'Missing persons': technical terminology as a barrier in psychiatry

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Philosophy of Mind
• Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background:

• Disciplinary silos in psychology, biology, and humanities impede a unified view of human function.
• Disagreements on the definition of the human person and their world, exacerbated by incommensurate language, contribute to fragmentation.
• Historical developments in Western philosophy over 400 years may explain these divisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine and compare Western psychologies and psychiatries with concepts from other cultures.
• To analyze the evolution of terminology, particularly the term "self," in mental health.
• To understand how language shapes the perception of human experience and contributes to disciplinary divisions.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of terminology in Western and non-Western cultures.
• Examination of the historical development of the term "self" in Western philosophy and psychology.
• Study of analogous terms in non-English European and non-Western languages.

Main Results:

• Western philosophy and psychology have developed a technical meaning for "self" distinct from its equivalents in non-Western cultures.
• The specialized terminology in Western mental health may obscure rather than clarify normal human experience.
• This specialized language creates a barrier between mental health professionals and the public, hindering transcultural dialogue.

Conclusions:

• The evolution of technical terms in Western psychiatry may not represent a genuine advance in understanding.
• The current language used in Western mental health is ambiguous and distances professionals from laypersons.
• Addressing linguistic differences is crucial for fostering transcultural dialogue and a more integrated understanding of mental health.