Research Article

ASSESSING RACISM AS A MENTAL DISORDER: A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

ISSN: 3067-2937

DOI Prefix: 10.5281/zenodo.

Authors: Nathaniel James Clark, Robert Henry Williams
Published: Volume 11, Issue 4 (2024)
Date: July 3, 2025

Abstract

The debate regarding racism as a potential mental disorder remains inconclusive in the field of mental health. This ongoing discussion between experts like Alvin Poussaint, MD, and Jeffrey Schaler, Ph.D., has failed to provide a definitive resolution. The main issue at hand is the absence of clear criteria to determine the classification of a mental disorder. To make progress in this debate, a fundamental question needs to be addressed: What defines a mental disorder? Without a solid framework for defining mental disorders, it is impossible to definitively categorize racism within this classification. This paper argues for a paradigm shift in the approach to this discussion, emphasizing the importance of grounding the debate in scientific principles. Only by establishing a scientific foundation can we hope to make substantial progress in the understanding of racism as a potential mental disorder.