aleczb
Not Like Me
Aleczander Barnes, Minor in Writing Capstone Project, Winter 2021
Some Definitions/Etymology:
Psychopathology- The formal term that describes the scientific study of mental disorders, a discipline founded in 1913 by Swiss philosopher and psychologist Karl Jaspers who introduced the term upon publication of his book "General Psychopathology".
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Psychopathology comes from "psycho" (the word forming element from "psyche" (defined below)) + "pathology" which refers to the study of diseases and comes from the Greek words pathos meaning "suffering" and logia meaning "study"
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Psyche- From the Greek word psykhe meaning "soul, mind, spirit" and came to refer specifically to the human soul throughout western history. In English, there was no sense of the "human mind" as we understanding it today in psychological terms until the early 20th century.
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Psychopathy- Initially used to describe any illness of the mind (as is consistent with its etymology) until the later 19th century when it started to be used to describe criminal behavior.
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Psychopath- A morally corrupt or irresponsible person, someone who is "mentally deranged" and "obeys all impulses regardless of social codes". Derived from the immoral or criminal connotation of "psychopathy".
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"Language both reflects and shapes society. Culture shapes language and then language shapes culture. Little wonder that the words we use to talk to each other, and about each other, are the most important words in our language: they tell us who I am, they tell us who you are, they tell us who 'they' are."
-Rosalie Maggio
A quick note about this project and what I ask of the person reading it...
From the moment I set out to bring this project into fruition all the way up until the final phase of its execution, my goal and intention for "Not Like Me" has been the same: to change the way my audience looks at people with severe mental disorders (i.e. people who experience psychosis, mania, etc.). To"destigmatize mental illness" if you will. The way initially intended on achieving this goal when compared to the way I eventually resolved to do so, is to me a striking reminder of what it is I though I knew about this topic that I did not in fact know at first. I will include a brief outline of the original concept side by side to an outline of the final form at the end of the project.
What I ask from you, the reader, is that you take a mental note of what it is you think you know RIGHT NOW about severe mental illnesses and the way we as a society and as individuals treat and view those struggling with them. And if you know someone suffering from a severe mental disorder, or if you yourself fall into that category, I ask that you see what it is that you might learn or better contextualize within the purview of your own experience and understanding of "mental illness".