Do words generate your reality or your reality is generated by words?

What is the power of words that contribute to generate “deviant” psychological experiences on people? The “particular words” that are used by mental health professionals and society, to describe “deviant” behaviours can produce a “labelling” iatrogenic effect on people who are in the particular position to be defined by these “particular words”. These “particular words” and their usage in the diagnosis and clinical practice context, are often confused on different levels of meaning. Words can be use to describe and also to define; but describing and defining the behaviour of a person are two different tasks. Especially when we are talking about “normal” and “deviant" behaviours without considering context, culture, implicit and explicit rules of the society. Institution, media and common sense by using some “particular words” (with some specific ways of use) contribute to promote some particular psychological experiences on people who are defined by these words. These particular experiences defined as they have a biological origin, immutable and enclose to the medical framework and treatment. This specific contribution aims to: 

• promote a reflection on the epistemology of labelling words and diagnosis terms;

• describe by scientific researches the iatrogenic effect of this practices;

• promote some practices about mental health free by morality filters, based on the sense and meaning of “health" declined by the person involved.

Presenter: Giuseppe Scarabello, psychologist, Italy