History of Abnormal Psychology

Historical Views of Abnormal

Studying the history of abnormaltiy and abnormal psychology is important as it allows us to understand what has happened in the past, which in turn allows us to understand the present states of abnormal psychology. The search for explanations of the historical roots of abnormal behavior dates back to hunter gatherer societies. During the initial days of human civilization understanding of abnormal behavior was unusual, bizarre and horrific. Religious views of the times have had a profound influence over how people view abnormal behavior.

Throughout history, human beings have used three different perspectives in understanding and even treating abnormal behavior i.e. organic, deviance-mystical and psychological perspectives. Organic perspective today doesn’t exist in the field of abnormal psychology but the remaining two dominate in the understanding of abnormal psychology. 

Mystical belief explains abnormality as result from the disapproval of the gods or the misbehavior of demons. In fact, abnormal behavior continues to be attributed to demons in some preliterate societies today. The primary type of treatment for demonic possession often includes counter magic and prayers often performed by folk healers and shaman. Mystical belief predominates in South Asian countries including Nepal. Swasti Santi, Graha Santi, Fukney are typical paradigms of Nepalese people who understand and treat their abnormal mysticism.  

Another perspective that explains abnormal behavior is organic deficit. Tiny holes were drilled into a person skull known as trephination. Some archaeological evidence has found trephination in skulls from prehistoric period. Trephination was done in a person skull who was behaving in what was considered an abnormal way. It was believed that it will let out evil spirits from the body. Neurosurgeons still use trepanation but not in treating abnormality. 

The psychological perspectives lead to the explanation of abnormality. Not just the explanation but also to its treatment.  Psychological perspectives is a scientific approach which suggests that abnormal behavior is related to disturbance in the way a person thinks or perceives the world and these disturbances are potentially modifiable.

Abnormality has a long past history, even though the history of psychology is itself very short. It’s believed that its historical roots can be tracked upon the starting of ancient human civilization. Historians have classified the history of abnormality in three different sequences i.e. ancient, biological and psychological and modern period. Though history of psychology follows definite order, explanation is scripts in a sequence and more details below.      

Good and Bad Sprits 

During early days human beings were religiously bound, their belief towards demons or gods were rooted significantly. Their conception towards gods and demons were invincible. They often attributed their or someone else’s behavior to a demon or god. In those early centuries the individuals who exhibited first-rate behavior, fine speech, mortal thinking and perception were considered for being religious or mystical significant persons and carrying supernatural power.

They were perceived as an agent of gods and were treated with dignity, respect. Some of them were priests, bishops, pope, pundits, hajji and others. While individuals who exhibit abnormal or awful behavior were crushed for having evil spirits.  They believed that their souls possessed demons, demons and were not accepted by societies. Societies used to be alert, considering them as agents of demons.

The primary treatment to them used to be exorcism which was performed by religious leaders. They were given to eat or taste the heterogeneous mixture of sheep’s dung, magical prayers chant were performed to let go the evil spirits from the soul. Chinese, Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks and Rome were major countries to practice inhumane treatment to mentally disturbed people. 

Early Medical Concepts

In around 400 BC, Greek physician Hippocrates (460–370 BC) attempted to explain abnormality in terms of medicine. He rejected supernatural explanations of mental disorders. He hypothesized that mental illnesses are similar to other illnesses which have natural causes and can be treated accordingly. He believed that imbalance of four essential fluids or humors (blood, phlegm, bile, and black bile) result in mental and physical illness.

For example, an individual who has a problem with mood, Hippocrates would diagnose the individual as having too much blood and thus blood-letting would be the necessary treatment. He also classified all mental disorders into three general categories—mania, melancholia, and Phrenitis (brain fever). However some evidence reports that he classified the disorder into four categories including epilepsy. 

He emphasizing the importance of environment patients was separated from family member, they were encouraged to have a balance diet t “healthy mind in a healthy body”, Though Hippocrates diverted mental disorder from paranormal to medical account, and he was mocked and criticized seriously for working against a good will because religious beliefs practices were deeply rooted in ancient time. His work was continued by some Greek and Roman physicians.

Later Greek and Roman thought

One of the most influential physicians after Hippocrates was Galen (A.D 130-200) a Greek Physician. Galen had great expertise and contribution in anatomy of the nervous system, surgery, pharmacology, and therapeutic methods. Some of the remarkable therapeutic interventions he practices were warm baths and massages dances, walks in the temple/gardens/ river. He also identified head injuries, fears, and menstrual changes were caused of abnormality.  

With the death of Hippocrates (Father of Modern Medicine) and Galen (A.D 200), early his medical ideas were also dead but in the welter of popular superstition.

Socrates, Palto and Aristole are considered to be pioneer philosophers who were born and practice their philosophy in    Greek. Though being philosophers they had much contributed to the field of psychology. Their work realized that psychology should be separated then philosophy. 

