Thomas Szasz

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'''Dr. Thomas Szasz'''<ref>Thomas Szasz should not be confused with Batman villain {{wpl|Victor Zsasz}}, who is just as scary but for very different reasons</ref> is a Hungarian-born [[psychiatry|psychiatrist]], [[libertarian]], and, along with [[L. Ron Hubbard]], the grandaddy of [[mental illness denial]].<ref>Though it must be confessed that Szasz scored over Hubbard in one respect. Szasz was subject to the [[stopped clock|Stopped Clock]] Rule; the Fraud was too strong with Hubbard to permit this.</ref>
+
'''Dr. Thomas Szasz'''<ref>Thomas Szasz is the inspiration behind the Batman villain {{wpl|Victor Zsasz}}, who is just as scary but for very different reasons</ref> is a Hungarian-born [[psychiatry|psychiatrist]], [[libertarian]], and, along with [[L. Ron Hubbard]], the grandaddy of [[mental illness denial]].<ref>Though it must be confessed that Szasz scored over Hubbard in one respect. Szasz was subject to the [[stopped clock|Stopped Clock]] Rule; the Fraud was too strong with Hubbard to permit this.</ref>
  
Szasz had a rather strange relationship with the mentally ill due to his position. He viewed most who had been diagnosed with mental disorders as people who were simply different and had been violated by state force. However, he was horrified by the insanity defense and seemed to harbor some fear or grudge against the severely mentally ill who were prone to violent acts. He disavowed any sustained interest in psychiatry, saying he was more concerned with history, [[philosophy]], and [[society]]. He undertook a very short medical residence and then transferred to a psychiatric residence where he stayed away from the severely mentally ill at all costs. When his supervisor told him he should spend more time with those who had severe illness, he left the institution he worked at.<ref>Robert Michels. [http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200503243521226 Book Review: Szasz Under Fire.] N Engl J Med 2005; 352:1273-1274</ref>
+
Szasz had a rather strange relationship with the mentally ill due to his position. He viewed most who had been diagnosed with mental disorders as people who were simply different and had been violated by state force. However, he was horrified by the insanity defense and seemed to harbor some fear or grudge against the severely mentally ill who were prone to violent acts. He disavowed any sustained interest in psychiatry, saying he was more concerned with history, [[philosophy]], and [[society]]. He graduated in physics then undertook a very short medical residence and then transferred to a psychiatric residence where he stayed away from the severely mentally ill at all costs as is normal. When his supervisor told him he should spend more time with those who had severe illness, he left the institution he worked at.<ref>Robert Michels. [http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200503243521226 Book Review: Szasz Under Fire.] N Engl J Med 2005; 352:1273-1274</ref>
  
At this point, Szasz launched his attack on psychiatry in the early 1960s by publishing articles on the abolition of the insanity defense in law journals as well as his first book, ''The Myth of Mental Illness''. Szasz blasted psychiatry as a [[pseudoscience]] and denied the reality of mental illness. He also co-founded the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), the [[Scientology]] [[front group]], along with Hubbard.
+
At this point, Szasz launched his attack on psychiatry in the early 1960s by publishing articles on the abolition of the insanity defense in law journals as well as his first book, ''The Myth of Mental Illness''. Szasz blasted psychiatry as a [[pseudoscience]] and denied the reality of diseases of the mind. He also co-founded the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), the [[Scientology]] [[front group]], along with Hubbard. He has stated that he would never turn down money from Jews or Muslims or Christians to uphold the right of people not to be imprisoned by the state and forced to consume brain damaging drugs. He does however believe that all drugs such as opium and maryjane should be available for all those who want to take them, (Our Right to Drugs), and that the State should not govern our bodies nor our right to ingest whatever substances we enjoy. 
  
