The concept of mental illness has been around since the beginning of time, and is referred to when relaying the unhealthy emotional and psychological state of a person. There were early theories regarding the cause of such ailments that were broken down into three primary classifications: biological, psychological, and supernatural. Consequently, therapeutic approaches were generated as a result of these primary general notions. However, during the 16th century through the early 17th century, many people who behaved peculiarly were labeled as witches and sought after relentlessly. This spurred some citizens to stand against this crusade and declare that people’s problems correlated more to emotional and physical issues, rather than witchcraft
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Such ceremonial styles may have included exorcisms or magic to rid one’s body of any unnatural forces. Another well-known procedure was trepanation in which, holes were drilled into people’s skulls to allow wicked spirits to leave one’s body (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014). These unworldly beliefs and tactics were deeply rooted under the concept of mysticism, so by today’s standards amongst westernized cultures, they may be considered very unconventional and …show more content…
He based this on the premise that even if a brain was sickly, and in turn influenced behavior, it was indeed a part of the body that was ill, not one’s mental capacity. Szasz further believed that to label someone with a mental disorder could be harmful for two reasons, one of them was that an illness does not require a person to take ownership of their problem. Second, a person may allow a diagnosis to guide their behavior. Therefore, his overall theory was that mental illnesses were more that of a myth, and provided no benefit to people who were labeled as such (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014). Szasz had a valid point about people acting in a way to conform to their diagnosis, but I do not agree with his stance that mental illness is a myth. People are broken and just as we can suffer from a physical injury, it would be reasonable to surmise that a person’s mental faculties could also be vulnerable to harm. God provided His counsel to everyone and as the Bible stated “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV), is confirmation that humans would have concerns to contend
Such ceremonial styles may have included exorcisms or magic to rid one’s body of any unnatural forces. Another well-known procedure was trepanation in which, holes were drilled into people’s skulls to allow wicked spirits to leave one’s body (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014). These unworldly beliefs and tactics were deeply rooted under the concept of mysticism, so by today’s standards amongst westernized cultures, they may be considered very unconventional and …show more content…
He based this on the premise that even if a brain was sickly, and in turn influenced behavior, it was indeed a part of the body that was ill, not one’s mental capacity. Szasz further believed that to label someone with a mental disorder could be harmful for two reasons, one of them was that an illness does not require a person to take ownership of their problem. Second, a person may allow a diagnosis to guide their behavior. Therefore, his overall theory was that mental illnesses were more that of a myth, and provided no benefit to people who were labeled as such (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014). Szasz had a valid point about people acting in a way to conform to their diagnosis, but I do not agree with his stance that mental illness is a myth. People are broken and just as we can suffer from a physical injury, it would be reasonable to surmise that a person’s mental faculties could also be vulnerable to harm. God provided His counsel to everyone and as the Bible stated “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV), is confirmation that humans would have concerns to contend