Thomas Scheff argues that people are sometimes labeled as mentally ill for engaging in odd, mildly eccentric, slightly bizarre behaviors that he calls "residual deviance." The behaviors are labeled as mental illness because there is no other ready label for them. According to Scheff, all people engage in residual deviance, but few people are labeled as mentally ill. What factors might account for why only some people are labeled as mentally ill for their residual deviance? Describe several of your or others’ behaviors that could be considered examples of residual deviance and speculate about the conditions under which these behaviors might be viewed as symptomatic of mental illness. Is it possible to define mental illness so that it does not include residual deviance? If so, how? If not, why not?
Perhaps the most instructive example of residual deviance is bad spelling. The conventional response is to interpret misspelling in student writing as proof that either the students have never read the words in print, or that they lack the mental capacity to remember how they are spelt...whereas for the most part this indifference reflects an attitude (originally spread by the underground press) that spelling too well is as suspicious as washing too often.
When the mob gets into positions of power, this is the sort of shit that is imposed on humanity. How simple minded and ineffectual they describe the great human journey!
I would describe a mental illness as depression, anxiety or bi polar etc. Just because I wash my hands to keep them clean doesn't mean I have a mental illness and no I do not have a compulsive disorder.
I've known people with mental illness, and the difference between mere excentricity and illness is when it effects their lives in a detrimental way, leading to loss of ability to care for themselves, hold a job, and follow basic laws. The ambiguity is there, because it's a spectrum of disorders. There are few clear cut definitions. Suffice to say that people strongly effected by schizophrenia aren't hard to distinguish. They aren't aware of the most basic realities around them. And there are physical symptoms such as a puffy face, and irregular sleeping patterns.
I take Zoloft for depression. Awhile back I was on Seroquel too. Zoloft went from 50mg - 100mg - 50mg while Seroquel went from 25mg - 50mg - 25mg - 0mg They helped me for awhile, but alot of my problems stem from not having a female so ehh... Zoloft still helps, Seroquel was such a low dose my psychiatrist told me it didn't matter if I took it or not :L I wish I had a gf Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