Although he was never a Scientologist, indeed, an outspoken [[atheist]], he acted as an enabler for their [[bullshit]] during his time at CCHR. He also never descended into the really cranky conspiracies that the Scientologists did, though he did write a few paranoid things about psychiatric dystopias. On the other hand, he did have some positive influence as he called for the end of execrable practices like unnecessary [[lobotomy]] and misuse of [[electroconvulsive therapy]]. While his science might have been largely bunk, he attacked and ultimately contributed to the demise or limitation of some of the worst abuses surrounding forced institutionalization. He was also a strong proponent of [[gay rights]] at a time when [[homosexuality]] was still listed as a mental disorder in the DSM.
+
Although he was never a Scientologist, indeed, an outspoken [[atheist]], he acted as an enabler for their [[bullshit]] during his time at CCHR. He also never descended into the really cranky conspiracies that the Scientologists did, though he did write a few paranoid things about psychiatric dystopias including what he referred to as the Therapeutic state whereby all 'deviant' behaviour becomes defined as a 'brain disease'. On the other hand, he did have some positive influence as he called for the end of execrable practices like unnecessary [[lobotomy]] and misuse of [[electroconvulsive therapy]]. He was the first major psychiatrist to speak out against the abhorent 'treatment' of homosexuals (1970 - The Manufacture of Madness) which resulted in this category eventually being voted out of the DSM. While his science might have been largely Popperian bunk, he attacked and ultimately contributed to the demise or limitation of some of the worst abuses surrounding forced institutionalization. He was also a strong proponent of [[gay rights]] at a time when [[homosexuality]] was still listed as a mental disorder in the DSM. He also campaigned against the imprisonment without trial of those that society deemed 'abnormal'.  
  
 
Szasz also disavowed the label of "anti-psychiatry," even though he is generally seen as a major figure within the loosely knit "movement." He was heavily critical of a number of other anti-psychiatric figures (though, for some reason, he had no problem with the [[Scientology|Scientologists]]).<ref>Szasz. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/5181704176g65265/ Debunking Antipsychiatry: Laing, Law, and Largactil.] CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY Volume 27, Number 2, 79-101</ref>
 
Szasz also disavowed the label of "anti-psychiatry," even though he is generally seen as a major figure within the loosely knit "movement." He was heavily critical of a number of other anti-psychiatric figures (though, for some reason, he had no problem with the [[Scientology|Scientologists]]).<ref>Szasz. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/5181704176g65265/ Debunking Antipsychiatry: Laing, Law, and Largactil.] CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY Volume 27, Number 2, 79-101</ref>
  
As psychiatry relegated its more barbaric practices to the dustbin of history, Szasz faded from relevance. Many of his earlier works specifically criticized [[Sigmund Freud|Freudian]] psychoanalysis, which has been relegated to the fringes of the psychological sciences today. However, he refused to budge from his denialist position and continued to churn out the same crap over and over again. Most of his books are about either the same basic argument of mental illness denial applied to some disorder or therapy or libertarian tracts about the legalization of drugs.
+
As psychiatry relegated its more barbaric practices to the dustbin of history, apart from ECT and forced drugging of children, Szasz faded from relevance. Many of his earlier works specifically criticized [[Sigmund Freud|Freudian]] psychoanalysis, which has been relegated to the fringes of the psychological sciences today. However, he refused to budge from his heretic 'denialist' position and continued to churn out the same scientific facts  over and over again. Most of his books are about either the same basic argument of mental illness denial applied to some disorder or therapy or libertarian tracts about the legalization of drugs. His main idea that 'mental illness' is an unscientific metaphor and that the mind is not a physical object and so cannot be subject to disease (unlike the brain) has stood the test of time.  
  
He has also held some influence within the libertarian movement. He is currently listed as an "adjunct scholar" at the [[Cato Institute]] and formerly wrote for the ''[[Foundation for Economic Education|The Freeman]]''. The [[Libertarian Party]] at one time incorporated some of Szasz's views into its platform.<ref>[http://www.janpols.net/Chapter-3/4.2.html Szasz as Theoretician], Jan Pols</ref> This, along with the fact that the [[Soviet Union]] classified political dissidents with mental disorders in order to throw them into the gulags, has created a small strain of mental illness denial within the libertarian movement, especially those who still see [[Communism|Reds]] under every bed.
+
He has also held some influence within the libertarian movement. He is currently listed as an "adjunct scholar" at the [[Cato Institute]] and formerly wrote for the ''[[Foundation for Economic Education|The Freeman]]''. The [[Libertarian Party]] at one time incorporated some of Szasz's views into its platform.<ref>[http://www.janpols.net/Chapter-3/4.2.html Szasz as Theoretician], Jan Pols</ref> This, along with the fact that the [[Soviet Union]] classified political dissidents with mental disorders in order to throw them into the gulags, has created a strain of mental illness denial within the libertarian movement, especially those who still see [[Communism|Reds]] under every bed, as well as the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany against the 'mentally ill, homosexuals and the Jews.  
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 02:52, 4 September 2012

