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When all is not what it seems: the normalising of life by parents of people with mental handicaps
Author(s) -
Skone Jon
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of the british institute of mental handicap (apex)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 0261-9997
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1989.tb00514.x
Subject(s) - normality , presentation (obstetrics) , psychology , developmental psychology , mental health , offspring , social psychology , medicine , psychiatry , obstetrics , pregnancy , biology , genetics
This paper draws on the findings of an MSc research thesis which investigated the effects on the lives of 30 families living in West Glamorgan of the presence of a family member with a mental handicap. The parents who were interviewed had offspring ranging from school aged to adult. The idea is explored that the parents, whilst presenting an outwardly “normal” image are, in reality, experiencing a life that is far from normal, and that the outward presentation of “normality” is a result of a process of stigmatisation. The paper concludes by describing the implications of this for the way in which professionals provide support to such families.