Destructive Trends in Mental Health: The Well Intentioned Path to Harm

by Wright; Rogers

• ISBN13: 9780415950862
• ISBN10: 0415950864
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-03-06
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Is there a crisis in mental health? If there isn't one now, Nick Cummings and Rog Wright will surely make some waves with this collection of essays commenting on the state of the field in tones ranging from constructive criticism to defiant rebellion. No topic is too politically correct, no tenet too sacred, and no reputation too aloof from these probing writers with an eye for controversy. And yet, in this unique instance, the accusations, questions, doubts and call-to-arms come from insiders, indeed central players, within the very organizations they attack. Among the contributors to the book are two past presidents of the American Psychological Association, four past members of the APA board of directors, and two recipients of the American Psychological Foundation's Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement In Practice, the organization's highest honor. The editors, Cummings and Wright, are each dynamos in the field, and two of the infamous "dirty dozen" who fought for practitioner representation within theAPA governance, more rigorous training standards, professionalism, and stronger advocacy at the national level. All of which begs the question, in Dr. Cummings' own words, "why would two lifelong activists edit this controversial book when our lives have been characterized by progressive social and political advocacy?" Their answer - because no one else could, and it is time that someone did. This book takes as its inspiration the assumption that the atmosphere of intellectual openness, scientific inquiry, aspiration towards diversity, and freedom from political pressure that once flourished in the American Psychological Association has been eclipsed by an "ultra-liberal agenda," in which voices of dissent, controversial points of view, and minority groups are intimidated, ridiculed and censored. Chapters written by established and revered practitioners explore these important issues within the contexts of social change, the ways in which mental health services providers view themselves and theirproducts, and various economic factors that have affected healthcare cost structure and delivery. In short, this book is intended to help consumers, practitioners, and policy makers to become better educated about a variety of recent issues and trends that have significantly changed the mental health fields.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Acknowledgments	xxi
Introduction	xxiii
ROGERS H. WRIGHT
Section A Political Correctness, Sensitivity, and Diversity
Chapter 1 Psychology's Surrender to Political Correctness	3	(26)
NICHOLAS A. CUMMINGS AND WILLIAM T. O'DONOHUE
Chapter 2 Cultural Sensitivity: A Critical Examination	29	(16)
WILLIAM T. O'DONOHUE
Chapter 3 The Psychology of Victimhood	45	(20)
OFER ZUR
Chapter 4 Homophobia: Conceptual, Definitional, and Value Issues	65	(22)
WILLIAM T. O'DONOHUE AND CHRISTINE E. CASELLES
Section B Mental Healthcare Economics
Chapter 5 Expanding a Shrinking Economic Base: The Right Way, the Wrong Way, and the Mental Health Way	87	(26)
NICHOLAS A. CUMMINGS
Chapter 6 Warning: Psychiatry Can Be Hazardous to Your Mental Health	113	(16)
WILLIAM GLASSER
Chapter 7 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What It Is and What It Is Not	129	(14)
ROGERS H. WRIGHT
Chapter 8 The Myth of Continuing Education: A Look at Some Intended and (Maybe) Unintended Consequences	143	(12)
ROGERS H. WRIGHT
Section C Political Influence on Science and Practice
Chapter 9 Suppressing Intelligence Research: Hurting Those We Intend to Help	155	(32)
LINDA S. GOTTFREDSON
Chapter 10 Pseudoscience, Nonscience, and Nonsense in Clinical Psychology: Dangers and Remedies	187	(32)
SCOTT O. LILIENFELD, KATHERINE A. FOWLER, JEFFREY M. LOHR, AND STEVEN JAY LYNN
Chapter 11 The Diseasing of America's Children: The Politics of Diagnosis	219	(16)
JOHN K. ROSEMOND
Chapter 12 Abortion, Boxing, and Zionism: Politics and the APA	235	(18)
WILLIAM T. O'DONOHUE AND CHRISTOPHER DYSLIN
Chapter 13 The Dumbing Down of Psychology: Faulty Beliefs about Boundary Crossings and Dual Relationships	253	(30)
OFER ZUR
Chapter 14 Social Justice in Community Psychology	283	(20)
JASON LILLIS, WILLIAM T. O'DONOHUE, MICHAEL CUCCIARE, AND ELIZABETH LILLIS
Chapter 15 Sociopolitical Diversity in Psychology: The Case for Pluralism	303	(22)
RICHARD. E. REDDING
The Editors	325	(4)
Contributors	329	(4)
Index	333