Cultural Aspects of Manic-Depression in West Africa

Abstract

ment, that is to say, relative contentment with one's circumstances, is only one pattern of values among many possibilities in the complex ramifications of human affairs. Restless, discontented people suffering from stress may be very useful in society insofar as they are thus motivated to strive and achieve something of creative value. Clearly, the presence of stress does not automatically discredit what a person says and does-though, in popular parlance, neurotic is a name-calling device commonly used to discredit. Indeed, in contexts of clashing values, some degree of emotional disturbance is likely to accompany the effort to advance one's purpose. Accordingly, we have emphasized the principle that the social consequences of behavior can be studied without featuring a clinical analysis of the state of mind of the actors.