Labelling: The Psychological Argument Against Diagnosis

In 1973, Psychologist David Rosenhan published the now widely-recognized results of his study. He employed 8 pseudo patients to report that they were experiencing auditory hallucinations - hearing voices in their heads - but that everything else was normal. Unsurprisingly, all patients were diagnosed with a mental disorder. 

From this point onwards, hospital staff put these patients under a microscope: fairly normal actions, like journaling, were even classified as “excessive note-taking.” 

These patients, unbeknownst to hospital staff, were, of course, mentally sane. Rosenhan had tested for various mental health disorders prior to the study - and yet, with just the power of a label, their behaviours were viewed in an almost entirely different light. 

The argument in favour of diagnosis has been well-defined in the past. After all, without being recognized as having a certain illness, how can doctors and medical staff treat a patient’s legitimate condition? 

While this may well be the case - and certainly seems to make sense - Rosenhan’s work served to illuminate the complexity behind diagnosis, and the societal stain that can, at times, accompany medical labels. Simple, day-to-day behaviours can be turned on their head, perceived as yet another instance of insanity. 

The medical practitioners in Rosenhan’s study were all qualified. None of them had malicious intent. Where they all went wrong, however, was in their inability to observe the situation from a neutral standpoint. 

The rest of us are no different. We too would fall prey to the same cognitive biases if placed in a similar situation. Sure, it is not realistic, nor beneficial, to wholly end the system of labelling that society has put in place. But let this be a reminder: sometimes it’s essential to put aside our preconceptions, to stop judging and stereotyping each other, and to start embracing situations with a true sense of objectivity. 

References:

(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LHOcEXJ8Hc

(2) https://www.newscientist.com/definition/the-rosenhan-experiment/