Cross-culture studies suggest that mental disorders are found in all cultures.  However, the way they are perceived within a community and the treatment strategies used vary from culture to culture.  What is a course on the sociology of mental health examine? 

Mechanic, Mental health and mental illness: Defintions and perspectives, pp 12-28 in H & S. 

One sociological problem is the enigma of visualizing mental disorders.  Problems of physical health seem more real to most people; by comparison, mental health and mental disorder remain subjective concepts that change over time. 

• Cockerham, Chapter 1. 
• Grob, G. (1991).  The severely and chronically mentally ill in America: Retrospect and prospect.  In J.W. Leavitt & R.L. Numbers, Sickness & health in America (pp. 334-348).  Madison: University of Wisconsin.  (on reserve) 
• Rochefort, Mental health policy making, pp. 467-483 in H & S. 
• Rothstein, W.G.  (1995).  A historical analysis of the treatment of the mentally ill.  In Readings in American health care: Current issues in socio-historical perspective (pp.281-294).  Madison: University of Wisconsin.  (recommended, on reserve). 

What are mental health and mental disorder?  If we are to eventually discuss mental health policy, we must be aware of the scope and limits of our topic.  Psychiatrists have developed descriptive diagnostic labels that they use in categorizing patients.  But when it comes to reliably defining mental health and mental disorder, we face debate. 
• Cockerham, Chapter 2. 
• Rosenhan, D.  (1973).  On being sane in insane places.  Science, 179, 250-258.  (on reserve) 
• Wakefield, The measurement of mental disorder, pp. 29-57 in H & S. 
• Wilson, M.  (1993).  DSM-III and the transformation of American psychiatry: A history. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 399-410.  (recommended, on reserve)

The medical model generally assumes something has gone wrong with the brain or the cognitive capabilities of someone affected with a mental disorder.  The sociological approach presumes that when we talk about any behavioral disorder, we are primarily considering social behavior. 

September 9
• Cockerham, Chapters 3 and 4. 
• Peterson, Psychological approaches to mental illness, pp. 104-120 in H & S. 

Optional Film: Francis, Thursday, September 9, 7:30 pm, Stein 
Geller, J., & Harris, M.  (1994).  Francis Farmer, excerpt from Women of the Asylum (pp.314-325).  (recommended, on reserve) 

September 14
• Schwartz, Biological approaches to psychiatric disorders, pp. 79-103 in H & S. 
• Thoits, Sociological approaches to mental illness, pp. 121-138 in H & S. 
• Phelan & Link, The labeling theory of mental disorder (I), pp. 139-149 in H & S. 

Social stress is a widely acknowledged sociological explanation for why social conditions yield psychiatric symptomology and mental disorders.  What is stress, and what the relationship between stress and mental health and disorder? 

September 16 
• Pearlin, Stress and mental heallth, pp. 161-175 in H & S. 
• Wheaton, The nature of stressors, pp. 176-197 in H & S. 

September 21 
• Turner, Social support and coping, pp. 198-210 in H & S. 
• Aneshensel, Outcomes of the stress process, pp. 211-227 in H & S. 

Imagine a mental disorder merely as a social construction, built on human judgments of “mad” v. “bad.”  Social evaluation is central rather than peripheral to the concept of mental disorder and normalcy.  Why do gender and sexuality have a close association with normalcy and disorder? 

September 23 
• Conrad, P. (1992). Medicalization & social control. Annual Review of Sociology, 18, 209-232. (on reserve) 
• Riessman, C. (1983). Women and medicalization: A new perspective. Social Policy, 14, 3-18. (on reserve) 
• Markens, S.  (1996).  The problematic of “experience:”  A political and cultural critique of PMS.  Gender & Society, 10, 42-58.  (recommended, on reserve) 

September 28 
• Discussion of Dialogues with Madwomen 

September 30 & October 5 
• In-Class Film:  Means of Grace 
• Warren.  Madwives: Schizophrenic women in the 1950s.  entire book 

•  Lecture:  Jeffrey Geller, MD, MPH, Tuesday, October 5, 7 p.m., Stein 

Columbus Day – October 12

October 7 & 14 
• Bayer, R.  (1987). Homosexuality and American psychiatry:  The politics of diagnosis. 

