David Rosenhan argues that misdiagnosis is particularly a problem for psychologists,as a diagnosis of a mental illness is as influential on the patient as it is on his or her relatives and friends.It should not surprise anyone that the diagnosis acts as a(n)
A) act of tertiary deviance.
B) sign of structural strain.
C) gesture of passing.
D) self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term "self-fulfilling prophecy" refers to the phenomenon in which a belief or expectation influences a person's behavior in such a way that it ultimately leads to the fulfillment of the belief or expectation. In the context of mental illness diagnosis, a self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a patient internalizes and believes the diagnosis to be true, which then influences their behavior in a way that confirms the diagnosis, even if it may not have been accurate initially. Therefore, the misdiagnosis of a mental illness can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, making it the best choice for the given question.

David Rosenhan Argues That Misdiagnosis Is Particularly a Problem for Psychologists,as