Abstract

CECCARELLI, Paulo Roberto. The pathologization of normality. Estud. psicanal. [online]. 2010, n.33, pp. 125-136. ISSN 0100-3437.

Starting from the expression psycho-patho-logy, which represents a discourse on the passions of the soul, about psychic suffering, the author discusses how nowadays the discourse about the pathos has been producing a pathologization of normality. Initially, the author presents a small historical digression to show that each socio-historical moment has had its own way to deal with the manifestations of pathos: in the past, religion dictated the rules; in modernity science has done so, and in the so-called post-modernity, scientific discourse has been questioned. For the author, the searching of reference are ways to try to cope with constitutive individual helplessness (Hilflosigkeit). However, in early life, the human baby cannot cope with instinctual demands phylogenetically inherited. One of the ruses of the Ego in constitution to deal with psychic helplessness is to make use of the social imaginary to create representations to the drives. However, the discursive forms that we create and that give us the illusion of being comforted and welcomed, the feeling of belonging to a group, are expressions the many variants of psychic dependence. Often, the author argues, the discourse is transformed into an ideological tool that, alongside the numerous expressions of "political correct", represents a quest for normalization and standardization of behaviors, which generates pathological normality. In mental health, diagnostic manuals, promoted by the pharmaceutical industry, transform singularities in abnormalities. What is the position of psychoanalysts in this debate?

Keywords : Pathologization; Psychopathy; Normality; Mental suffering.