Definitions of schizophrenia, 1908–1987

The failed essentialism

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20400400
AutoresKieran Mcnally (University College Dublin, autor de correspondencia)
Año2012
Volumen22
Número1
Páginas91-113
Fecha de publicación2012-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaTheory & Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0959-3543 • E-ISSN: 1461-7447
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0959354310377821
OpenAlexW2163744227
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas30

This work examines the historical conceptualization of schizophrenia through definition from 1908–1987. Rather than reveal an essentialist definition of schizophrenia in North America, it reveals a history of varying and competing professional definitions. It demonstrates and historically contextualizes how widespread conceptual instability and disagreement over the nature of the concept gave rise to a new, but still contested, theoretical emphasis on operational definitions. As made manifest through definition, schizophrenia has not been a stable transhistorical object. Rather, the characteristic feature in schizophrenia definition appears to be instability and variance rather than stability or long historical periods of agreement. This analysis nevertheless cautions against overstating the importance of fluctuating definition in assessing the ontological status of contemporary interpretations of schizophrenia

Conceptualization · Epistemology · Essentialism · Linguistics · Sociology · Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Neurology and Historical Studies · Philosophy · Psychology