3 - The Pain of Labels

Throughout this lesson and the following one, you will be learning about a number of behavioural disorders. Some cautions must be kept in mind before you begin. The label of abnormal or sick can be very negative and should not be used in an irresponsible way. If a person has a mental illness, the public reacts with fear, suspicion, and even feelings of outright rejection.

The proper diagnosis of a mental condition requires a lengthy and precise assessment from an extensively trained psychologist or therapist. When people have physical illnesses, there is a great outpouring of sympathy and concern. But people are not charitable with those feelings for mental illness. Although mentally ill people are not held legally responsible for their actions, the public perceives that they are in some way to blame for becoming mentally ill.

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In general, mental illness is perceived to be a handicapped condition that has no sympathy. Some people may reason that if there is no physical basis for mental illness, then people become abnormal of their own free will. The public may falsely assume that mentally ill people can snap out of their present condition with a little selfdiscipline.

With these public perceptions, labelling can be a dangerous practice. A carelessly labelled person, can have difficulty to prove that he or she is once again normal. Labelling is a value judgment that indicates the person’s behaviour is perceived to be inappropriate in some way and should be corrected.

Labels can represent serious handicaps. Use them cautiously.