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UW-Milwaukee PSYCH 412 - HIstorical Perspectives on Psychopathology
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PSYCH 412 1ST Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Current Lecture I. Overview of PerspectivesII. Ancient Civilization (pre 5th Century BC)III. Greco-Roman Era (5 BC to 5 AD)IV. Middle Ages and Renaissance (5th – 17th Centuries)V. Age of Enlightenment (18th – 19th Centuries)VI. Modern Thought (20th – 21st Century)Current LectureI. Overview of Perspectivesa. There are three different types of perspectives that have commonly been used toexplain mental illnesses and problems1. Supernaturalistica. This is where supernatural explanations have been used to explain mental problems for people. Some supernatural explanations that were common were things such as possession and witchcraf2. Naturalistica. This perspective suggests that the reasons behind mental illnesses and problems are natural and physical problems and that these physical problems are what is leading to themental problems.3. Psychoneurotica. This perspective suggests that mental problems and illnesses are more psychological. Such as someone experiencing a mental problem because of inner turmoil like trauma or stress.II. Ancient Civilizations (pre 5th Century BC)a. During this era mental illnesses were explained by supernaturalistic reasons. Demonology, which is the idea that people are possessed by demons or even the devil himself, became a very popular thing and to people during this era, this wasthe most logical explanation for mental illnesses.b. With Demonology a common medical practice called trephining was used. This was a medical practice during which, a doctor would use a sharp tool such as a These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.knife or some other type of blade to make a hole in the skull. This hole was thought to provide a way for the spirit or demon, which was inside this person causing their mental illness, to escape in turn curing the person of their illness. It is thought that many people who received this treatment did not live long afer or were severely damaged due to this medieval procedure.c. Another common practice during this era was exorcisms. Because mental illnesses were thought to be caused by possession an exorcism was thought to cure the mentally ill. During exorcisms a shaman or priest would perform rituals to get the evil spirits out of the possessed (mentally ill) person and cure them. If these rituals did not work, the shaman would then feed the said person poisons, starve them, or torture them in many ways in an attempt to make their body an unbearable place for the demon to live, hoping that this demon or spirit would leave their body and the person would be cured.III. Greco-Roman Era (5 BC – 5 AD)a. During this era the perspective of rationalism came about. This is the notion that human reason can be used to understand nature. Along with rationalism, psychopathology became a more commonly used explanation for mental illnesses than supernatural explanations. So doctors and others because to practice observation in order to rationalize the psychological disorders.b. Along with rationalism, motivation was also invented during this era along with intelligence. c. Hippocrates the “father of medicine”i. Hippocrates strongly emphasized that there were natural causes for all disorders and did not accept the idea of supernatural causes. He said thatour brain is the central point of our intellectual beings and that mental illness was caused by diseases which affected the brain.ii. Hippocrates also invented specific diagnostic labels which are still used today.1. Mania – which is abnormal excitement that would not be expressed by someone without a mental illness, a common mental illness that many think about when mania is mentioned is manic depressive disorder, or bipolar disorder. The period where the person experiences mania is known as their manic or high period.2. Melancholia – this is abnormal dejection, or depression. This would be seen in someone who has clinical depression, which wasnot officially recognized in this era.3. Phrenitis – it is not known as to what exactly Hippocrates meant completely by this term but the literal translation is “Brain Fever.”So it is thought that this term was used to describe people with hysteria like symptoms pertaining to their mental illnesses.iii. Not only did Hippocrates invent these specific diagnostic labels but he also made the first organic theory of behavior as related to biological behavior.1. This theory stated that if the fluids of someone’s body were out ofbalance this would cause mental illnesses. The list of this theory went on such as:a. Black bile = melancholia (depression)b. Yellow bile = Irritable and aggressivec. Phlegm = indifferent and sluggishd. Blood in spit = rapid mood shifsd. Platoi. Plato is a Greek philosopher who also had theories about human behaviors. He theorizes that our behavior as adults is shaped by what happens to us when we are children. This includes our education, family, trauma, experiences, cultural factors, and negative experiences along with negative learning experiences.e. Alexander the Greati. Alexander the Great is mentioned in this lecture because he was the first person to establish public mental institutions. Within these mental institutions he emphasized that the patients receive good nutrition, exercise, religion, and have a good wholesome life within these institutions in order to help them better themselves.f. Galeni. Galen is a Roman physician who developed Hippocrates theories more and also was interested in and examined the human nervous system. Galen thought that abnormality was related to a person’s blood and arteries. This theory led to the practice of bloodletting. Doctors and physicians would practice bloodletting in order to restore balance to the body because it was thought that having too much blood would cause extreme pressure and lead to symptoms that are now recognized and mental illnesses. Along with bloodletting this also led to the practice of leeching, instead of a doctor or physician making a small incision in a vein and draining blood they would attach leeches and let them suck blood out of the said person for a certain amount of time. Both of these practices persisted into the 19th century.ii. Galen also believed that astrology interacted with biological factors and cause abnormal behaviors. This theory led to the idea that a full moon caused


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UW-Milwaukee PSYCH 412 - HIstorical Perspectives on Psychopathology

Type: Lecture Note
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