Introduction
The two articles from Rosenhan and Watters seemingly focus on different themes. The first article from Rosenhan (1973) focuses on distinguishing the symptoms of sanity or insanity depending on the environment. Through the experiment with pseudo patients, the author defines that it is impossible to distinguish sane and insane people in hospitals because sane people can be perceived as patients with schizophrenia in remission. The second article, written by Watters (2010), discusses the influence of Western perceptions of mental illnesses on indigenous mental illnesses. However, both articles touch on the subject of external influence on the development of mental disorders.
Main body
The first article discusses the influence of social norms on society’s perception of insanity. The author explains that society differentiates sane and insane people based on symptoms exhibited by insane people, which commonly present deviations from social norms. However, placing sane people in an insane environment will change the perception of deviations from social norms. Similarly, the second article discusses how Western perceptions of mental disorders such as anorexia can influence indigenous forms of mental illnesses. The author also discusses how shared historical experiences can develop specific forms of mental disorders in the population.
Conclusion
Three prominent takeaways can be acquired from the articles. The first takeaway is that environment, and social norms play a significant role in the formation of a mental disorder’s perception. Next, the articles emphasize the dynamic character of mental disorder and their exposure to external influences. Thus, it is important to always consider the latest research on mental disorders in working with patients. Lastly, the article demonstrates that all cases of mental disorders must be considered individually to avoid misinterpretation of indigenous mental disorders and prevent the widespread use of Western ideas and understanding of mental disorders.
References
Rosenhan, D. L. (1973). On being sane in insane places. Science, 179, 250-258.
Watters, E. (2010). The Americanization of mental illness. New York Times Magazine, 40-45.