Imaginarios sociales de la enfermedad mental

Abstract

How sociology of psychiatry could be built using a Luhmanian approach and the conceptof Social Imaginary to study mental disorders? The requirements of a mental disorders’ medical sociology are built within the Niklas Luhmann’ systems theory; to show then, how the concept of Social Imaginary of Juan Luis Pintos becomes a key issue. Within this theoretical framework, we then propose a discussion of some elements of the social imaginaries socially building what we understand as mental disorders: mass media scandals, film industry, medicine, psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, relatives of mentally diagnosed persons and those with a diagnosis themselves.