The mental health movement of early release into the community of the chronic schizophrenic has been based on a set of old theoretical assumptions and expectations which, when tested on the community level, failed to meet the desired results. On the contrary, the first visible outcome of deinstitutionalization was the revolving door policy with the patients repeatedly in and out of the hospital, changing their previous status of inpatient to the new one of pseudoam bulatory. Yet, this would not be a serious problem if the life of the patient in the community, in between rehospitalizations, was beneficial to him and to the community. However, the quality of life experienced by the patients in the community appears to be deplorable. Available statistics indicate that over 70% of chronic schizophrenics discharged into the community live a marginal, unproductive, aimless life in dilapidated hotels or private proprietary homes. Certainly, though there are various scattered community programs for the rehabilitation of the schizophrenic, the results are far from encouraging. With these basic facts in mind, we have to ask ourselves: What went wrong with deinstitutionalization? Apparently in the process of hasty deinstitutionaliza tion, too many issues were overlooked by the community mental health planners. The most critical factor neglected by the policy makers was the establishment of more realistic criteria for the patient who can or cannot function in the community.

Adjustment of Schizophrenics in the Community

Medical Books

Șerban, George

Medicine

Springer

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Spectrum Pubns

The phenomenon of drug abuse is part of the human experience that extends as far back in time as recorded history exists. Today, however, it has a new and much greater dramatic urgency. The reasons for this are multiple and worrisome. Last year, of the total of approximately 1.9 million total deaths that occurred in the United States, a conservative estimate is that more than one-quarter were premature deaths due to the addictive disorders. These include over 300,000 deaths related to cigarette smoking, which represents in many respects the prototypic addiction in this country; over 200,000 deaths related to alcohol, and many more related to mUltiple other drugs-licit and illicit-that are abused in this society. Twenty-five years ago, drug use was essentially unknown in our school age population. In 1960, a tragic increase of drug use in our young people began, so that by 1978 more high school seniors were current users of marijuana than of cigarettes. Despite the fact that the use of most drugs by high school populations appears to have peaked in the late 1970s and to be decreasing at the present time, most experts still believe that drug use by American young people represents the highest level of that found in any Western developed country.

Social and Medical Aspects of Drug Abuse

The Mask of Normalcy

Psychologists view well-adjusted behaviour as conformity�the ability to navigate relationships and events within a framework of societal rules and regulations. George Serban argues that a better test is how well an individual is able to navigate adverse situations by handling conformity's ambiguities and incongruities. He uses clinical findings and content analysis to explore the interface between social conformity and nonconformist behaviours.The definition of the normal is itself problematic, since society's expectations are sometimes controversial, arbitrary, or equivocal. As a result, people who have problems coping with social conformity choose between degrees of nonconformity or hiding under what Serban calls a "mask of normalcy." Further complicating matters is that some nonconformist attitudes are now seen as normal, supported by governmental policies tacitly favouring moral relativism. A multicultural society is crisscrossed by shades of controversial values and mores. New social codes of "correct" conduct blur the distinction between true and false, right and wrong; and social conflict simmers as a result.What society perceives as well adjusted may even change within a society over time, depending on prevailing social values. Some noticeable variations have been within male-female relationships and sexual morality. Serban ultimately concludes that those who have learned how to manipulate social situations are viewed as well adjusted. Those who have not are seen as struggling or maladjusted.

The Mask of Normalcy: Social Conformity and its Ambiguities

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Psychology & Counseling

Routledge

Psychologists view well-adjusted behavior as conformity—the ability to navigate relationships and events within a framework of societal rules and regulations. George Serban argues that a better test is how well an individual is able to navigate adverse situations by handling conformity’s ambiguities and incongruities. He uses clinical findings and content analysis to explore the interface between social conformity and nonconformist behaviors. The definition of the normal is itself problematic, since society’s expectations are sometimes controversial, arbitrary, or equivocal. As a result, people who have problems coping with social conformity choose between degrees of nonconformity or hiding under what Serban calls a "mask of normalcy." Further complicating matters is that some nonconformist attitudes are now seen as normal, supported by governmental policies tacitly favoring moral relativism. A multicultural society is crisscrossed by shades of controversial values and mores. New social codes of "correct" conduct blur the distinction between true and false, right and wrong; and social conflict simmers as a result. What society perceives as well adjusted may even change within a society over time, depending on prevailing social values. Some noticeable variations have been within male-female relationships and sexual morality. Serban ultimately concludes that those who have learned how to manipulate social situations are viewed as well adjusted. Those who have not are seen as struggling or maladjusted.

Mental Health

Somnul: Roman (Cartea românească de proză) (Romanian Edition)

Cartea Românească

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