Laing's second book,

(Laing, 1961) was described as a sequel to

. But

focuses on “internal” developments, or the inner cleavages that accompany schizoid and psychotic behavior. By contrast,

focuses on environmental conditions and patterns of communication that engender this kind of inner turmoil and confusion in both neurotic and psychotic patients. Another notable difference between Laing's first and second books is that in

, Laing uses the term “ontological security” to describe what most of his contemporaries called “normality”. Though he may not have realized or intended it, perhaps, the fact remains that Laing's first account of psychological normality is prescriptive, because it posits the…

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Citation: Burston, Daniel, Gavin Miller. "Self and Others". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 August 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16853, accessed 22 November 2024.]