift in the prevailing epistemological framework from an (internal) cause-effect understanding to more of an (external) effect-effect understanding. The latter perspective entails responding to those societal conditions (e.g., poverty, materialism, lack of community resources and support) that contribute to the manifestation of psychiatric illness rather than treating, controlling, and correcting the individual. The work that remains is to transform these provisional reflections into practical solutions. 5 notes and 84 references