Re: CHAT: Profile of a Conlanger

Irina Rempt wrote:

> or is it that the absolute incidence of
> mental illness is higher in the United States than in Europe?
The concept "mental illness" is not operationally definable across
cultures.

Studies show that psychiatrists in the U.S. are far more likely
to certify a patient with given symptoms as mentally ill than
their counterparts in the U.K.

Furthermore, some undoubted mental problems are culture-specific.
There is a very common delusion among men in some parts of Asia
that their penises are shrinking, almost unknown in the U.S. and
Europe except among immigrants.  Contrariwise, eating disorders
(anorexia and bulimia) are rarely seen outside the U.S.

--
John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
        You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
        You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
                Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)