ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on two theorists, Michel Foucault and Mikhail Bakhtin, to explore how pre-Enlightenment accounts of madness have been retrospectively positioned within the authoritative discourse of psychiatry as early examples of psychosis. It illustrates the central argument that social and historical contexts are pivotal to the understanding and interpretation of unusual experiences. The chapter examines the medieval text The Book of Margery Kempe, a text that has been subjected to clinical and academic scrutiny in the search for historical evidence of the existence of psychosis. The extraordinary nature of Kempe's account and the contemporary dichotomous reception of Margery is reflected in academic reactions to her experiences, specifically whether the account is one of mysticism or madness. The chapter highlights, within psychology and psychiatry there needs to be a greater concern with the spiritual beliefs that underpin unusual experiences and their value to individuals.