Dr. Thomas Szasz[1] is a Hungarian-born psychiatrist, libertarian, and, along with L. Ron Hubbard, the grandaddy of mental illness denial.[2]

Szasz had a rather strange relationship with the mentally ill due to his position. He viewed most who had been diagnosed with mental disorders as people who were simply different and had been violated by state force. However, he was horrified by the insanity defense and seemed to harbor some fear or grudge against the severely mentally ill who were prone to violent acts. He disavowed any sustained interest in psychiatry, saying he was more concerned with history, philosophy, and society. He graduated in physics then undertook a very short medical residence and then transferred to a psychiatric residence where he stayed away from the severely mentally ill at all costs as is normal. When his supervisor told him he should spend more time with those who had severe illness, he left the institution he worked at.[3]

At this point, Szasz launched his attack on psychiatry in the early 1960s by publishing articles on the abolition of the insanity defense in law journals as well as his first book, The Myth of Mental Illness. Szasz blasted psychiatry as a pseudoscience and denied the reality of diseases of the mind. He also co-founded the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), the Scientology front group, along with Hubbard. He has stated that he would never turn down money from Jews or Muslims or Christians to uphold the right of people not to be imprisoned by the state and forced to consume brain damaging drugs. He does however believe that all drugs such as opium and maryjane should be available for all those who want to take them, (Our Right to Drugs), and that the State should not govern our bodies nor our right to ingest whatever substances we enjoy.

Although he was never a Scientologist, indeed, an outspoken atheist, he acted as an enabler for their bullshit during his time at CCHR. He also never descended into the really cranky conspiracies that the Scientologists did, though he did write a few paranoid things about psychiatric dystopias including what he referred to as the Therapeutic state whereby all 'deviant' behaviour becomes defined as a 'brain disease'. On the other hand, he did have some positive influence as he called for the end of execrable practices like unnecessary lobotomy and misuse of electroconvulsive therapy. He was the first major psychiatrist to speak out against the abhorent 'treatment' of homosexuals (1970 - The Manufacture of Madness) which resulted in this category eventually being voted out of the DSM. While his science might have been largely Popperian bunk, he attacked and ultimately contributed to the demise or limitation of some of the worst abuses surrounding forced institutionalization. He was also a strong proponent of gay rights at a time when homosexuality was still listed as a mental disorder in the DSM. He also campaigned against the imprisonment without trial of those that society deemed 'abnormal'.

Szasz also disavowed the label of "anti-psychiatry," even though he is generally seen as a major figure within the loosely knit "movement." He was heavily critical of a number of other anti-psychiatric figures (though, for some reason, he had no problem with the Scientologists).[4]

As psychiatry relegated its more barbaric practices to the dustbin of history, apart from ECT and forced drugging of children, Szasz faded from relevance. Many of his earlier works specifically criticized Freudian psychoanalysis, which has been relegated to the fringes of the psychological sciences today. However, he refused to budge from his heretic 'denialist' position and continued to churn out the same scientific facts over and over again. Most of his books are about either the same basic argument of mental illness denial applied to some disorder or therapy or libertarian tracts about the legalization of drugs. His main idea that 'mental illness' is an unscientific metaphor and that the mind is not a physical object and so cannot be subject to disease (unlike the brain) has stood the test of time.

He has also held some influence within the libertarian movement. He is currently listed as an "adjunct scholar" at the Cato Institute and formerly wrote for the The Freeman. The Libertarian Party at one time incorporated some of Szasz's views into its platform.[5] This, along with the fact that the Soviet Union classified political dissidents with mental disorders in order to throw them into the gulags, has created a strain of mental illness denial within the libertarian movement, especially those who still see Reds under every bed, as well as the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany against the 'mentally ill, homosexuals and the Jews.

External links

References

  • Szasz Under Fire, ed. Jeffrey Schaler

Footnotes

  1. Thomas Szasz is the inspiration behind the Batman villain Victor Zsasz[wp], who is just as scary but for very different reasons
  2. Though it must be confessed that Szasz scored over Hubbard in one respect. Szasz was subject to the Stopped Clock Rule; the Fraud was too strong with Hubbard to permit this.
  3. Robert Michels. Book Review: Szasz Under Fire. N Engl J Med 2005; 352:1273-1274
  4. Szasz. Debunking Antipsychiatry: Laing, Law, and Largactil. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY Volume 27, Number 2, 79-101
  5. Szasz as Theoretician, Jan Pols
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