History of Madness – Track 16

Audio Track 16:  Discussing the criteria of “madness”.

Professor Keirsey had his lecture course on Madness taped on cassettes in 1982.  They were rediscovered after his death by chance and some sections of the tapes were partly recovered. This post is the edited sixteenth audio track.  More audio tracks will follow.

Track 1:  The beginning of History of Madness lecture course

He surveys the idea of madness “as far back as we can go”.  In these last few recovered lectures, he talks a little about his theory of madness: which he called at the time, “Wholistic Theory of Madness”  based social field theory and Temperament.  He continued to work on his theory (off and on) for the next 30 years.

Once asked what was the most important thing he wanted people to get from his work, he said:

“I want people to understand that there is no such thing as madness.”

Dr. David West Keirsey

Track 15:  Labeling of “the patient” and two of the four criteria of “madness”.
Madness: 1) repetitive, 2) appears unreasonable

Track 16:
continues discussion of the criteria of “madness”
2) appears unreasonable:  it appears not to have a payoff for the individual.

3) the behavior upsets people. (very important criteria)  Disapproved in the social circle that labelled patient is in.

4) unusual behavior

Other behaviors not mad: social rituals.

Track 17