Social Order/Mental Disorder

This book explores societal reactions to madness in England and the U.S. from the 18th to the 20th century, providing critical insights into psychiatry's evolution.

Originally published in 1989, Social Order/Mental Disorder offers a thought-provoking examination of societal responses to madness across England and the United States from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. The author, known for his extensive work in this field, delves into various critical issues, including the evolving social interpretations of madness, the rise of the psychiatric profession, and the complex interplay between psychiatry and the law. He also explores the connections between sexuality and madness, as well as the establishment, nature, and eventual decline of asylums as a conventional solution to mental health challenges.

This book stands apart from the traditional narratives that celebrate psychiatric history as a progressive journey marked by rational advancements leading to humane treatments for the mentally ill. Instead, the author argues that many mental hospitals functioned more as prisons than as places of healing, with medical arrogance sometimes justifying harmful and even lethal practices on vulnerable individuals. He asserts that it is simplistic to view mental illness as a purely natural phenomenon, devoid of social influence, and critiques the notion that psychiatrists' roles in defining madness are insignificant.

In Social Order/Mental Disorder, the author advocates for a critical examination of psychiatry and its practices, rejecting both romanticized and overly cynical views of the profession. This unromantic critique aims to illuminate the complexities of mental disorder, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of psychiatric interventions while recognizing their historical and social contexts.