David Keirsey - ADHD Controversy

ADHD Controversy

As a clinical psychologist, Keirsey regards the prescription of psychotropic stimulants as a treatment of ADHD, where activity or temperament of schoolchildren is considered disruptive to classroom proceedings, as not only unnecessary but harmful to these children. He is an ardent critic against what he sees as an "epidemic abuse of children", and claims to be successful in the management of such children by applying what he calls the "method of logical consequences".

Keirsey has asserted Attention Deficit Disorder was an altogether different matter, in that these children were inactive and paid no attention to the teacher's agenda, and that ADD was defined exclusively by stating what they do not do, and in no way defined their observable behavior. Thus, in his opinion, ADD was a misleading label assigned to children who ignored the teacher while bothering nobody, unlike the children who are actually disruptive. Keirsey refers to the current practice of medicating children with ADHD "The Great ADD Hoax". His main claim is that children labeled ADHD or ADD, typically, have an SP, or Artisan, temperament (concrete in thought and speech/utilitarian in implementing goals).