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Interdisciplinary Critical Inquiry: Teaching about the Social Construction of Madness

Theories and treatments of mental illness reflect the social, philosophical, and historical context in which they developed. This article describes ways to invite students to grapple with complex questions about “madness” from an interdisciplinary perspective. Looking at the construct of madness through multiple lenses (e.g., literature, anthropology, medicine) brings depth and breadth to the study of abnormal psychology. I discuss resources relevant to 6 themes: (a) the construct of mental illness, (b) diagnosis as a form of social control, (c) the role of the psychiatric patient, (d) the search for solutions, (e) madness and popular culture, and (f) contemporary issues in mental health. I also describe pedagogical strategies to encourage reflective thinking and critical inquiry.