Emily KrachPSYC100H5/4/14Responses to Thomas SzaszThomas Szasz speaks rather radically about the concept of mental illness as a subject matter. His controversial viewpoints were subject to much ridicule, as he blatantly believed that mental illness was not “real” in the same sense of biological diseases. Where malfunctions of the heart or the presence of cancer, for example, are tangible disorders, socially unacceptable behavior should not be labelled as a disease. He proceeds to elaborate that society uses mental illness as a label for all behaviors that are deemed inappropriate. While some psychiatrists agree with this extreme point of view, others are not nearly as convinced.Sigmund Freud would disagree with Szasz’s primary claim that mental illness is a myth. Freud is known for drastically changing the field of psychology, especially by introducing the process of psychoanalysis. In this process, a psychological examiner uses the “talking cure” to delve deep into a patient’s past in search of an underlying cause for their mania. This idea was revolutionary, as it was never before thought that experiences in one’s past could cause mental illness. Contrary to Thomas Szasz, Freud clearly believed that mental illness was “real,” as he spent his career striving to understand and treat those with hysteria and schizophrenia, as well as other perceived mental illnesses. However, Freud would agree with Szasz in that there are intangible properties of mental illness that make them different from biological diseases. Prior toFreud’s psychoanalysis work, mental illnesses were believed to have organic causes, such as brain deterioration or disease. His theories about inner psychological conflicts and previous childhood traumas acting as causes of mental illness were proven by psychoanalysis, thus challenging the idea of organic causes.Skinner would agree with Szasz to some extent, as he also believed that there should not be such strong emphasis on the mental illness diagnosis by a psychiatrist. Just as Szasz stated that “mental illness is too often considered to be whatever psychiatrists say it is,” Skinner also believed that mental illness should focus more around treatment than diagnosis. He believed thistreatment should revolve around behavioral changes. Skinner’s history in behavioral psychologyincludes the theory of learned behaviors through operant conditioning, suggesting that treatmentsof mental illness could include the use of reinforcements to instill behavioral corrections. This also agrees with Szasz’s idea that mental illness isn’t a tangible, “real” disease. If mental illness were able to be treated simply by altering learned behaviors, there likely is not a tangible disease affecting the patient.Carl Rogers would also agree with Szasz to some extent. Rogers practiced client-centered therapy, in which the patient talked through his own problems and determined his own method of treatment, simply using the therapist as a positive, calming reinforcement. Rogers believed that people always have the capacity to grow and develop, aiming toward self-actualization. Mental illness was not an inhibition to this process. Rogers would agree with Szasz in the sense that mental illness is not an organic disease. He would also agree that mental illness is socially harmful, as it prevents those from reaching their utmost potential and actualization. He believed that mental illness, especially psychosis, was the result of heightened anxiety and loss of sense of self. This is often the result of the mind’s sensing of trouble. However, this temporary process can be easily alleviated simply by partaking in client-centered therapy. This belief that mental illness is not a sickness, nor is it difficult to cure, certainly goes along with Szasz’s claim that mental illness is a myth.My opinion lies in the middle of these theories. I agree that mental illness is often anintangible, immeasurable disease; however, I do not by any means believe that it is a myth. I agree with Freud’s theories that past experiences play a significant role in developing mental illnesses; however, I also believe that genetic predisposition can play just as large of a role. It is true that many mental hospital inpatients are falsely diagnosed, “considered to be whatever psychiatrists say it is.” However, I do not believe this is an accurate representation of mental illness, but rather a fault in our mental healthcare system as a