Origins of Mental Illness : Temperament, Deviance and Disorder

by Gordon Claridge

What determines the form of mental illness from which particular people suffer? Professor Claridge's central theme is that "psychiatric" disorders – even in their most severe forms – are abnormal manifestations of temperamental and personality characteristics we all possess to a greater or lesser degree. Examining the major forms of abnormality from this point of view, the author puts particular emphasis on the continuity between schizophrenia and normal behavior.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

293 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1985

About the author

Dr. Gordon Claridge was a British psychologist best known for his pioneering research on schizotypy, a concept that explores the continuum between normal personality traits and vulnerability to psychosis. After earning his PhD under Hans Eysenck and Neil O’Connor, Claridge held influential academic and clinical positions at institutions including Bristol, Glasgow, and Oxford. He published widely on personality and mental illness, often challenging conventional boundaries between health and disorder. His books include Schizotypy: Implications for Illness and Health and Sounds from the Bell Jar.