Published in 1961, "The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct" is a book by Thomas Szasz that expressed his disdain for the concept of mental illness and the field of psychiatry in general.

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Thomas Szasz was a prominent psychiatrist known for his critical stance on the concept of mental illness. He was a leading advocate for the view that "mental illness" is a social construct rather than a legitimate medical disease.

Thomas Szasz

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Thomas Szasz contended that the idea of mental illness was a societal invention, promoted by the mental health establishment. He argued its purpose was to label, stigmatize, and control individuals whose actions did not conform to accepted social or legal standards.

Szasz's Argument Against the Concept of Mental Illness

Thomas Szasz defined a genuine illness or disease as a condition strictly characterized by detectable abnormalities in the body's physical structures and functions, such as infections or organ damage. Based on this biological criterion, he proclaimed that since disease can only affect the physical body, conditions lacking such observable pathologies, like purported mental illnesses, cannot be considered true medical disorders.

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