THE MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE ON RACISM: DISORDER OR SOCIAL CONSTRUCT?
The debate regarding racism as a potential mental disorder remains inconclusive in the field of mental health. This ongoing discussion between experts like Alvin Poussaint, MD, and Jeffrey Schaler, Ph.D., has failed to provide a definitive resolution. The main issue at hand is the absence of clear criteria to determine the classification of a mental disorder. To make progress in this debate, a fundamental question needs to be addressed: What defines a mental disorder? Without a solid framework for defining mental disorders, it is impossible to definitively categorize racism within this classification. This paper argues for a paradigm shift in the approach to this discussion, emphasizing the importance of grounding the debate in scientific principles. Only by establishing a scientific foundation can we hope to make substantial progress in the understanding of racism as a potential mental disorder
| Journal | Applied Psychology, Sociology, and Social Policy Journal |
| ISSN | 2998-8411 |
| Volume / Issue | Vol. 11, No. 3 (2023) |
| Pages | 1-20 |
| Published | 30 January 2025 |
| Access | Open Access |
| License | CC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution |
| Publisher | Keith Publications |
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