The Great Pretender
The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness
by:
Susannah Cahalan
in:
Biographies
Summary:
The book investigates a famous 1973 experiment by psychologist David Rosenhan, where eight healthy people feigned mental illness to get admitted to psychiatric hospitals, revealing the flawed nature of psychiatric diagnoses. It also delves into the author's own personal journey with a misdiagnosis, questioning the reliability of psychiatric labels and the impact of such labels on patients' lives.
Key points:
1. The Rosenhan Experiment: The book focuses on the 1970s Rosenhan experiment where eight healthy people posed as mental patients, revealing flaws in the psychiatric system.
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