The Power of Narratives: Historical Narratives of Psychological Disorder and the Construction of Asylums As the Foundation for 21st Century Marginalization of People with Mental Illness

Narratives situate thoughts and behaviors within complex societies while establishing a context in which people begin to understand actions and perceptions. This paper explores how narratives about mental illness historically serve as a tool to prohibit social mobility, consequently informing institutional stigmatization of people with mental illness recognized today.