Szasz evaluation Flashcards
(7 cards)
Ethics
Did not directly collect data from ps- free of ethical issues.
But his beliefs of mental illness are highly controversial & socially sensitive.
Distressing for those suffering mental illness to describe it as a ‘myth’ when they perceive symptoms as real & have experienced effective treatment.
Makes destructive theory about medical model of mental health- public may then have little faith in professionals within psychiatry.
Usefulness
Szasz research widely created empowerment for service users in mental health.
His beliefs question usefulness of medical model within MH, this is useful as may help further understand true effectiveness of invasive treatments such as ECT, drug therapy and involuntary confinement.
Nature vs Nurture
Theory that mental illness is myth disregards any hereditary explanation. Szasz argues mental illness was defined due to social constructs, therefore has environmental explanation (nurture).
Individual vs Situational
Mental illness is not an abnormality experienced for individual as result of their biological/emotional functioning, it is a product of psychiatrists particular views on mental health (situational).
Free will vs Determinism
His view is deterministic- assumes mental illness is product of environment, people are defined due to irrational views of psychiatrists.
However he does empower mental health service users and sees involuntary confinement as wrong- encourages free will approach to service users instead of assuming they need to have decisions made for them as they wouldn’t have capacity to.
Reductionism vs Holism
Holistic as he tried to see more complex understanding of MH explanations. Mental health is not put simply ‘a disease’ it is a complex creation developed from society & psychiatry labelling (holistic).
Psych as a science
Unscientific explanation as he rejects scientific medical model as explanation of mental health.
