Did You Know That What Is and What Isn’t a Mental Disorder Is Determined by Popular Vote?
Question by Chalkbrd: Did you know that what is and what isn’t a mental disorder is determined by popular vote?
I just wonder how many people realize that whether something is included in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), the “Bible” of the psychological profession, or not depends not on scientific fact, but purely by popular vote.
In fact, there used to be a “mental illness” that was prevalent among the slaves in the south of the US in the 1800’s. The symptom was trying to run away from their masters. They voted on it and decided it was a “mental illness”. In the 1860’s, it was suddenly “cured” by the Civil War.
How can psychology be scientific when it relies on people’s opinions and votes to decide what is and isn’t an illness? Isn’t that kind of like choosing people on America’s Got Talent? Shouldn’t there be some kind of blood tests or actual biological tests to diagnose people as “ill” instead of doing it by opinion only?
No, there was no DSM in the 1800s. Sorry for making it sound like there was. But there WAS a psychological community that considered this behavior a mental illness. It was called draptemania (not certain of the spelling).
Oh, and the “chemical imbalance” claim has no basis. Ever watch the Zoloft commercials? They HAVE to say that depression “may” be caused by chemical imbalances because if they say “are” they would be sued because it has never been proven.
There are many who believe if there really are chemical imbalances, it is a RESULT of the depression and not a CAUSE of it.
Many studies have been done that show that non-professionals have equal or better success in helping people than those who have degrees of some kind in psychology. We don’t hear about those because drug companies and psychologists wouldn’t make money telling us the truth.
Best answer:
Answer by Felix
All in agreement raise your hands and say ”Aye”
What do you think? Answer below!
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