The Social Construction of Mental Illness
PSY 980MI
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Social construction refers to the way that people in a society collectively come to understand something. To say that mental illness is socially constructed is not to say that mental illnesses are “fake” or imagined. Rather, seeing mental illness as socially constructed means recognizing that the way we understand and treat mental illness is more than just “common sense” — it is the product of our history and culture, has changed dramatically over time, and very much remains “up for debate.” This course will cover topics such as how we define mental illness, how we have come to understand mental illness as a medical problem, the implications of diagnosis on individuals and society, and much more. We will discuss the consequences of hegemonic ideas about mental illness for individuals and society, and discuss benefits, harms, and alternatives. Students in this course will learn to: 1) understand the social and historical factors that have shaped how we understand and treat mental illness in the contemporary United States; 2) identify the implications of hegemonic ways of understanding and treating mental illness for individuals and society; and 3) become critical observers of so-called “common-sense” assumptions that people make about mental illness.
Recommended Prep
The Psychology Department requires completion of Science of Living Systems 20 or Psychology 1 or the equivalent of introductory psychology (e.g. Psych AP=5 or IB =7 or Psyc S-1) and PSY 18 or PSY 1861 before enrolling in this course; or permission of instructor.
Not Available for Cross Registration
