Saints, Scholars, and Schizophrenics: Mental Illness in Rural Ireland

by Nancy Scheper-Hughes

TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, UPDATED AND EXPANDED

When Saints, Scholars, and Schizophrenics was published twenty years ago, it became an instant classic―a beautifully written study tracing the social disintegration of "Ballybran," a small village on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. In this richly detailed and sympathetic book, Nancy Scheper-Hughes explores the symptoms of the community's decline: emigration, malaise, unwanted celibacy, damaging patterns of childrearing, fear of intimacy, suicide, and schizophrenia. Following a recent return to "Ballybran," Scheper-Hughes reflects in a new preface and epilogue on the well-being of the community and on her attempts to reconcile her responsibility to honest ethnography with respect for the people who shared their homes and their secrets with her.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Psychology, Ethnography, Ireland, History, Medicine

407 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Patrick Barry · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an anthropologist, this books is primarily useful as a case study in what not to do. It raised a number of ethical questions regarding the ethnologist's lack of respect or attempts to see things from her participants' point of view.

The study started as an attempt to explore an epidemiological question as to why schizophrenia is diagnosed in such high rates in rural Southwestern Ireland, but fails to reign the focus in on that question. It seemed heavier on judgment that cultural relativism and failed to examine much from a psychological perspective to answer the primary research question. It lacked a harmonious blend of quantitative and qualitative methods, which would be critically important to address the primary research question.

In the later releases of the ethnography the Author does acknowledge her errors, but still seems to have little remorse in regards to the negative and disrespectful manner in which she wrote about the community she studied. Worst of all was that the author ultimately failed to keep the community anonymous.

I would not recommend this ethnography to anyone seeking an accurate lens through which, to examine Irish culture. I would also not recommend this ethnography to anyone seeking useful information on the epidemiology of mental illness.

All of this said, there is some value to the ethnography. It can teach valuable lessons in regards to what we as researchers must not do. There is great value in learning from mistakes.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about how the way things fall apart in society is related to the way things fall apart within the human psyche. Scheper-Hughes tells a good story (no small feat!) but her approach here seems pretty dated. I think anthropology has gotten better at talking about science (and about itself) in the decades since this study. I guess I should read the newer stuff added to the 2001 edition.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always fun to read an anthropology book when you, your family, your people, are the subjects of study. Rural folk! With their Catholicism, poetic allusions to misery, contempt for the body!
Bit disappointed Scheper-Hughes didn't write more on the corrosive influence of a potato-based diet on the soul and include a few cartoons of Hiberno-Iberian skull shapes.

Embarrassment aside, this is a well-written book even if it is very difficult to take seriously as an academic account. All it's really done is made me suspicious of the cultural narratives in anthropology books as a whole. Perhaps if a non-American, if a non-native English speaker, had tried such a study, it might have avoided some of Scheper-Hughes' numerous problems with her simultaneous romanticism and condemnation of weirdoes from West Kerry. Not to deny that a lot of what she observes rings true - I just don't know why she thought she would get a warm welcome returning back to her 'Ballybran' (what's the Orientialism of Ireland? Paddywackery?)

The exploitative nature of the text is laid bare in the title. No amount of quotation from poetry and literature can wipe away the Otherising tendency of the work. Perhaps I am just being sensitive, going from books about nomads in Botswana and forest pygmies to a book about my parents' generation, written in essentially the same style. A good, provocative read.

[Katelyn]

The content was very interesting however I find that she was quite repetitive and I think the structure of the book could be better.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my first year anthropology course at university. We were given a choice of reading a book relating to our heritage or to our main degree if it wasn’t anthropology, and upon finding this I decided I could mix the two together.

It’s a controversial read, yet very interesting. It’s written in such a way that it is intended to be accessible to the general public; although this in itself caused some issues (you can read about the impact in the book as a section is dedicated to her return to the town years later). Moreover, the focus of the book is on more than just mental health, including family relations, socialisation, sex roles and birth order – with each related back to the bigger topic of mental health.

Overall, it’s an eye-opening read. Not only is it a great ethnography but it works well (in the anniversary edition) to highlight the ways in which such books can impact a community.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much has been said about how poorly this research was done, particularly as to revealing personal details about the 1970s rural Ireland subjects, and including the admissions by the author herself in the introduction to this edition. Still, that does not make it any less fascinating not only about the stressed population left back on struggling farms but about the craft of this sort of anthropological field study as applied here.

For instance, I did not know of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) card set that shows figurative settings to invite story-telling. Is it not telling that an unusually high number of local respondents read incest into a mildly sexual posing? This is directly summoning views more indirectly drawn form lore. Such as in this case of the nearly barren community from which many superstitions can be gathered about assuring pregnancy, but none about contraception.

