ANCIENT VIEWS OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
Abnormal behavior in ancient times was attributed to demon or
angelic possessions. claiming that the individual who was showing abnormal
behavior was not himself but had some other entity housed in his/her body. The
form of possessions that is whether the spirit is good or evil would have
depended on the affected individuals symptoms. but generally any sort of
abnormal behavior was considered to be the work of an evil spirit or a very
angry god or seen as a form of punishment for the individual’s sins. This sort
of belief was not restricted to any one culture but was seen in many cultures
such as the Chinese, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Greeks.
Since the behavior was attributed to the supernatural even the
cures employed were of the supernatural or magical kind. People
used many different methods to help individuals to remove the “entities'' that
were plaguing them. The most commonly used method to help get rid of a possession
of any kind was exorcism like in the exorcism of Emily rose. Exorcism is a very
ancient practice in which the demon or any entity that is possessing the body
is told to move out of the possessed body in the name of a higher power usually
god. It is also removed by using complex rituals .exorcism where practiced by
many religions like Christianity, Hinduism Islam and many other religions and
religious sects around the world(Butcher ,2007).
It is considered or more accurately was considered
to be the best method of removing a demon form an individual’s body clearing
the individual of possession.
Another
method frequently seen was the process of drilling a hole into the possessed
persons head so that the demon in him/her can leave the individual. This was
done in the hope that the person could return to normal once the demon was let
out. This process was called trepanation someone like the tribes or communities
witch doctor or herbalist would make a hole in the skull of the patient
suffering from mental disorder. The individual would not survive this procedure
but the justification was that at least the person did not die with a demon was
residing in their body. Even if the individual would have survived it would
have been very unlikely that they would have led a normal life (Butcher,
2007). As the damage causes to their brain would have left
them physically and mentally impaired.
These
types of practices started to change during the Greeks rule. Before people with
mental disorders were outcaste in Greek society as like the rest of the world
even in Greece mental illness was seen as divine punishment. And seen as proof
that the individual was guilty of some sort of sin both of the minor and major variety
(Tasman, 1992). During this time temple priest prayed for the individuals
asking god to cure him/her. Hoping that their prayers would remove the taint of
evil from the affected individual (Millon, 2004).
This
changed to an extent when scientific thought was being encouraged during the height
of Greek rule. The major turning point was the Greek temples of healing that brought
about a revolution in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. One of
the most influential Greek thinkers who changed how mental illness was perceived
was Hippocrates.
Hippocrates
is most often regarded as the father of medicine. He revolutionized how mental
illness was looked at as he completely disregarded the theory that mental
disorders or illness was caused due to supernatural intervention. And that
mental disorders were like other disorders and that they were caused by natural
causes and not supernatural causes.
Despite
have practices such as incantations, rituals and magic to treat mental illness
or unknown diseases. In terms of advancement the Egyptians were the most
advanced and the most forward thinking with regard to the treatment of mental illness.
The Egyptians practiced various methods of therapy we employ today in the
treatment of mental illness such as dance therapy and music therapy. They used
these therapies to bring about a sense of normality in the affected individuals
life and help reduce the severity of the individual’s symptoms.
The
Egyptians were medically advanced; they possessed more knowledge about the
human body than anyone else during that age. They were said to be performing
surgeries as will which indicates that they had a firm understanding of the
human anatomy. They were most likely the first people to physically examine the
human brain and see its structure.
In
the roman era the roman physician used a wide range of therapy measures .Such as maintaining a healthy
diet, giving massages so that the patients could relax, hydrotherapy to shock
them out of their illness, gymnastics, and education to improve their
concentration and bring them to reality, as well as some less desirable
practices such as bleeding, purging, and mechanical restraints. The overall objectives
of the roman physician were to make their patients comfortable.
During
the roman era a Greek physician residing in Rome Galen made advances in
understanding the human body. He didn't discover many new treatments or improve
the understanding of the human anatomy but expanded the understanding of Hippocrates
work. The largest contribution of Galen was that he incorporated anatomical
knowledge he also emphasized knowing through observation and experimentation.
This concept would be lost until the mid 16th century. Galen
also introduced the concept of the four essential fluids of the human body that
is blood, phlegm, bile, and black bile according to this concept the
combinations of the four essential fluids in different proportions is the
reason that individuals have unique personalities.
It
took people a very long time to realize that mental disorders were caused by
natural cause and not due to any sort of supernatural intervention. After years
more like centuries of subjecting mentally ill individuals to alternative
harmful and all together ineffective treatments. People that are the doctors and
physicians started employing treatments that actually had a positive impact on
the individual’s mental state. Even after understanding the nature of mental
illness and disorders the mental health field went through some harmful therapies
to treat the illness such as shock therapy.
Nowadays
mental illness and mental disorders are better understood, classified,
diagnosed and treated.
source: abnormal psychology 13 edition, by Carson, Butcher, Mineka & Hooley
Abnormal Psychology Over Time. London: Pearson Highered.
Abnormal Psychology Over Time. London: Pearson Highered.
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