I came across the attached article, clearly tongue in cheek but written very professionally and academically on classifying happiness as a psychiatric disorder. The source was the British Medical Journal but originally published in the Journal of Medical Ethics (1992), 18, 94-98.. Here is the abstract. Funny on so many levels. The irony is itself clever, and it also takes a not so subtle jab at the sometimes pretensions of academia.
It is proposed that happiness be classified as a psychiatric disorder and be included in future editions of the major diagnostic manuals under the new name: major affective disorder, pleasant type. In a review of the relevant literature it is shown that happiness is statistically abnormal, consists ofa discrete cluster ofsymptoms, is associated with a range of cognitive abnonnalities, and probably reflects the abnormal functioning of the central nervous system. One possible objection to this proposal remains - that happiness is not negatively valued. However, this objection is dismissed as scientifically irrelevant.
It is proposed that happiness be classified as a psychiatric disorder and be included in future editions of the major diagnostic manuals under the new name: major affective disorder, pleasant type. In a review of the relevant literature it is shown that happiness is statistically abnormal, consists ofa discrete cluster ofsymptoms, is associated with a range of cognitive abnonnalities, and probably reflects the abnormal functioning of the central nervous system. One possible objection to this proposal remains - that happiness is not negatively valued. However, this objection is dismissed as scientifically irrelevant.
| a_proposal_to_make_happiness_a_disorder.pdf |
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