Discuss below in a 1000 words:
Q: How do society's views on, and reactions to, mental illness resemble those of past centuries? How do they differ?"
The topic was an interesting one to ponder during this week's readings. In many ways it seems nothing has changed, yet much has changed. One of the most common similarities would be the evaluation society makes about what is normal and how those who do not fall into a category of normal or at the very least, tolerable behavior carries a stigma. This is one thing that has not shown much change. Each society take their societies normalization and then categorizes normal versus non-normal behavior. With that said, it seems those who fall out of normal are considered tolerable or able to be helped or cared for if they do not exhibit violent behavior (Weitz, 2012). Societies still find a way to explain non-violent, abnormal behavior either through a person being eccentric or labeling them with a disorder. Even when societies did not carry a label for mental illness, different behavior was recognized and often ridiculed one way or another. This is the area where it appears nothing has changed in my opinion.
The differences are even more interesting. Especially, watching the evolution of human thought and action in caring for those who are now labeled mentally ill. In the past it was seemed to be quite popular to blame mental illness on sin or committing a taboo and believing this would not happen to good people (Weitz, 2012). While there are still some references to people becoming mentally ill based on their behaviors such as drug use and alcoholism make them behave the way they do, it is generally no longer believed to be a punishment from God. Also, most people no longer believe those with mental illness are witches or carry bad spirits. Another major difference, at least here in the United States (U.S.), is the lack of family helping or caring for those who are mentally ill. With the U.S. being a capitalistic society, family units have become a bit more solitary from each other, and rarely step in to care for their loved one because of time and work constraints (Weitz, 2012).
Another interesting difference has been the evolution of medicalization mental health issues and the various ways medical professionals such as medical physicians and psychologists have addressed and treated those who do not fall into standard, subjective, societal norms. For instance, at least for the most part, we no longer believe in drilling wholes into peoples skulls, electro shock, badgering, withholding necessities, or performing lobotomies. This seems to have evolved into what most consider treatable with physicians looking for medications to help normalize behaviors allowing those suffering from mental illness to move among society meeting the required norms to function as a productive member. Granted there are exceptions to these examples when one is considered a danger to themselves or society. They are still often removed from society one way or another, often mental facility lockups. Other times, it may be jail due to what are defined as heinous crimes, which has led some to refer to jails and prisons as mental facilities as well. So, criminalization for those who have done the unfathomable per societies norms for social control could said to be similar to the past, yet very different.
This week packed a lot of information into one chapter, and was quite enjoyable. However, it sent me spinning with even more questions. I think the biggest one for me was the question of institutionalization, meaning while we have supposedly come to think we are a deinstitutionalized society because we have done away with sanitariums, have we really? Or have we just created different institutionalization through social control using jails, prisons, homeless shelters, and any of the other places we place or allow for those who are stigmatized through the social definition of mental illness?
Reference
Weitz, R. (2012). The Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care: A Critical Approach. Nelson Education.