Insanity
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Insanity is recognised as a behavior in which the person exhibiting it displays beliefs or actions that fall outside of the "normal" recognition of society. Such actions can cause the person to exhibit behaviors that cause them to become a danger to themself or others. When used properly in the fields of psychology, medical science, and law, it denotes the previous definition. The term insanity is more frequently used in an incorrect form, often used in lieu of "abnormal", "unusual", or "crazy."
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[edit] Legal and medical insanity
Despite popular conception, insanity is not considered a medical term, and has been replaced as a legal term. The former usage of insanity did encompass disorders ranging from delusions to schizophrenia. The main usage for insanity comes from the legal term, and is used to denote defendants who plead that they were incapable of understanding or controlling their actions at the time they committed the crime. This plea is, again, despite popular perception, rarely used. Officially, the American Medical Association disapproves of the usage of the Insanity defense, but the defense has only been outlawed in three States (in order, Utah, Montana, and Idaho).[1]
In England and Wales, the rules governing criminal insanity still come from the 1843 House of Lords decision in M'Naghten. They ruled that:
- the jurors ought to be told in all cases that every man is to be presumed to be sane, and to possess a sufficient degree of reason to be responsible for his crimes, until the contrary be proved to their satisfaction; and that to establish a defence on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time of the committing of the act, the party accused was labouring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing; or, if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong.
Contrary to popular opinion, claiming insanity as a defence in court isn't a terribly good idea. First off, it's not a defence, it's a special plea of "not guilty by reason of insanity". And second, the usual result is that you get sent to a secure mental hospital forever. This is why it's always good to get your own lawyer rather than defending yourself and relying on old episodes of LA Law.
[edit] Insanity and genius
The difference between insanity and genius is subtle, but usually obvious: the genius generally has a superior perception of reality to what is presently prevailing, as contrasted with the insane person's inferior perception.
To take an example: Gene Ray is insane. Albert Einstein does not drool on his papers.
[edit] Place in pop music (no lyrics, please)
- and next week's play list on OMAR's Dance Party (KLDK)
- Crazy - written by Willie Nelson, recorded by Patsy Cline, covered by many
- She-Bop, Cindi Lauper (well it will make you crazy)
- Crazy for you -
MadonnaSlowdive - Crazy - Seal
- Crazy - Aerosmith
- Crazy - Pylon - covered by R.E.M.
- Crazy - Simple Plan
- Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
- Crazy in love - Beyonce & Jay-Z
- Crazy on you - Heart
- Crazy little thing called love - Queen
- Crazy love - Paul Anka
- Crazy love - Allman Brothers Band
- Crazy about her - Rod Stewart
- Crazy mama - JJ Cale
- Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
- Crazy Arms - Ray Price (and numerous covers)
- Crazy Legs - Gene Vincent
- I go crazy James Brown - covered by the Moody Blues, pre LSD
- Insane asylum, Koko Taylor & Willie Dixon - covered by Kathy McDonald & Sly Stone
- They're coming to take me away, Napoleon XIV (give or take a Roman numeral or two)
- You Drive Me Crazy - Britney Spears
- Stone Cold Crazy -
MetallicaQueen! - Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd
- Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon
- Insane in the Brain - Cypress Hill
- Сумасшедший - ВИА Гра
- Brain Damage - Pink Floyd
- Madhouse - Anthrax
- Welcome Home (Sanitarium) - Metallica
- Who Can It Be Now? - Men at Work
- La Folie - The Stranglers