Byline: Sense and Sanity

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D.</B></div> <bR> <div> Sanity is a crazy subject.  In our Western culture, it's absence is called mental illness, something we "have" and 'treat" like a disease.  In his book, <I>The Myth of Mental Illness:  Foundation of a Theory of Personal Conduct</I>, Thomas Szasz takes a somewhat radical view of sanity.  He contends that those whom we characterize as mentally ill are simply persons behaving in a way which society has christened as unacceptable.  According to Szasz, one will be put in a strait jacket in one culture for something that would make him a hero in another.  (Stand up in public and start talking to a divine spirit and you'll be made a deacon in one group.  You'll be a prime candidate for a psychiatrist if you exhibit such behavior in another.)</div> <bR> <div> This approach makes sanity a philosophical issue, with behavior being somewhat like a language.  A person's behavior thus becomes his answer to his interpretation of what life means.  Psychologists who use this particular model contend that everyone in early childhood interprets his world of experience pragmatically, structuring his behavior in a way which accomplishes a sense of self esteem.  According to this theory, the small child gets "messages" about what he must do to survive in this world.  Consequently, his behavior makes sense to him, although it may appear crazy to others.  From this interpretative (existential approach), sanity could well be defined as the appropriate denial of reallity, with neurosis being merely an outward sign of individuality.</div> <bR> <div> This existential model for defining sanity is most frightening to us who are parents.  If its dyanmics are true, we all should be amazed that any of us are as sane as we are.  Confusion must be part of children's early experiences.  Sometimes we yell at them for making noise.  Often we tell them to be nice--but in a hateful way.  We sometimes tell them lies about what happens to little kids who don't tell the truth.  And to make matters more confusing, we sometimes hit little kids for hitting.  And through all of these experiences, we expect them to think clearly and not be confused.</div> <bR> <div> If parents are consistent in their parenting, they may possibly produce a weird kid, but I can almost promise them that he won't be crazy.  In fact, children can live with parental mistakes and even learn from them.  However, we must bear the weight of personal responsibility for our own behavior.  That is the highest virtue of parenting and the surest way to produce a sane generation.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="516" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#000066 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 138 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2636f830.jpg" border=0 width="111" height="131" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="378"><div> Bill Stroud, of Oxford, Mississippi,, has an extensive background in three areas: theology, philosophy and psychology (B.D, Th.D., Ph.D). Although semi-retired, he is active as a speaker, free-lance writer and a workshop presenter for educational and service agencies.  He presently is an adjunct professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Ole Miss University.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>