In his critique of modern psychiatry, Thomas Szasz identifies two functions of mental illness. They are:

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According to Szasz, mental illness serves the functions of providing an explanation for socially unacceptable behavior and providing a means of social control. Mental illness is used to label and control individuals who deviate from societal norms, thereby justifying the use of medical interventions and institutionalization. This view challenges the medical model of mental illness and argues that mental illness is a social construct rather than a biological disease.

In His Critique of Modern Psychiatry, Thomas Szasz Identifies Two