Clever Grades

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HISTORICAL VIEWS OF MENTAL ILLNESS

Early Context and Supernatural Views

Introduction to Historical Views

Historical views of mental illness have evolved significantly over time, reflecting changes in social attitudes, scientific knowledge, and cultural beliefs. Early explanations for abnormal behaviour often involved supernatural or religious interpretations, where mental illness was perceived as the result of possession by evil spirits or divine punishment. For example, in ancient societies such as Mesopotamia and Greece, people believed that mental disorders were caused by demons or gods. Treatments were therefore ritualistic, including exorcisms or prayers.

The Shifting Timeline: Middle Ages to Enlightenment

Views gradually moved from supernatural beliefs toward rational, scientific explanations.

1

The Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages in Europe, the supernatural view persisted, and mental illness was often feared and stigmatized. Witch hunts and inhumane treatments such as confinement and torture were common.
2

The Renaissance and Enlightenment

Views began to shift gradually towards natural explanations, especially with the rise of scientific thinking. The Enlightenment emphasized reason and led to more humane treatment approaches, including the establishment of asylums intended to care for rather than punish the mentally ill.

Modern Advances (19th & 20th C.)

The 19th and 20th centuries saw major advances in psychiatry and psychology.

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Medicalization

Mental illness came to be seen increasingly as a medical condition, with biological and psychological origins.
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New Theories

The emergence of the medical model, psychoanalysis, and behaviourism all contributed to developing distinct theories about the causes and treatments of mental disorders.

Defining Abnormality: The Criteria

Abnormality is usually defined with reference to these complex criteria:

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Statistical Rarity

Behaviours that are uncommon in the population. (Limitation: some rare behaviours may not be abnormal, like high intelligence).
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Deviation from Norms

Behaviours that violate societal expectations.
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Failure to Function

Inability to cope with daily life.
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Personal Distress

The subjective feeling of suffering.

Classification Systems (DSM & ICD)

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The ProsThese classification systems (DSM, ICD) allow professionals to diagnose and communicate about disorders in a standardized way.
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The ConsChallenges include overlap between disorders, cultural bias in criteria, and the risk of medicalizing normal variations in behaviour.

Key Research: Rosenhan (1973)

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On Being Sane in Insane Places: Rosenhan and seven pseudopatients feigned auditory hallucinations to gain admission to psychiatric hospitals. Despite acting normally post-admission, all but one were diagnosed with schizophrenia and were treated as mentally ill for extended periods (average of 19 days).

Rosenhan: Key Implications

The research famously questioned the validity and reliability of psychiatric diagnosis.

1

Diagnostic Validity

Psychiatric staff were unable to distinguish sane individuals from genuinely mentally ill patients.
2

Institutional Bias

Behaviours that would normally be seen as reasonable were reinterpreted as symptoms of illness (e.g., note-taking was considered pathological).
3

Power of Labels

Once labelled "schizophrenic," normal behaviours were viewed through a pathological lens.

Application: Characteristics of Disorders

Understanding these characteristics helps in differentiating disorders and tailoring treatment approaches.

Type Core Description Key Example
Affective Disturbance in mood Persistent sadness, loss of interest (anhedonia), or mania (elevated mood).
Psychotic Loss of contact with reality Hallucinations (often auditory), delusions, disorganized speech.
Anxiety Excessive fear or worry Persistent excessive worry, phobias, recurrent panic attacks (heart rate, sweating).

Methodological Issues and Debates

Summary of key debates that impact the study of abnormal psychology.

ID Issue Focus View 1 View 2 Context Relevance Debate
01 N/N Origin Supernatural Biological Historical Integration Modern view
02 R/H Explanations Holistic Reductionist Medical Model Scope Biological vs Social
03 Ethics Research Deception Consent Rosenhan Patient Harm Usefulness
04 Validity Diagnosis DSM ICD Ethnocentrism Reliability Classification
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History and Concepts of Mental Illness
Question
Primary Explanation in Ancient Societies

What was the primary explanation for mental illness in ancient societies like Mesopotamia and Greece?

Answer
Explanation

Supernatural causes such as possession by demons or gods.

Question
Treatment in the Middle Ages

How were mentally ill individuals typically treated in the Middle Ages?

Answer
Treatment

With fear, stigma, confinement, torture, and witch hunts.

Question
Shift During Renaissance and Enlightenment

What shift in thinking about mental illness began during the Renaissance and Enlightenment?

Answer
Shift

A move toward natural explanations and more humane treatment with the rise of scientific thinking.

Question
19th and 20th Century Understanding

Which centuries saw mental illness increasingly understood as a medical condition?

Answer
Centuries

The 19th and 20th centuries.

Question
Main Classification Systems

Name two main classification systems used to categorize mental disorders.

Answer
Systems

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Question
Rosenhan’s 1973 Study

What was the main conclusion of Rosenhan’s 1973 study?

Answer
Conclusion

Psychiatric staff could not reliably distinguish sane from insane, questioning diagnostic validity.

Question
Symptoms of Affective Disorders

What are key symptoms of affective disorders?

Answer
Symptoms

Persistent sadness, mood disturbances, and changes in appetite or sleep.

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Characteristics of Psychotic Disorders

What characterizes psychotic disorders like schizophrenia?

Answer
Characteristics

Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and impaired cognition.

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Definition of Anxiety Disorders

How are anxiety disorders defined?

Answer
Definition

Excessive fear or worry, including phobias and panic attacks.

Question
Ethical Concerns in Rosenhan’s Study

What ethical concerns did Rosenhan’s study raise?

Answer
Ethical Issues

Issues about deception, informed consent, and potential harm in psychiatric research.

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🧠 Historical Views of Mental Illness Quiz

1. Which ancient explanation was commonly given for mental illness?

Ancient societies often attributed mental illness to supernatural causes like possession.

2. What significant change occurred in the treatment of mental illness during the Renaissance?

The Renaissance brought a gradual shift toward natural explanations and better treatment methods.

3. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is used to diagnose and classify mental disorders. (True or False)

DSM is one of the main classification tools in psychiatry.

4. Rosenhan’s 1973 study demonstrated that:

The study showed labelled patients’ normal actions were seen as symptoms.

5. Which symptom is most commonly linked to psychotic disorders?

Hallucinations are characteristic of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.

6. Which of the following is a limitation of defining abnormality by statistical rarity?

Rarity alone cannot determine abnormality since rare traits can be desirable.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • Psychology
  • A Level
  • Mental Health
  • OCR