Rosenhan 1973

• What is the title of Rosenhan's 1973 study?

  On Being Sane in Insane Places
• What does the term "self-fulfilling prophecy" mean in the context of mental health diagnosis?

  It means that labeling someone may influence their behavior to fit the label.
• How can labeling someone with a mental health disorder lead to discrimination?

  It can lead others to make assumptions about their behavior based on the label.
• What does Rosenhan argue about mental illness labels?

  He argues that they are given to people who do not conform to societal rules.
• What was the main aim of Rosenhan's study?

  To test the validity and reliability of the diagnostic system.
• What type of study did Rosenhan conduct?

  It was a field experiment that also involved covert participant observation.
• How many hospitals were involved in Rosenhan's study?

  12 hospitals
• How many pseudo-patients participated in the study?

  8 pseudo-patients
• What was the gender distribution of the pseudo-patients?

  3 were female and 5 were male.
• What false symptoms did the pseudo-patients report to gain admission?

  They reported hearing voices with words like "empty" and "hollow."
• What diagnoses did the pseudo-patients receive upon admission?

  11 were diagnosed with schizophrenia and 1 with manic depressive psychosis.
• What behavior did the pseudo-patients exhibit once admitted to the psychiatric ward?

  They stopped displaying symptoms of abnormality and behaved normally.
• What was the significance of the pseudo-patients taking notes during their stay?

  It allowed them to document their experiences and the treatment they received.
• How did the staff respond to the pseudo-patients' requests?

  Staff responses were minimal, with only 7% of requests to psychiatrists being answered.
• What was the average length of hospitalization for the pseudo-patients?

  Average of 19 days
• What did the qualitative results reveal about the pseudo-patients' experiences?

  They found the experience unpleasant, feeling powerlessness and depersonalization.
• What does Rosenhan mean by the "stickiness of labels"?

  Once labeled as abnormal, all behaviors are interpreted through that label.
• What was the conclusion of the first study regarding the diagnostic system?

  The diagnostic system was shown to be unreliable.
• What type of error is associated with diagnosing a healthy person as sick?

  Type one error
• What was the aim of the second study conducted by Rosenhan?

  To see if hospitals could accurately diagnose the insane as sane.
• How many patients were admitted to the hospital in the second study?

  193 patients
• What was the outcome of the second study regarding the diagnostic system?

  Doctors were more likely to diagnose a sick person as healthy than vice versa.
• What type of error is associated with diagnosing a sick person as healthy?

  Type two error
• What are the key findings from Rosenhan's studies regarding the diagnostic system?


  • The diagnostic system is unreliable.
  • Healthy individuals can be misdiagnosed as sick (type one error).
  • Sick individuals can be misdiagnosed as healthy (type two error).
  • Labels affect how behavior is interpreted.
• What are the implications of Rosenhan's findings for mental health diagnosis?

  • Highlights the need for improved diagnostic criteria.
  • Suggests that labels can lead to discrimination and powerlessness.
  • Calls for more humane treatment of patients in psychiatric settings.