Lecture on Ethan Watters's Book: Crazy Like Us

Discussion of Ethan Watters's Book: Crazy Like Us

  • Overview of the Book:

    • This discussion centers around Ethan Watters's book, which explores cultural perceptions of mental health across different societies.

Announcements

  • Guest Lecture:

    • Thanks to Prof. Kruger for guest lecturing.

  • Upcoming Readings:

    • For Monday, students are to read Khazan (2014) and Leonhardt & Serkez (2020).

    • Focus: The poor performance of the U.S. healthcare system and pertinent reasons behind this issue.

  • Exam Notification:

    • Exam #1 is scheduled for Wednesday. More details will be discussed in class on Monday.

Prison Studies Certificate Program

  • Overview:

    • Program focusing on the causes and consequences of incarceration.

    • Total of 21 credits required.

    • Open to all majors.

    • Details for sign-up provided.

Coursework Details

  • Core Course Required:

    • SOC 337: Sociology of Punishment - 3 credits.

  • Professional School Credits (Choose 3):

    • ARC 323: Spaces of Incarceration - 3 credits

    • LAW 406: Law, Politics, & Mass Incarceration - 3 credits

    • PUB 450: Incarceration & Public Health - 3 credits

    • SW 350: Restorative Justice - 3 credits

    • Additional courses listed such as:

    • SOC 319: Juvenile Justice - 3 credits

    • SOC 346: Reentry after Incarceration - 3 credits

    • SOC 357: Race, Crime, & Criminal Justice - 3 credits

    • SOC 359: Incarceration & Family Life - 3 credits

    • SOC 361: Incarceration & Work - 3 credits

    • SW 360: Mass Incarceration & Direct Practice - 3 credits

    • ELP 410: Gender, Education, & the Carceral State - 3 credits

    • SOC 425: Behind the Walls - 3 credits

  • Arts & Sciences Credits (Choose 3):

    • ENG 376: Prison Literature - 3 credits

    • EVS 369: Prison Ecology - 3 credits

    • GGS 344: Sex, Gender, & Abolition - 3 credits

    • SSC 392: Aging in Prisons - 3 credits

    • IDS 354: Indigenous & Black Carceral & Abolition - 3 credits

    • HIS 216: Crime & Punishment in America - 3 credits

    • HIS 349: Black Behind Bars: The Rise of the Prison Industrial Complex - 3 credits

Prison & Incarceration Film Series

  • Schedule:

    • Thursday, Sept 18

    • Tuesday, Nov 18 (includes special guests)

    • Tuesday, Sept 23 (Parts 1 & 2)

    • Tuesday, Sept 30

    • Thursday, Oct 30

    • Tuesday, Oct 7 (Parts 3 & 4) (10/7 includes special guest from the film)

  • Timings:

    • All films will begin at 6 PM in rooms 305 or 310 Silverman Library.

Impact of Incarceration

  • Statistics:

    • 1 in 20 individuals will be incarcerated in their lifetime.

    • Nearly half of individuals have a family member who has experienced incarceration.

  • New Initiative:

    • "You Belong" is a support group for students, faculty, and staff impacted by incarceration.

    • Interested participants can scan a provided QR code to engage with the effort.

Special Event: "From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration"

  • Event Dates:

    • March 15-21, 2026 (aligned with spring break)

  • Cost:

    • Total cost of participation is $200.

  • Application Deadline:

    • Applications due by October 24.

  • Quote:

    • “History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us.” — James Baldwin

Connection Between ADHD Globalization and Watters's Book

  • Historical Context:

    • Until two decades prior, ADHD diagnosis was primarily used in North America and a few other countries (e.g. Australia and Canada).

    • Recent evidence indicates that ADHD diagnosis is expanding and becoming common in various global countries.

  • Source Citation:

    • Peter Conrad and Meredith R. Bergey. 2014. “The impending globalization of ADHD: Notes on the expansion and growth of a medicalized disorder.” Social Science & Medicine 122:31-43.

Essay Assignment on Crazy Like Us

  • Instructions for the 10-minute Essay:

    • Write name and 8-digit ID on the paper.

    • Main Argument:

    • What is the main point or argument of Watters’s book? (1 point)

    • Examples Required:

    • Provide 2 examples from 2 different chapters illustrating Watters’s argument.

    • Identify the country and health condition discussed.

    • Include specific details linking the examples to the main argument (2 points for each example).

Class Discussion on Crazy Like Us

  • Group Discussion:

    • In groups of 3 or more, address:

    • The persuasiveness of Watters’ argument.

    • Evaluation of chapter effectiveness.

    • Lessons learned from the cases presented.

    • Examination of culturally-specific "symptom pools" in the U.S.

  • Class Discussion:

    • Open floor for discussion on all aforementioned points.

Cultural Context of PTSD and Its Symptoms

  • Changing Symptoms:

    • Historical examples demonstrate that the manifestation of PTSD symptoms is tied to contemporary cultural beliefs.

  • Historical Examples:

    • British soldiers in the Boer Wars reported joint pain, termed "debility syndrome."

    • American Civil War soldiers exhibited chest pain and weak heartbeat symptoms, identified as "Da Costa's syndrome."

    • Symptoms in WWI included nervous tics and paralysis ("shell shock").

  • Cultural Reflection:

    • The unconscious mind of soldiers absorbs culturally relevant symptom expressions, rendering them as legitimate and real.

  • Clarification:

    • Symptoms' evolution does not imply faking; they represent genuine cultural expectations that get internalized.

  • Insight on Mental Illness:

    • Mental illnesses like PTSD can be profoundly impacted by cultural narratives, shaping the experience of those suffering significantly. It is crucial to acknowledge that these experiences are real to the sufferer, shaped by the cultural context of their time.