How would you distinguish a “crazy” person from a “normal” person?
Come up with 5 things that contribute to whether or not some someone is labeled/ seen as “crazy” or “normal”.
FROM INSANE:
ETIOLOGY & CONTEXT
Etiology (Cause) of behaviors
Are
behaviors’ origins/stimuli known? E.g., Talking on bench w/ no one present E.g., Screaming & running around
E.g., Wearing heavy coat in summer
Context of behaviors
How
behavior fits within context
STIGMA
What is mental illness?
Is
perceivd impairmt in everyday life a
Necessary condition? – Yes
Sufficient condition? – No, also need…
Circumstantial
Labelers
contingencies
- Espec likely if collusion betw
family & authorities (police, clergy, MDs, soc workers, teachers)
AFFECTING MENTAL
ILLNESS LABEL
Demographics- Social class, race, etc.
Context & status, power of individual
Workplace
-E.g., tyrannical boss
Family setting – E.g., abusive parent – tolerated until…? Visibility of behaviors
Who’s
monitored by State agents (e.g., social workers)? Political/economic/ bureaucratic context
Polit:
Reprisals against dissidents/ whistleblowers
Econ: Who profits from liberal definitn of mental illness?
LABELING BY SOCIAL
CLASS
Wealthy families
Concordance
betw fam & offic’l
norms/labels
Inform author’s of child’s ment ill at young age
Why? Child differs from fam norms how?
Other concerns?
Poor families
Divergence
betw fam & offic’l norms/labels
Fam reluctant/ not likely to label
Diff betw kid’s behav & family norms?
LABELING “SPECIAL
EDUCATION” STUDENTS
Soc construct of special ed labeldepends on?
Political economy of “special ed” label
Incentives
Local school districts? Get what from whom?
Principals? Special ed studs exempt from?
Teachers? Send strugg/ disrupt studs where?
Bureaucracy?
Beast needs to be fed w/what?
Inconsistencies in “retarded” v. “learn disable” No
