Thomas Szasz

Thomas Szasz was a psychiatrist and author known for his controversial views on mental illness. He argued that mental disorders are not medical conditions but societal labels used to control people. Szasz believed that many behaviors deemed "abnormal" are actually expressions of individuality rather than diseases. He advocated for personal freedom and responsibility, critiquing the psychiatric establishment for pathologizing normal human experiences. His most famous work, "The Myth of Mental Illness," challenges the validity of mental illness diagnoses, sparking debate about the nature of mental health and the ethics of involuntary treatment.