To what extent do modern attitudes to mental illness reflect historical perspectives on an abnormal behaviour?

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To what extent do modern attitudes to mental illness reflect historical perspectives on an abnormal behaviour?

                                                        By Nikita Hunter

Throughout history, the search for combating and controlling abnormal behaviour has been ongoing.  There have been three main approaches which have competed for dominance and tried to explain the reasoning behind abnormal behaviour. They are the biological, psychological and paranormal (Hansell and Darmour, 2005).  According to recent research, a mental illness or abnormal behaviour is perceived as the impaired functioning in terms of expected performance in a particular context over a period of time (i.e., maladaptiveness and suffering).  Nevertheless this wasn’t always the case, throughout the history of mental illnesses, those individuals who were perceived as ‘abnormal’ were simply just abandoned, tortured or even killed.  Physician’s through-out history always thought that abnormal behaviour needed a special explanation rather than just being accepted.  Historical views towards mental illnesses have been characterised from the start of human civilisation in ancient times.  In other words abnormal behaviour has progressively moved through a transition, being attributed to various causes, some of which were irrational by today’s standards, to a modern explanation in terms of various types of mental illness. Some of our modern attitudes towards mental illness, still however show a lack of understanding and sometimes a shame associated with being mentally abnormal. This reminds us that even though we have come a long way, many times abnormal behaviour is still not openly discussed and sometimes our solution still involves institutionalising people who we have decided cannot operate as normal members of society

Bromberg (1975) suggests that the work of psychotherapists have no clear cut beginnings and would seem to have been a part of a man’s world, in various forms, from the earliest of times, perhaps a hundred thousand years ago.  One of the first explanations of abnormal behaviour derives from the paranormal approach.  The paranormal approach thought that abnormal behaviour could be explained through the acts of evil spirits and demons. The method of treatment advocated to the processed was known as trepanation; trepanation is the drilling of a hole into a person’s skull to release evil spirits or simple used as a means of torturing.  Bromberg (1975) considers that the belief in magical and supernatural explanations for ‘abnormal’ behavior goes as far back to the very beginning of human civilization. It was only really at its prominent when there was an up rise in Christianity at the start of the fifth century were heresy and punishment were very common.  

Throughout the late mid-evil period (fifth to tenth century), a mental illness was believed to be the act of supernatural forces. In a small number of cases the mentally ill individuals were treated adequately concealed in monasteries and at shrines, whereas in the majority of cases treatment and living standards were brutal and inhumane. Treatment was usually conducted by religious leaders, through the acts of exorcism rituals which were used to cast away evil sprits from the bodies of the processed. Being mentally illness was deemed as a punishment for sin an act of wrongdoing in the mid-evil century.  Not only were people who were mentally ill perceived as outcasts but were referred to as victims of demonic procession.  

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Spiritual possession is a part of today's society and will most likely continue to interest and fascinate future generations.  In Africa cultures in particular there is still what is known as ‘healers’ commonly referred to as ‘traditional doctors’ and very important throughout African cultures.  African cultures still believe that good health is maintained through appropriate behaviour, based on values norms and traditions of that culture.  Illness to an African culture is based upon inappropriate behaviour, which is thought to be the doing of ‘evil sprits’.  Diviners primarily deal with these ‘evil sprits’ through direct intervention of the spiritual world. ...

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