Quote by Thomas Szasz
Addiction, obesity, starvation (anorexia nervosa) are political problems, not psychiatric: each condenses and expresses a contest between the individual and some other person or persons in his environment over the control of the individual's body.
Summary
This quote suggests that addiction, obesity, and anorexia nervosa should be viewed as political problems rather than purely psychiatric ones. It implies that these issues arise from a power struggle between individuals and other individuals or groups in their environment, in terms of controlling their bodies. In other words, the quote implies that societal factors, power dynamics, and external influences have a significant role in causing and perpetuating these conditions, highlighting the need to address them from a broader social and political perspective.
By Thomas Szasz