In this chapter, John Sadler argues that instrumentalist thinking has thoroughly invaded psychiatric practice and thereby transformed the field. He describes several ‘cultural artifacts’ such as diagnostic and treatment manuals to exemplify the ‘instrument metaphor’ that now defines psychiatric practice. The consequence of this trend in psychiatric practice is the ‘generic clinician’ who applies the same techniques as any other clinician and is readily interchangeable with other generic clinicians.

In this chapter, John Sadler argues that instrumentalist thinking has thoroughly invaded psychiatric practice and thereby transformed the field. He describes several ‘cultural artifacts’ such as diagnostic and treatment manuals to exemplify the ‘instrument metaphor’ that now defines psychiatric practice. The consequence of this trend in psychiatric practice is the ‘generic clinician’ who applies the same techniques as any other clinician and is readily interchangeable with other generic clinicians.