In 1992, psychiatrist Richard Bentall wrote an article in the Journal of Medical Ethics proposing that happiness be classified as a psychiatric disorder. Here's his abstract:
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It is proposed that happiness be classified as a psychiatric disorder and be included in future editions of the major diagnostic manuals under the new name: major affective disorder, pleasant type. In a review of the relevant literature it is shown that happiness is statistically abnormal, consists of a discrete cluster of symptoms, is associated with a range of cognitive abnormalities, and probably reflects the abnormal functioning of the central nervous system. One possible objection to this proposal remains--that happiness is not negatively valued. However, this objection is dismissed as scientifically irrelevant.
Link via J-Walk Blog | Photo by Flickr user thephotographymuse used under Creative Commons license
Let's all get disordered together.
@Jdoozie
So what’s the correct alternative?
You are so right. Orwell and Huxley had accurate predictions, unfortunately. :/
That's not to say we should go around be totally emotionless... but that swings to either extreme are unhealthy. (IE = the "middle-way" of tempering your emotions and being cognitively aware.. is probably "most healthy")
By definition, an emotion that the vast majority of people have felt on a regular basis since the beginning of our species CAN'T be "statistically abnormal". "Abnormal" means "uncommon" - if something as ubiquitous as happiness can be consider abnormal, then almost anything can.
Either A) Bentall is satirizing that point, B) he's an idiot, or C) he's done a really poor job of outlining his thesis.
E.g. if someone had all the symptoms of OCD except that they rather enjoy the obsessions and compulsions and neither they or others experience distress as a result, then technically according to the DSM they can't be diagnosed with OCD.
@Jdoozie, don't assume than this sort of proposal is representative of psychiatry/psychology. It's just never going to happen. There are tonnes of legitimate psychological disorders that are yet to be included in the DMS because researchers are still gathering evidence to classify it as such.
www.havidol.com
'Have it all' with Havidol.
I wonder what this quack thinks of Buddhism.
Based on various studies, it is recommended to only read the title of anything (be it a scientific paper, a blog post, or the label on a cereal box) and use imagination to fill it with comforting meanings.
Following that, the drug companies will be marketing new drugs for you, your kids, your family. All in the name of profits.
cchr.org is a good source of info about the truth behind psychiatry and Big Pharma.
"Psychiatrists have been trying to classify everyone as insane. The DSM 5 is going to be a huge joke. After it is published, no one in the world can be considered normal."
Riduculous exaggerations and blanket statements only serve to make you look even more like a crazy conspiracy theorist...not that you need any more help in that department.