A good summary of the pitfalls of stereotyping “crazy” characters.
4 thoughts on “A good summary of the pitfalls of stereotyping “crazy” characters.”
I discussed this with my wife, who is a clinical psychologist. Her reminder is that mental illnesses are, first and foremost, illness. They can, especially in extreme circumstances, be as disabling as physical illness. It’s a topic which I agree should be approached carefully and with compassion.
I discussed this with my wife, who is a clinical psychologist. Her reminder is that mental illnesses are, first and foremost, illness. They can, especially in extreme circumstances, be as disabling as physical illness. It’s a topic which I agree should be approached carefully and with compassion.
I work with folk who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the like. And, yes. They’re not “crazies”. They are poorly understood and as such reviled and looked down upon and stigmatized.
I think that the concept of being “wild” and “out-of-your-mind” has a strong pull in a lot of literature but just picking random (but specific, e.g. hearing voices) mental health issues and throwing them into a character without understanding is insensitive and furthers the issues that plague these people. They struggle to get help as it is without stereotypes being ignorantly perpetuated.
I work with folk who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the like. And, yes. They’re not “crazies”. They are poorly understood and as such reviled and looked down upon and stigmatized.
I think that the concept of being “wild” and “out-of-your-mind” has a strong pull in a lot of literature but just picking random (but specific, e.g. hearing voices) mental health issues and throwing them into a character without understanding is insensitive and furthers the issues that plague these people. They struggle to get help as it is without stereotypes being ignorantly perpetuated.
I discussed this with my wife, who is a clinical psychologist. Her reminder is that mental illnesses are, first and foremost, illness. They can, especially in extreme circumstances, be as disabling as physical illness. It’s a topic which I agree should be approached carefully and with compassion.
I discussed this with my wife, who is a clinical psychologist. Her reminder is that mental illnesses are, first and foremost, illness. They can, especially in extreme circumstances, be as disabling as physical illness. It’s a topic which I agree should be approached carefully and with compassion.
I work with folk who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the like. And, yes. They’re not “crazies”. They are poorly understood and as such reviled and looked down upon and stigmatized.
I think that the concept of being “wild” and “out-of-your-mind” has a strong pull in a lot of literature but just picking random (but specific, e.g. hearing voices) mental health issues and throwing them into a character without understanding is insensitive and furthers the issues that plague these people. They struggle to get help as it is without stereotypes being ignorantly perpetuated.
I work with folk who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the like. And, yes. They’re not “crazies”. They are poorly understood and as such reviled and looked down upon and stigmatized.
I think that the concept of being “wild” and “out-of-your-mind” has a strong pull in a lot of literature but just picking random (but specific, e.g. hearing voices) mental health issues and throwing them into a character without understanding is insensitive and furthers the issues that plague these people. They struggle to get help as it is without stereotypes being ignorantly perpetuated.