Socrates (470-399 B.C) and philosopher Plato (429–347 B.C) held psychological view in explaining behavior. They argue that brain is seat of abnormality and more on the soul. Abnormality originates when there is problem in the part of the soul that controls reason. (Raskin, 2019). They thought disturbed behavior arises from internal conflict between reason and emotion cause and cause deviant behaviors.  

Plato explanation of abnormality was through the study of mentally ill person who had committed a criminal crime.  He analyzed that they were not responsible for their acts and should not receive punishment in the same way as normal persons. He also made provision for mental cases to be cared for in the community. 

Middle Ages 

A medieval age is considered as a heterogeneous age. Middle East Asian countries followed the earlier work of Green and Roman philosopher whereas situation over Europe was deteriorated. 

Asian country Baghdad (Iraq) established the first mental hospital in A. D 792, Damascus and Aleppo (Syria). All were the pleasant place for treating mentally ill people. Ibn Sina also known as Avicenna (980 A.D) was prominent figures of Islamic country for his work as physician.

However in Europe middle age considered as a dark age in history of abnormal psychology. It’s because earlier progress on explaining and treating abnormality was left out and limited and believes in ritual or superstition supernatural power rises.   

Church in Rome was a powerful place in dealing abnormal behaviors; they played both positive and negative roles in treatment of mentally ill people. Behavior was distinguished between good and evil. Trouble of societies such as wars, outbreak of health emergency, disaster was considered as a crush of evil.

The trigger to such inhumane approach to mentally disturbed people was due to the book The Malleus Maleficarum, 1486 (Witches of Hammer) which mention mentally ill people as agent of diabolic force; and encourage treatment to be prayer or chant by priest, holy water, the touching of holy book, visits to holy places, and some forms of exorcism. Malleus Maleficarum documented beliefs about witches and ways to identify witches, convict them of the charge of witchcraft, and execute them for the crime. 

The Renaissance and established of early asylums (15^th and 16^th century )

During late 14^th and early 15^th centuries inflectional of Malleus Maleficarum was still existed. Despite the strong influence of witches crafts, diabolic agents or supernatural as a whole, scientific concern regard to abnormality reemerged. Paracelsus (1490–1541) was early Swiss physician who rejected demonology. He consider role of moon that exercise a supernatural influence in a human. Thus lunatic world was derived.  

A German physician Johann Weyer (1515–1588), advocate mentally ill people is not an agent of agents but they are the victims of disturbance in interpersonal relationship and psychological conflicts. Weyer in today is honors for expressing his idea when the world was surrounded by theologically belief.  Church of german and some part of Europe were critics towards his philosophy. 

Since 16^th century numbers of asylums (also known as madhouse) were established throughout the Europe and East Asia for caring and treating mentally ill people who societies couldn’t take care of. But they were not the pleasant home for disturbed people; they were chained in dark rooms for several days or even the years. It was madhouse rather than mental hospital. They were cruelly perceived.  

Humanitarian Reform

Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) of France is interchangeably known as a leader of humanitarian movement in field of psychology of abnormal. Pinel was in charge of hospital named La Bicetre, Paris. Against the spirit and caution of death from French government if failed; Pinel removes the chain from mentally ill people, provided sunny room, allowed walking nearby garden and rivers. He treated the patient’s perceiving as a mentally disturbed individuals rather than criminals or mad. His experiment was enormously success in treating mentally ill people.  

Courtesy of his treatment model, many newly hospital and existing hospital started to provide humanitarian atmosphere during treatment.   In England William Tuke (1732-1822) also established the York Retreat, a pleasant county house where mental patients. Whereas in US Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) also encouraged more humane treatment of the mentally ill.

Similarly Dorothea Dix (1808-1887) was American school teacher established 32 mental hospitals, and two large institutions in Canada. She also reformed asylum in Scotland and many other countries. She is known for her patient advocacy in fighting to improve the conditions of jails and mental asylums in North America and Europe.

20^th Century and later

20^th Centuries is brightest period in history of abnormality. Number of hospital with human treatment was on hike and scientific based knowledge in defining abnormality was proposed by so many psychologists. Rain of Psychology i.e. seven different perspectives from psychodynamic to evolutionary perspective were developed which define and propose treatment of abnormality accordingly. Establishment of APA, WHO gave birth to DSM and ICD helped in systematic study of mental disorder. Though conflict in early day role distribution of psychologist and psychiatric gave a new dimension in treatment of mentally ill people. Establishment of education sector also gave birth to psychologist who then worked in applied and basics field and expands the scope of psychology.  

Key Term

Abnormal – not normal

Psychology – science that study human behaviour

Asylums – Mad house

Deviance–mystical – belief in sprits

Trephination – early treatment procedure by making hole in head

Malleus Maleficarum – books about witches

Theologically – study of sprits