„Wie wäre es, an psychische Krankheiten zu glauben?“: Wege zu einer neuen soziologischen Betrachtung psychischer Störungen

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“Mental illness” is one of the central fields in the sociology of deviance. Yet, it has only gained little attention in the past years and decades. Partially, this is due to the fierce attacks on psychiatry by sociologists. The present paper wishes to move beyond these attacks and offer a sociological analysis that no longer insists on a sociological explanation that opposes the psychiatric discourse but that asks about the achievements of the latter. This objective is pursued by building on a pragmatist and definitional perspective that overcomes the antagonisms about the “truth” of a description and rather asks about its practical consequences. The question if mental illness “really” exists is beside the point, even empty, in an analysis such as the one offered here.

Translated title of the contributionWhat would it be like to believe in ‘Mental illness’? : new ways of engaging the concept sociologically
Original languageGerman
JournalÖsterreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie
Volume35
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)40-58
Number of pages19
ISSN1011-0070
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.03.2010
Externally publishedYes