The Myth of Mental Illness

By diagnosing behaviour problems as 'mental illness', this book argues that psychiatry absolves the individual of responsibility for his actions, placing blame instead on the illness. It also argues that Freudian psychology is a dangerous pseudo-science, and critiques the overreach of psychology into the various aspects of modern life. “The landmark book that argued that psychiatry consistently expands its definition of mental illness to impose its authority over moral and cultural conflict. ” — New York TimesThe 50th anniversary edition of the most influential critique of psychiatry every written, with a new preface on the age of Prozac and Ritalin and the rise of designer drugs, plus two bonus essays. Thomas Szasz''s classic book revolutionized thinking about the nature of the psychiatric profession and the moral implications of its practices. By diagnosing unwanted behavior as mental illness, psychiatrists, Szasz argues, absolve individuals of responsibility for their actions and instead blame their alleged illness. He also critiques Freudian psychology as a pseudoscience and warns against the dangerous overreach of psychiatry into all aspects of modern life.