Why Anti-Authoritarians are Diagnosed as Mentally Ill

Mad in America ^ | February 26, 2012 | Bruce Levine

[ctdonath2]

In my career as a psychologist, I have talked with hundreds of people previously diagnosed by other professionals with oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, anxiety disorder and other psychiatric illnesses, and I am struck by (1) how many of those diagnosed are essentially anti-authoritarians, and (2) how those professionals who have diagnosed them are not.

Anti-authoritarians question whether an authority is a legitimate one before taking that authority seriously. Evaluating the legitimacy of authorities includes assessing whether or not authorities actually know what they are talking about, are honest, and care about those people who are respecting their authority. And when anti-authoritarians assess an authority to be illegitimate, they challenge and resist that authority—sometimes aggressively and sometimes passive-aggressively, sometimes wisely and sometimes not.

Some activists lament how few anti-authoritarians there appear to be in the United States. One reason could be that many natural anti-authoritarians are now psychopathologized and medicated before they achieve political consciousness of society’s most oppressive authorities.

[ctdonath2]

Now take all that in context of the latest push to actively disarm those labeled as "mentally ill", and the broad history of communistic countries using that label as a means to destroy their opposition.

[Kevmo]

I like where this article is going so far. Bump for later.

[I want the USA back]

Mentally ill is now defined as anyone who opposes the government’s rolling over our rights.

[trubolotta]

My friends from former Soviet Republics told me that you had to pass a psychiatric exam for a driver’s license. It was also common knowledge that anyone who complained could be diagnosed as mentally disturbed because how could anyone be unhappy in a “workers paradise”, unless they were mentally disturbed.

[Fast Moving Angel]

Whatever happened to the old ‘60s bumper sticker, “Question Authority”? You’d think that’d be the motto of the hippies and stoners in charge now.

[Morpheus2009]

Or how about someone who simply just can’t force his/herself to believe reality as defined by Hollywood and politicians.

[Slyfox]

I am continually surprised at the many “illnesses” which now require an anti-depressant.

[Slings and Arrows]

Whatever happened to the old ‘60s bumper sticker, “Question Authority”? You’d think that’d be the motto of the hippies and stoners in charge now.

You answered your own question.

[Valpal1]

In an earlier dark age, authoritarian monarchies partnered with authoritarian religious institutions. When the world exited from this dark age and entered the Enlightenment, there was a burst of energy. Much of this revitalization had to do with risking skepticism about authoritarian and corrupt institutions and regaining confidence in one’s own mind. We are now in another dark age, only the institutions have changed. Americans desperately need anti-authoritarians to question, challenge, and resist new illegitimate authorities and regain confidence in their own common sense.

Excellent analysis.

[MeganC]

So if people who are not immediately compliant with authority are ‘mentally ill’ then what about people who ARE immediately compliant with authority...like say the guards at the Nazi death camps?

Hmmmm?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Wait till the Dems come back into power, pass laws declaring Republicans mentally ill, then begin to confiscate their guns. Can’t have Republican kooks with guns now, can we?

[circlecity]

"Whatever happened to the old ‘60s bumper sticker, “Question Authority”?"

You don't need to go back that far, during the last administration the liberal mantra was "dissent is patriotic".

[AndyTheBear]

... Saul Alinsky, the legendary organizer and author...

Uhm, "legendary"?

[DJ MacWoW]

Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them if we basely entail hereditary bondage on them. - Continental Congress Declaration, 1775

Click The Flag To Support Your Forum

[DeWalt]

I think after 50the years I have been diagnosed and it didn’t cost a dime.

[wastedyears]

I respect people that give me a reason to respect them. Guys like Jim Rob and Matt, they’re doing a lot for this country; can’t imagine the extent of the things Matt does for us, and Jim for having created this website to connect like-minded people all over the world.

I respect Ted Cruz for so quickly and steadfastly taking a stand in favor of individual rights.

Someone I do not respect, is someone like Obama, who is doing everything he possibly can, both visibly and invisibly, to take down this country, from all sides.

Does that make me an anti-authoritarian? I suppose so. Would I be diagnosed as mentally ill? Most likely, but I have a few more problems going against me. I’m probably on a couple of government lists, but I don’t really care.

[3catsanadog]

Didn’t Hillary! pitch a hissy fit when she thought that people were questioning her patriotism. Rush played it quite often on his show.

[Theophilus]

The most popular defense/survival mechanism for tyranny is contact avoidance. It’s not 100% effective but they can’t send everybody to the gulag.

[Auntie Dem]

Yesterday’s Authority Questioners have now changed their slogan to be “Question Authority Questioners”. It’s just another variant of “Some animals are more equal than others”

[TalBlack]

“When the world exited from this dark age and entered the Enlightenment, there was a burst of energy.”

As analysis it's a bit convenient. The Church was present bringing Knowledge and Science through the ACTUAL Dark Ages and was present and functioning through the Enlightenment as well to the present day. When the Church went from a “dead” guy and a few Apostles to an institution of vast social power ( a VERY telling feat) it was invaded by the same evil that the US Gov’t has been invaded by: ie those who live to tell others how they must live. They are ALWAYS attracted to power. How ever much they were into the Church they never defined it. They are more free in the US Gov’t as there is only a constitution to twist to their ends...and, ah, well, where they ARE god.