The social sciences book group met on Wednesday to discuss Susannah Cahalan’s The Great Pretender, expecting a straightforward exploration of a famous psychology study. Instead, the students were drawn into a lively debate about the blurry boundaries between sanity and mental illness, the reliability of psychiatric diagnoses, and the ethics of Rosenhan’s undercover experiment. They analysed Cahalan’s investigative journey and explored larger questions about trust in science, the power of narrative, and how society treats those living with mental illness.
Their conversations became not just a critique of a controversial study, but a reflection on how easily accepted “truths” can shape entire fields and affect real people’s lives.
A really interesting debate with perceptive and intelligent input from Karina, Kenya, Alice and Alarice. We look forward to the next book group in January when we will be discussing Human kind by Rutger Bregman.
Respect. Engage. Aspire.
