Jerome C. Wakefield Knihy

Thirty years ago, less than five percent of the population was estimated to have an anxiety disorder; today, estimates exceed fifty percent, suggesting a tenfold increase. This rise raises the question of whether it indicates a genuine medical epidemic. The authors argue that psychiatry has largely created this "epidemic" by inflating natural fears into psychiatric disorders, resulting in over-diagnosis and over-prescription of anxiety medications. Current definitions of disordered anxiety focus on irrational anxiety disproportionate to real threats. However, the authors contend that fearing non-dangerous things—like heights or negative judgments—can be a normal part of human nature, as seen in some PTSD cases. They challenge the trend of labeling distressing conditions as "mental disorders" and propose a nuanced approach to differentiate between psychiatric disorders needing treatment and normal anxieties, which may seem irrational but are evolutionarily rooted. Many commonly diagnosed fears, such as those of snakes or social evaluation, have evolved in response to historical risks that are no longer relevant. By integrating insights from psychiatry, evolutionary psychology, sociology, anthropology, and history, the book deepens our understanding of anxiety and mental health in America.

Jerome C. Wakefield critically examines Freudian psychoanalysis by integrating Foucault's idea of 'power/knowledge' with the case of Little Hans. This analysis reveals how Oedipal theory has influenced and reshaped intimate family dynamics, challenging traditional perceptions of sexuality and attachment. The book offers a fresh perspective on the interplay between psychological theories and familial structures.

The book presents a detailed examination of the intellectual confrontation between Michel Foucault and Sigmund Freud, focusing on Foucault's critique of Freud's theories on sexuality. Jerome C. Wakefield delves into the philosophical and historical implications of this clash, exploring how Foucault's perspective challenges Freud's foundational ideas in psychology and sexuality. Through this analysis, the work sheds light on the broader cultural and intellectual debates surrounding these influential thinkers.

This book offers a detailed analysis of Freud's argument for unconscious mental states, utilizing contemporary philosophical methods, particularly Kripke-Putnam essentialism. It explores Freud's evolution of Brentano's intentionality theory into a modern perspective on the mind, influencing later philosophical discussions on consciousness.