Citation

Gove WR. Am. J. Sociol. 1970; 75(5): 782-799.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1970, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/224822

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The evidence from sensory and slepp deprivation studies and from autobiographical accounts suggests that depersonalization, disordered thought, hallucinations, and delusions are normal experiences under certain sets of circumstances. Some of these circumstances, particularly sleep deprivation, appear to be characteristics of an individual on the brink of a psychotic break. A model is proposed indicating how these circumstances might produce the psychotic disorganization of the mentally ill. If this explanation is correct, then when it is combined with the societal reaction perspective and certain personality variables we should be close to a valid theory of mental illness.