Pyscotherapy, American Culture, and Social Policy: Immoral Individualism

Psychotherapy, American Culture, and Social Policy provides a lively indictment of psychotherapy and individualism by examining American cultural structures-child-rearing, family life, mental illness, and education. Throop advances a complex argument that American reliance on psychotherapy to explain these structures is a poor justification which neglects those most in need and pain. Both interdisciplinary and solidly anthropological, this study is sure to provoke discussion from both the right and the left and cause serious consideration of Throop’s call for cultural change and just social policies.

Elizabeth A. Throop is Chair of the Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Eastern Kentucky University. Her research specialties include family life cross-culturally and mental illness across cultures. She has practiced family therapy in the Chicago area with violent and sexually abusive families. She is the author of Net Curtains and Closed Doors: Intimacy, Public Life, and the Family in Dublin and serves as a reviewer for www.metapsychology.mentalhealth.net.