Psychiatric epidemiology not only defines who has what condition, it assists in the develop-ment of treatments. As an example, what is geropsychiatry?  Sociologists have found that certain kinds of mental disorders are more likely to be found among people who have certain social characteristics. 

October 21 
• Cockerham, read rapidly Chapter 5. 

October 26 
• Cockerham, Chapter 7. 
• Rosenfield, Gender and mental health, pp. 348-360 in H & S. 
• Mirowski & Ross, Well-being across the life course, pp. 328-347 in H & S. 

Sociologists hypothesize that the nature and extent of mental disorders are associated with one’s social position in the structure of society.  What is the relationship between social class and mental health?  How does residential location affect well-being and the diagnostic process? 

October 28 
• Cockerham, Chapters 6 and 9. 
• Eaton & Muntaner, Socioeconomic stratification & mental disorder, pp. 259-283 in H & S. 
• Lennon, Work and unemployment as stressors, pp. 284-294 in H & S. 

November 2 
• Williams & Harris-Reed, Race and mental health, pp. 295-314 in H & S. 
• Rosenfield, S.  (1984).  Race differences in involuntary hospitalization:  Psychiatric v. labeling perspectives.  Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 25, 14-23.  (on reserve) 

Explicit labels for madness exist in every culture, but what are the conditions under which individuals, their significant others, and a community acknowledge symptoms?  Once diabling symptoms are noted, what determines help-seeking? 

• Cockerham, Chapter 10. 
• Pescosolido & Boyer, Howe do people come to use mental health services, pp. 392-411 in H & S. 
• Thoits, P.  (1985).  Self labeling processes in mental illness: The role of emotional deviance. American Journal of Sociology, 91, 221-249.  (recommended, on reserve) 

A variety of mental health services are currently available, however commitment to a hospital or mental institution may be necessary when the mental problem is serious and the behavior of the subject is unpredictable and dangerous.  Is the mental hospital an asylum or a total institution with its own rules and culture? 

November 9 
In-Class Film:  Titicutt Follies 
• Cockerham, Chapter 11. 

November 11 
• Peele, R., Luisada, P. V., Lucas, M. J., Rudisell, D., & Taylor, D. (1977). Asylums revisited. American Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 1077-1081.  (on reserve) 
• Berger & Vuckovic. Under observation.  entire book. 

The transfer of care from mental institutions to community mental health agencies is known as deinstitutionalization.  One of the ironies of the patient’s release from a mental institution is her or his return to the same social environment in which the mental disorder had been fostered.  Nor is returning to the community based solely on a person’s mental condition.  The chronic patient is a formidable challenge facing the nation. 

November 16 
• Cockerham, Chapters 12 and 13 
• Estoff, S. E.  Making it crazy.  entire book. 

Optional Film: Dead Man Walking, Wednesday, November 17, 7:30 pm, Stein 

November 18 
• Estoff, S. E.  Making it crazy. 
• Mechanic, D., & Rochefort, D. A.  (1990).  Deinstitutionalization:  An appraisal of reform.  Annual Review of Sociology, 16, 301-327.  (on reserve) 
• Pickett, et al., Psychiatric rehabilitation services & outcomes, skim pp. 484-492 in H & S. 

Release from a psychiatric institution is partly dependent on the support system someone has available.  Because families serve as de facto caregivers and therapists in the current delivery system, what are the costs and rewards of family caregiving? 

• Manderscheid et al., Contemporary mental health systems & managed care, pp. 412-426 in H & S. 
• Schlesinger & Gray, Institutional change and its consequences for the delivery of mental health services, pp. 427-448 in H & S. 

Mental disorders are not punishable under criminal law, and people who have no control over their behavior due to the presence of mental disorder are relieved of criminal responsibility.  Yet, is there any relationship between criminality and mental disorder?  Is someone with a mental disorder necessarily incompetent? 

• Cockerham, Chapter 14. 
• Hiday, Mental illness and the criminal justice system, pp. 508-525 in H & S. 
• Mechanic, D. Mental health and social policy, Chapter 12.  (recommended, on reserve) 

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