Publish at February 16 2026 Updated February 18 2026
What is madness? This rather pejorative term is very difficult to define. Even today's psychiatrists feel uncomfortable trying to put a definition on the subject. Because the world has evolved, and what was once classified as "mad" has become far more nuanced in our time.
Autistic people were once categorized as such, until scientific research came up with clearer explanations. Indeed, the whole notion of neurodiversity, which emerged in the 1990s, has put many disorders that were once classified solely as madness into perspective.
In fact, psychiatrists are increasingly interested in the question of suffering. How can we ensure that individuals do not suffer from recurrent behaviors that deviate from the norm? Especially as, in some cases, people don't feel any harm at the time. If they're in a manic phase, everything's fine. It's afterwards that the repercussions of their actions resurface and create pain.
A hypothesis is often put forward, and is gaining increasing credibility: what if people with mental health problems simply feel more strongly what others feel from time to time?
We know, for example, that 6-8% of the population have symptoms and thoughts approaching psychosis without ipso facto being psychotic. What's more, this departure from the norm has enabled many creative people to create works of art, books, films and so on that have an aura of genius with the general public.
Ultimately, the question we should be asking ourselves is rather "what is normality and shouldn't we stop judging those who deviate from it so harshly from time to time?"
Running time: 28min20
Image: Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay
You might also like:
Ndop: an endangered international heritage element
Against a backdrop of globalization and urban exodus, the traditional art of Ndop in Cameroon seems destined to disappear. Fortunately, some are trying to preserve this symbolic fabric.
Ensuring rigorous scientific research
A large part of research funding is based on the publication of articles in journals. The English-speaking world has dubbed this situation "publish or perish". This sometimes leads to small or large methodological errors. Nowadays, the scientific community is demanding greater rigor from all researchers worldwide.
Masculinities in skirts [Thesis].
"In what way(s) do consumer practices constructed as feminine participate in the deconstruction or even the reconstruction of masculinity?" How do men in Western countries who wear skirts move the relationship to a garment that, in their home, has not always been attributed to the feminine? And, basically, how and why do we gender everyday practices?
The Middle Ages and role-playing: an immersive experience
On one of those rainy weekends when there's nothing to do, I was drawn into a role-playing project by a young neighbor. A story about a medieval investigation, with a gallery of characters. I protested, citing my advanced age. "On the contrary, we need an old enchanter, and you'll be the most credible!" he replied. I climbed the few flights of stairs, and learned what role-playing was all about...
Regularity and creativity: two incompatible concepts?
Creativity and regularity are not very compatible concepts, since the former refers to the ability to innovate, to step out of one's comfort zone, while the latter refers more to routine constancy in a field. However, it seems plausible to consider regularity as a pivotal step towards creativity.
