Psychiatry isn't a social science of hating?

United States
December 27, 2012 10:16pm CST
Psychology happens to be a course that I was interested to take prior to learning minor bits prior to coming to the class. The unit we are currently learning about is Mental Disorders, and according to our teacher, she says that there is a huge book that Psychologists use called the DSM. I want to know, how does a Psychologist/Psychiatrist correctly diagnose someone having this disorder and someone not? If the Psychologist/Psychiatrist incorrectly diagnoses the person who in reality doesn't own this disorder, then will there be any reprimands made to this mistake? Not to be against society, but in a sense, these disorders label people. It marginalizes them from "normal" people, and at the end of the day, how does a psychologist/psychiatrist know whether he or she is normal or not? Just a thought..
1 response
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
28 Dec 12
Thanks a ton for sharing this discussion. Well i have always liked the subject of Psychology but somehow i was not able to pursue it and i am glad that u are pursuing it and hence it is normal to have many questions in your mind. As far as my knowledge goes, a psychologist always tries to gauge the situation of an individual first, at first he or she never concludes whether a person is normal or not rather he takes some time and tries to understand the case and then he concludes. But if he goes wrong then it would be dangerous for both the patient and the psychologist so i hope they always does their work seriously and with passion. What say?