Managing madness, murderers and paedophiles: understanding change in the field of English forensic psychiatry

McDonald, Ruth; Furtado, Vivek; V�llm, Birgit

Abstract

This paper discusses changes occurring in the field of English forensic psychiatry which appear to be linked to feelings of discomfort amongst medical professionals who manage care in such settings. These changes are neither the result of a sudden ‘shock’ to the system, nor small improvisations at the margins, but instead appear to reflect a growing perception amongst psychiatrists of accepted field practice as inadequate for some types of patients. To understand how feelings and emotions are implicated in these changes we draw on and develop the work of Pierre Bourdieu to suggest that changes must be seen in the context of field tensions, which have implications for habitus. However, we do not view feelings of discomfort merely as a response to these tensions. Instead we suggest a more dynamic process with the habitus playing a key role in structuring what people pay attention to and how they perceive it, as well as whether they experience particular feelings in the first place, therefore.

Citation

McDonald, R., Furtado, V., & Völlm, B. (2016). Managing madness, murderers and paedophiles: understanding change in the field of English forensic psychiatry. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 164, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.011

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 11, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jul 13, 2016
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 18, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Health Organization and Management
• Print ISSN: 1477-7266
• Electronic ISSN: 1758-7247
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 164
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.011
• Keywords: Bourdieu; emotion; forensic psychiatry; professionals; change; mental health
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/975199
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616303653
• Contract Date: Jul 18, 2016