Modern Culture and the Meaning of Monstrosity Psychology Essay (Essay Sample)

Modern Culture and the Meaning of Monstrosity in Relation to Mental Illness
At the very inner core of the society’s Gothic enclaves, and in all manifestations within it lies the monster: the demon, the ghost, the creature, the freak, the outcast, the other. This monster which is often classified as inhuman or the one lingering on the edge of humanity is mental illness also referred to as a disability. Indeed and in respect to the modern culture, the monster turns out to be closer to ourselves than how it is in its classifications in the books and films (Mcallister et al, 2015). This is so because books and films look at what it is, what to do with it and what it means rather than its implications on the society in general. As the society evolves and incorporates new concepts, mental illness stigmatization constantly remains a serious issue that not only proves divisive but also places the affected individuals and their families within the society at the heart of ridicule and fear. The society has made a monster of mental illness and bred a culture that has in effect created a barrier to individuals who may seek or engage in treatment services. Enlightenment provided the basis upon which the society’s constructions of normality and monstrosity began. The modern culture having been midwifed by enlightenment tends to treat a condition of mental illness on a rather biased threshold (Anolik, 2010). The cultural classification of mental illness and the bias forms the thesis of this essay and it is what it will cover in details.