The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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Imprecise term, primarily used by laypeople, to refer to mental conditions.
This term is widely used, but has no precise definition. In fact, many mental health professionals feel the implied distinction between mental and physical disorders oversimplifies the reality. There is considerable research into the physical aspects of mental disorders and, alternatively, the mental aspects of physical disorders. Mental disorder has been defined as a behavioral or psychological syndrome that is associated with distress or disability (ability to function normally in activities of daily living) or with an increased risk of pain, disability, loss of freedom, or death. The classification of the person (schizophrenic, bulimic, alcoholic) with the disorder is common in everyday discourse, but professionals stress that it is more accurate to classify the disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bulimia, alcoholism) rather than the individual who has it. In addition, classification of a mental disorder does not imply that the condition does not have physical and/or biological components.