The Divided Self, R.D. Laing's groundbreaking exploration of the nature
of madness, illuminated the nature of mental illness and made the
mysteries of the mind comprehensible to a wide audience. First published
in 1960, this watershed work aimed to make madness comprehensible, and
in doing so revolutionized the way we perceive mental illness.
Using case studies of patients he had worked with, psychiatrist R. D.
Laing argued that psychosis is not a medical condition, but an outcome
of the 'divided self', or the tension between the two personas within
us: one our authentic, private identity, and the other the false, 'sane'
self that we present to the world.
Laing's radical approach to
insanity offered a rich existential analysis of personal alienation and
made him a cult figure in the 1960s, yet his work was most significant
for its humane attitude, which put the patient back at the centre of
treatment. Includes an introduction by Professor Anthony S. David.
The Divided Self : An Existential Study in Sanity and Madness - R.D. Laing
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£9.99