Unit 1 History of Madness

Pascal: “ men are so necessarily mad , that

not to be mad would amount to another
form of madness”
 Ancient beliefs
• There is evidence from Neolithic times of the
practice of trepanation cutting large holes into
the skull), possibly as an attempt to cure
ailments which may have included mental
disorders.
• Philosophical interest in the mind and behavior
dates back to the ancient civilizations of Egypt,
Greece, China and India.
• Fifth century Greek physician Hippocrates
was one of the first to reject the belief that
psychopathology was a result of
possession. Instead he believed that
psychopathologies were a form of brain
disease.
• Hippocrates recognised three types of
‘brain disease’; mania, melancholia and
phrenitis.
• Along with physical ailments, he believed
that psychopathologies were caused by an
imbalance of four bodily fluids that
maintained good health; blood, black bile,
yellow bile and phlegm.
• Although his theory was a far cry from the
scientific classification system used in
psychology and psychiatry today, he was
one of the first to believe that it was
something wrong with the physical body
that caused psychopathology.
• Further, he left records of symptoms
describing illnesses that are recognised
today as epilepsy, alcoholic delusion,
stroke and paranoia.
 The Middle Ages

• Split between reason and unreason. Two

distinct entities were created. Madness
was the voice of unreason.
• The birth of the asylum
• Madness on the fringes of society.
• Mental illness a cause for persecution.
• ‘Stultifera Navis’- the ship of fools.
• Quarantining the insane.
• Treatment was harsh and inhumane.
• Psychopathology affected many lives
throughout history. Until the end of the
dark ages Psychopathologies were
thought to be caused by supernatural
forces
 Enlightenment Era
• Madness was increasingly seen as an organic
physical phenomenon, no longer involving the
soul or moral responsibility. The mentally ill were
typically viewed as insensitive wild animals.
Harsh treatment and restraint in chains was seen
as therapeutic, helping suppress the animal
passions.
• Towards the end of the 18th century the moral
treatment movement developed, that
implemented more humane, psychosocial and
personalized approaches.
• Notable figures included the medic Vincenzo
Chiarugi (Italy) , the ex-patient
superintendentpussin and psychologically
inclined medic Phillipe Pinel in revolutionary
France,the Quakers in England led by William
Tuke and Dorothea Dix in United states.
• Torture was no longer thought to be
necessary. Humane treatment was advocated.
• Mental illness was no longer thought to be sent
from God. Newer explanations came up.
• Mental illness was being seen from the
medical perspective.
• However the abuse did not stop
institutionalization continued.
 20th century
• Rise of psychiatry and psychotherapy.
• A deeper understanding of the mind
through psychoanalysis and biology.
• Institutionalization continues.
• Different schools of thought emerge.
• Psychology emerges as a separate
discipline.
• Pathology was located in the brain.
• Genetic connections were explored as well.
• Mesmerism was used which later became
hypnosis which later became free
association.
• With psychoanalysis came the talking cure
mind was explored.
• Structuralism attempted to quantify
psychological phenomena. A research
tradition was born.
• Behaviorism negated the role of inner
states pathology was observable and
learnt and therefore could be unlearnt.
• Cognitive psychologists took this further
and also attempted to study behaviour but
keeping in mind the mind.
• Biological schools go deeper in the human
body and locate pathology with the
individual- brain and genes.
• In the 1960’s the anti psychiatry
movement begins. ( Foucault, Szasz,
Laing, Basaglia and Cooper) It challenges
psychiatry on the following grounds.
• Institutionalization
• Diagnostic categories.
• Abuse of patients.
• And other oppressive practices.
 Madness in India.
• Ancient philosophy looked at the mind and body
as one entity. A healthy body ensured a healthy
mind. Cures were mainly religious.
• Under colonial rule madness was tied to ideas of
colonial power. Phenomena that wasn't
understood were considered madness. The
ruling classes used the asylum for their own
advantage.
• Birth of the psychology department in Calcuttta
opened up a new psychology that took into
account the Indian experience.
• However institutionalization remains a
problem today.
• Abuse of ‘mad people’ remains rampant.
•
• Question 1 Who is the patron saint of
mental illness?
• Question 2 Who was the founder of
psychology in India?
• Question 3 Who is mesmerism named
after?
• Question 4 What branch of early genetics
had a disasterous effect on the population
across Europe?
• Question 5 What is the study of measuring
the skull and attributing mental qualities to
different physical attributes called?
• Question 6 what is a ‘mad pride’?
• Question 7 who wrote the Cannon of
Medicine?
• Question 8 Who is the Greek God of
healing?