Madness, Disability and Social Exclusion: The Archaeology and Anthropology of 'Difference' (One World Archaeology X)

A unique work that brings together a number of specialist disciplines, such as archaeology, anthropology, disability studies and psychiatry to create a new perspective on social and physical exclusion from society. A range of evidence throws light on such things as the causes and consequences of social exclusion stigma, marginality and dangerousness. It is an important text that breaks down traditional academic disciplinary boundaries and brings a much needed comparative approach to the subject. "Bringing together a number of specialist disciplines, such as archaeology, history, anthropology, disability studies, mental health and psychiatry, this work provides a new perspective on social and physical exclusion from society. A range of evidence throws light on the causes and consequences of social exclusion, stigma, marginality, dangerousness and ritual power of the 'other' in society. Also discussed are the emotional and intellectual effects of social and/or physical exclusion on those who are subjected to it in contemporary society." "This is a study that breaks down traditional academic disciplinary boundaries by adopting a comparative perspective and time dimension. This will be an essential reference for archaeologists and anthropologists alike as they seek to understand social exclusion in the past and the present. It will also be extremely useful to those who work with people classified as mentally ill or disabled in today's society."--Jacket. Extensive interpretation of physical data is not valid unless it issupported by other relevant material. Many biological anthropologists studying skeletal remains make unsubstantiated inferences fromthe physical evidence to the nature of individual experiences and circumstances, and social attitudes and behaviour. The followingcases illustrate this point. Involuntary commitment laws usually contain two components, first that the person in question be diagnosed with a 'mental illness', and second that they either: (a) pose a danger to themselves or others, (b) are in need of treatment, or (c) cannot see to their basic necessities of life.