Friedan’s Emphasis on Power and Aggression

Betty Friedman says we have a “schizophrenic situation” in this country.

It seems these days that any out-of-the ordinary thoughts, activities, performances or situations are labeled schizophrenic .

In fact, schizophrenia is a serious mental illness, a no-fault disease caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is a frightful living death for those afflicted and a terrifying concern for their loved ones.

When the term schizophrenic is used to describe some sort of minor aberrant behavior or situation, it tends to gloss over in the minds of the reading public the fact that schizophrenia is debilitating, expensive and, as yet, there is no cure.

RICHARD L. DENNEN

Palos Verdes