Mary Annie 1114386

History of abnormal behavior

The Major Psychological Disorders have been existed in the earlier period in all cultures across all time periods. Supernatural—abnormal actions caused by forces outside the natural world Biological—abnormal behavior caused by individual biological factors Psychological—abnormal behavior caused by environmental forces. And the Causes and Treatment of Abnormal Behavior Varied Widely Across cultures across time periods Depending on established paradigms or world views Three Dominant Traditions Include Supernatural, Biological, and Psychological.

The past abnormal behavior and supernatural traditions .Deviant Behavior as a Battle of “superior “or good vs. “wicked “or evil Causes included demonic possession, witchcraft, sorcery, Mass hysteria Treatments included exorcism, torture, beatings, and crude surgeries Other Worldly Causes of Deviant Behavior Movement of the moon and stars Middle Ages both “outer force” views were popular Few thought of abnormality as a physical disease. (Historical Views of Abnormal Behavior)

Ancient theories

Ancient cultures, such as ancient Egypt, assumed in spirits who controlled much of the environment, including aspects of a person’s behavior. Treatment for this was Trephining drilling hole in skull to release evil spirits. Agents outside our bodies and environment influence our behavior, thinking, and emotions. Explanation of human behavior and its dysfunction that posits important roles for spirits, demons, grace, sin, and so on. And only certain people could remove the problem. Early mental institutions were always a place of torture where the mentally disturbed were chained and abused.  Shamans originally treated the possessed. Priests assumed the role of exorcist. Many priests advocated gentle care.  Gods, demons, and magic are still afforded some consideration by certain cultural groups/subgroups (Robinson, 2011) (abnormal psych)

  Sometimes belief in the supernatural model leads to laws or other societal efforts to control abnormal behavior.  For instance, in the middle Ages a book called the "Witch Hammer" detailed how to identify and punish witches.  The Salem Witch trials are another tragic example of a misguided belief.  The judges of the witch trials were mostly intelligent and well intentioned.  Their goal was lofty, to protect their society from evil.  Sadly, they failed to realize that the evil inhabiting their town was not witches, but their own belief in the supernatural model.

History is replete with examples of people being killed or otherwise treated cruelly, because their neighbors believed in the supernatural origins of abnormal behavior.  It is interesting to note the cognitive inconsistencies that characterize the response of many modern societies to the supernatural model.  With one breath they laugh at the Salem Witch trials as an expression of ancient ignorance and with the next breath they affirm their belief in the existence of Satan.

In the 1990s, a man cut off his hand at ASU, because he believed it was possessed by the Devil.  So much for harmless superstitions.  In addition to the cruelty arising from belief in demon possession, the supernatural model had another terrible impact.  Because people believed that demonic possession explained the odd behavior that they observed, they never looked for the actual causes of abnormal behavior.  One wonders how much more advanced we would now be in the treatment of persons with abnormal behaviors if the supernatural model had never obscured our vision. (Beck, 2002)

 Early philosophical and medical concepts 

Hippocrates (~400 BC) Mental disorders due to natural causes classified varieties of mental disorders Mania Mental illness marked by periods of great excitement, euphoria, delusions, and over activity. Melancholia a mental condition marked by persistent depression and ill-founded fears. Phrenitis inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus Treatments designed by classifications Many ideas seem strange today e.g., Hysteria caused by a wandering uterus, Four bodily fluids out of balance similar current, simplistic hypotheses are evident today ("chemical imbalance") Plato and Aristotle Criminal acts examined by Plato Suggested humane treatment addressed mental illness as a legal defense Plato said behavior was motivated by needs.   Aristotle described contents of consciousness People avoid pain & seek pleasure Followed Hippocrates Later Greek and Roman thought Greek physician Galen studied nervous system.  Roman culture made post-mortems possible.

Mass hysteria is a feeling of fear to the point that they begin to experience the occurrence physical symptoms. Phenomenon in which people in groups share the same fear, delusion, abnormal behavior, or even physical symptoms as a result of psychological processes and suggestion. Also known as Saint Vitus's dance and tarantism These symptoms often imitate the well recognized state of hysteria, but are characterized by their rapid reduction and frequent dependence on interest in the environment of panic. This most commonly occurs in youth among the preadolescents and adolescents. These disorders are attributed to disease or biochemical imbalances. Treatments typically emphasize physical care and the search for medical cures, especially drugs. (abnormal psych)

Middle Ages through the Renaissance

Islamic countries continued scientific Greek medicine. Avicenna wrote the Canon of Medicine European's grew religious/superstitious Mental disorders were prevalent in this period Influence of the Roman Catholic Church Fall of the Roman Empire led to rise of supernatural explanations once more supernatural explanations tended to flourish in certain political and religious environments. Abnormal behavior work of the devil Witchcraft evolved as a popular theory to explain abnormal behavior with 100, 000 women slay in Europe as a result of these accusations. Exorcism Attacks on Satan's Pride (justifying abuse) Malleus Malefecarium epitomized witch hunting approach some exorcisms continue in contemporary practice. Sin was seen in only a minority of cases as a cause Mass Madness Tarantism episodes in Italy Lycanthropy affected many rural residents Oppression, disease, famine mass hysteria 
Exorcism Attacks on Satan's Pride (justifying abuse) Malleus Malefecarium epitomized witch hunting approach .  Some exorcisms continue in contemporary practice Witchcraft and mental illness: fact or fiction? Witch hunts the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries Controversies concerning extent of the witch-hunt’s. Schoeneman’s denies mental disorders were widely viewed as witchcraft .The historical record isn't clear. Exorcisms were brought back to the light. Priests would, chant or pray to make the evil spirits run away. If the exorcism did not work, torture was performed. When the Middle Ages came to a close, demonology and its methods were lost from view. Medical theories of abnormality took religion's place to help the mentally ill. Lunacy trials were held in England to determine the sanity of individuals. Sometimes a hit of the head or fear of one’s father was held responsible for an individual's unusual behavior. During these years, many individuals with psychological disturbances received treatment in medical hospitals in England. (abnormal psych)

abnormal psych. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://abnormalpsych.wikispaces.com/history

Beck, H. P. ( 2002, January 1,). general psychology. Retrieved from supernatural model: URL: http://www1.appstate.edu/~beckhp/

Historical Views of Abnormal Behavior. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/~kopeikin/103lec2.htm

Robinson, B. (2011). slideshare. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/innkblotz/defining-abnormality-1997542?from_search=7