Coverage of Rosenhan’s “On Being Sane in Insane Places” in Abnormal Psychology Textbooks

Abstract

The present study examined 12 abnormal psychology textbooks to determine whether Rosenhan’s classic study, “Being sane in insane places,” was covered, and if so, the nature of that coverage. Only 50% covered the study, with all describing the study as demonstrating the biasing power of psychiatric labels. Two key aspects of the study (the diagnoses of schizophrenia and their supposed subsequent influence on the hospital staff’s perception of the pseudopatients’ normal behavior as pathological) were commonly discussed. However, although the study has been heavily criticized, only two texts discussed any criticism of it. Teachers and text authors are urged to become more familiar with the critical literature on this study, and suggestions for class discussions of the study are provided.