A critique of mainstream

psychology- a brief
introduction
Sonia soans
Language is so liquid great for solving
problems after it creates the problems
- modest mouse
• Why critical psychology?
• Do we need critical psychology?
• Isn't what we have enough?
• I am happy with psychology I don’t need to
criticize it.
• I am not happy with psychology what do I do?
• What does critical psychology do besides
criticize?
 Notions of madness
• Particular to a specific culture and time
• “Madness” abnormal psychology
• But has this changed anything?
• Assumptions haven't changed and
have been replicated by other
disciplines and are a part of the
diagnostic manuals.
• Fitting and not fitting in- loose loose
situation.
• Euphemisms wont work.
• Power issues in the system.
• Role of society neglected.
 deconstruction

• A process of reading which unravels the way

insane categories are used to suppress
different perceptions and behaviors .
 The history of madness
• There is no one unchanged notion of madness.
• Explanations have changed.
• The diseases have changed.
• Confinement political not medical.
• Invisible chains.
• Moral to medical.
• Treatment and social context seen as separate.
 Cultural differences
• Inside and outside.
• “Idiotes”
• Popular representations.
• Power structures.
• Medical explanations.
 Reason and unreason
• Products of culture.
• It was hoped science would reach an accurate
understanding of mental illness.
• Suffering in silence.
• Deconstruction works with empowerment.