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akerle's picture

Individual vs. society

I think Sarah made an excellent point. Most of our definititions of mental health have to do with behaviours- normal vs. deviant. Mental health appears to have everything to do with everyone else and less to do with the individual in isolation. As long as the individual is  functioning within society  then we consider them to be mentally sound.

I tried to ask my psychology professor in freshman year what defined normal and what the basis was for her diagnosis of 'deviance/abnormality'. She said that as soon as individuals were feeling and/or acting in a way that impaired their ability to lead the life they desired then they were diagnosed as mentally ill. I think I accept this definition as a jumping off point. Either way, I do feel that it gives the individual a little more autonomy over their own conscious. Words and ideas imposed on individuals by society (e.g 'responsible') leave me a little unsatisfied.

Society has to define 'normal' parametres because there is no other way but who are we to judge what makes people happy and what is normal? Certain behaviours may be harmful to society but that doesn't make them abnormal.  We just don't like them so we classify them as such.  

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