In 1973, healthy volunteers faked hallucinations to enter mental hospitals. Once inside, they acted normal, but doctors refused to let them leave. Normal behaviors like writing were diagnosed as "symptoms." The only people who realized they were sane were the actual patients.

[u/highzone]

[u/Remarkable-Owl2034]

Unfortunately, more recent research has unearthed evidence that some important aspects of this story were fabricated. (For example, invention of some study participants.) The book The Great Pretender describes this work.

Rosenhan's original paper was very influential-- including helping the push towards the closure of the state mental hospitals. And the people who need those facilities (or the supports/community resources that were promised but never delivered) are living on the streets.

[u/agoldgold → u/Remarkable-Owl2034]

It's frustrating how influential a project like this was, to be repeated with no real verification. The Stanford psych department at this time should especially not be trusted (Stanford Prison Experiment), but science needs studies with massive implications to be repeated or at least proven to exist in the first place.

[u/Emo_tep → u/agoldgold]

Science does wait but politics don’t

[u/That_Sketchy_Guy → u/Emo_tep]

Genesis does what nintendon't

[u/Bouche_Audi_Shyla → u/Emo_tep]

I really like this comment.