Robert L. N. Laing

Robert L. N. Laing was a Scottish psychiatrist known for his alternative views on mental health, especially schizophrenia. He believed that many mental health struggles stem from a person's difficult relationships and social environment rather than just biology. Laing emphasized understanding a person's subjective experience and questioned traditional psychiatric practices, advocating for compassion and more personalized treatments. His ideas challenged mainstream psychiatry and contributed to the humanistic and anti-psychiatry movements, encouraging a more empathetic approach to mental health care.