The Fiction of Mental Illness
If a mental disorder is pinned down to be a physical abnormality in the brain, how is it possible that a mental disorder is eliminated from textbooks? The most famous mental disorder to drop from the list was homosexuality. In 2010, narcissism was dropped from the books as well. What happened to the human brain in 2010, and the 1970's with homosexuality? Was it cured? Did the abnormality in the brain vanish from existence one sunny morning? The truth is, mental disorders are vices a culture considers disgusting or repulsive. Homosexuality became accepted as a normal phenomenon in society, and this is why it's no longer a mental disorder. What about narcissism? That was decided by a psychiatric committee while you were having dinner with you family. If narcissism is considered abnormal, and western society is addicted to getting facebook/twitter followers, taking selfies, praising celerities, love of beauty, youth, success and fame, instagram, and the like, narcissism cannot be abnormal because everyone is practicing narcissism on a daily basis. Is it a virtue or a vice? That depends on how you "feel" about it. In no way is it a brain abnormality. We do no justify racism by using a biological argument, nor should we on homosexuality or any other characteristic humans may have. True mental illness are those who belong in mental asylums, and need special care on a daily basis (serious cases). It's not someone who has a hard time getting through a divorce, or a child that's bored in a dull classroom. The term is being used to control the way society ought to behave. The "right" way to behave is an ethical question, not a psychological/pseudo-scientific one.