Neurosis, Normality, and Psychiatric Authority in South Korea, 1960s〜1970s

Key Points

• This paper examines how psychiatrists in 1960s-1970s South Korea utilized the concept of neurosis to redefine normality and abnormality in society.
• Analyzed writings on psychiatry published in the magazine 'Sasanggye'.
• Examined articles contributed by psychiatrists to both academic and popular media.
• Explored the context of economic development and social changes influencing neurosis discourse.
• Psychiatrists acknowledged the diagnostic limits of neurosis, yet positioned it as central to modern Korean psychopathology.
• Neurosis became a flexible term in media to interpret various psychological issues like anxiety and maladjustment.
• The discourse surrounding neurosis redefined psychological distress as a significant topic within psychiatric discussions.

Abstract