ABSTRACT
Labeling an angry child with the pseudo-medical sounding “mental disorder” label of “oppositional defiant disorder” may serve adult needs for peace and order, just as prisons do. A child who loses his temper, argues with his parents, defies his parents’ rules, and is spiteful and resentful is given, based on these three or four “symptoms,” the pseudo-medical sounding label of “oppositional defiant disorder” and eventually put on chemicals whose job is to make him more obedient. In the pseudo-medical specialty of “children’s mental health” something very different goes on. The mental health industry’s lack of curiosity about what is causing childhood outbursts is proof positive that only peace and quiet are what are wanted. As a busy parent with no training in the matter, mental health professionals may have only a very vague understanding of how the mental disorder industry operates.
