RE: Psychology Addict # 62 | Joker & Frankeinstein – A Matter of Identity.
Kozoll and Osborne's research is a beautiful qualitative study where they interview various students from different backgrounds (e.g. African-Americans and Immigrants from Mexico). Your guess about their findings is incredibly accurate!
For example, Keith is a student of Jamaican origins. Based on the material from his (open) interview, the researcher concluded (p.177):
Keith’s understanding of science is simultaneously an understanding of himself relative to others.
As for Andrea, a young female student who even after leaning English felt isolated in school, science served a bridge that connected her to the world (p.174):
Andrea’s fondness for science also lies in science’s ability to connect her with other people. It was one way in which she and others came together, conversed in the sharing of ideas, and thereby interacted in such a way that Andrea overcame some of her feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Rosenhan's experiment is quite something! I wrote about here on Steemit a couple of years ago. Is there better evidence to support Szasz's claims? No, there is not. Still, unlike Szasz I don't entirely disregard the medical validity of mental health problems. And , yes, I am familiar with the works of Robert Park (mostly on culture and race) from back in the days of my social sciences and social psychology studies.
I could not agree more with you:
but sometimes the gulf is too great to cross. From that looming, painful gulf, madness or badness may grow.
This is precisely how I see it, when standing from a social point of view. I don't think many people get this @agmoore2 It appears that a lot of people think that when individuals end up with an identity of mad or bad, it's just because of an easy choice they made :/ and of course, there may be some level of compassion for those who end up with the "mad" identity, but for those with the "bad" one. Just forget it. There is no redemption for them.
I always look forward to your feedback, but some weeks more than others. This is one of the weeks I anxiously awaited your comment. Because of how emphatic you are towards the vulnerable in society. I am so happy you like this blog! You even printed it <3 Thank you for let me know my dear friend. It truly made me smile with my heart.
Much love, from cloudy Portugal :*
With endless affection from across the ocean!
Such a rich response. First, hard copy for me is the ideal form. When I want to analyze something in detail (even my own work) I print it out if there aren't too many pages. I guess that's because I grew up with hard copy.
Thanks for the reference to Kozoll and Osborne. I read up a bit on them. I love these two guys. They both want good things for young people. Both want to close the education gap that keeps many young people from achieving full potential. And I understand about science--in a way I relate. In a world out of kilter, where inequity exists and is a daily challenge, objective rules are reassuring. These apply to everyone. They cannot be bent by bias or misperception.
And science is a creative, intellectual refuge that can be very personal. Fortunate are the children who have the skills, and ability, to use this refuge.
Having empathy for someone who is mad, not bad---I understand that. Our first impulse is to survive, and bad can be a threat to security. So ostracism and even incarceration are quick and obvious remedies. Of course, that means we throw a lot of people away. How does that make sense? And if we don't try to understand, how do we prevent bad from becoming the path our children choose?
You see, you make me think. Thank you. Rest up. When you come back, I'm expecting another eye-opening, inspiring blog.
With respect, appreciation, and affection,
AG