'I like that author refer to R.D. Laing and documents a willingness to consider something like schizophrenia a social disease - a role enforced by extreme necessity on a crumbling society and not just an organic fault arising individually.

Within this paradigm, schizophrenia is seen, not as a disease, but rather as a desperate strategy adopted by a family in trouble. The complex web of emotional transactions and communications between family members is a self-regulating system; when the internal pressures mount and threaten to blow the family apart, one member (usually a child) tacitly agrees to become "mentally ill". he is the family scapegoat, and by locating the disorder in him, the other members can preserve the illusion of normalcy for themselves. By taking on the sins of the family,. so to speak, he releases them from guilt.

This is explored in greater detail in the "Concluding Observations: Toward a Responsive Human Community".

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading. The first time I read this book was in the second year of my undergraduate in Anthropology when I was 20. I was taking a class on psychological anthropology at the time. I feel like a lifetime has passed since then! It's really like you're reading a whole different book when this happens.

[Althea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I definitely threw this book across the room in frustration at an opportunity squandered.
I think the author really missed seeing the heart of the people.

This book could be interesting about small-town life in Ireland, but is stuck in some unpleasant academic paradigm with does not serve the people or communicate their realities and relationships at all well.

[DM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting in terms of relating structure to individual mental health, but seemed to disproportionately focus on individual flaws sometimes; don't know enough about medical anthropology to know if her claims held up. Great reflection on ethics in ethnography.

[Belinda Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful to the small Irish land of Ballybran and also notes the failings of the author as an anthropologist and how she might have approached subject matter differently. Overall, an interesting and thought-provoking ethnography.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a bit dense and convoluted at times. I did not like how the entire preface was an apology for doing the research. Answering difficult questions and getting to the root of issues in dying communities is difficult but necessary. And that apology clouded the entire project.

[Martu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but too much theory and less cases as examples

[māris šteinbergs · Rating 2 out of 5]

ētika palika aiz durvīm pētniekam

[Anet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very reflective.

[Kaitlyn Reis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering it was read in a weekend for an assignment, could have been worse! Interesting implications for paradoxes and double-binds but the organization is insane (not good)

[Joey · Rating 1 out of 5]

amongst the worst anthropology written in the last 60 years

[Megan Mweemba · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not used to reading Nancy's work and sensing a hint of doubt in her narrative voice, but that's precisely why t his book is important. A lot of the "perhaps" and "I am not trained in psychological methods" point to the brave scholar in the making who would go on to try on many hats, explore a variety of problems, and do it all with a great sense of purpose. The new introduction and epilogue offer new reflections on the ethics of fieldwork, the effect time has on us and our informants, and the personal side of fieldwork. This is an important book. Excellent for a fieldwork methods course, or even an ethnographic writing workshop.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written ethnography is such a joy - and a rarity. I love this book, but be sure to read this edition. The new introduction is not to be missed. It describes her return to the Irish village she wrote about, and the - shall we say emphatic? - reaction of the villagers to her book. Gossipy, novelistic, and incredibly smart.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I really felt like I am part of this culture. I identified with the people in the town and their values. I can see in her descriptions similar dynamics from my own family and culture. The last chapter, where she "gives credit" describes the strengths of this culture, particularly the gender equality.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

actually, I'm reading the 1970s edition, not this one. But I'm glad to see there's an updated one because I can't help but wonder "how is it now" after just about every paragraph.
Once again, another book I'm having a hard time finishing.

[Sioga]

I think reading this book will be hilarious because I know the village where the author invaded, I know the priest who introduced in Irish in the church and I even have family mentioned in the book!!
This is going to be interesting!!!

[Óli Sóleyjarson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read this book you really should go with the revised edition where the author discusses the reaction she got. In many ways the book is more interesting than good - almost a must-read for anyone interested in the ethics of ethnography.

[Kevin Bass]

Scheper-Hughes recycles concepts of other thinkers and deploys them here to tell a compelling if sometimes convoluted story about the social dimensions of schizophrenia. Worth reading for its breath of learning, but like all of Scheper-Hughes work, not for authentic depth of analysis.

[Meg2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ex-boyfriend of mine was an Anthro major and let me borrow this. I kept the book and dumped him. Was a pretty fair deal if you ask me.

[Padraic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saints. Scholars. Schizophrenics. Welcome to Scranton. Whoops. I mean Ireland.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this very good book again and enjoying it once more. Another fine book from a UC Berkeley public health professional and anthropologist.

[Deborah Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a Culture and Personality class during my undergrad at EMU. I remember liking it as it gave some substantial evidence to some social triggers to schizophrenia.

[Melissa Vadakara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why the hell are there 2 prefaces, 2 prologues, and an intro, all 78 pages before the first chapter?!??!!

[RainbowFoxGlasses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good material to learn from, especially in light of reading about the aftermath of the publication and how this reflects upon anthropological research in current times.