Historical Background

Historical Background

Supernatural Approach

• Abnormal behavior can be explained by the operation of supernatural and magical forces such as evil spirits or the devil.
• Exorcism i.e. removing the evil that resides in the individual through countermagic and prayer, is still commonly used.
• In many societies, the shaman, or medicine man (ojha) is a person who is believed to have a contact with supernatural forces and is the medium through which spirits communicate with human beings. Through the shaman, and afflicted person can learn which spirts are responsible for his/her problems and what needs to be done to appease them.

1. Biological or Organic Approach

• Individuals behave strangely because their bodies and their brains are not working properly is another belief in the history of abnormal psychology.
• Body and brain processes have been linked to many types of maladaptive behaviors.
• For certain types of disorders, correcting these defective biological processes results in improved functioning.

Psychological Approach

• According to this, psychological problems are caused by inadequacies in the way an individual thinks, feels or perceives the world.

Organismic Approach

• Hippocrates, Socrates and in particular Plato (philosopher-physicians of ancient Greece) viewed disturbed behavior as arising out of conflicts between emotion and reason.

Based on Four Humours

• Galen elaborated on the role of four humors in personal character and temperament.
• According to him, the material world was made up of four elements (earth, air, fire and water) which combine to form four essential body fluids (blood, black bile, yellow bile and phlegm).
• Each of these fluids was seen to be responsible for a different temperament.
• Imbalances among the humours were believed to cause various disorders.

In Middle Ages

• Demonology and superstition gained renewed importance in the explanation of abnormal behavior.
• Demonology related to a belief that people with mental problems were evil and there are numerous instances of ‘witch-hunt’ during this period.
• During the early Middle Ages, the Christian spirit of charity prevailed and St. Augustine wrote extensively about feelings, mental anguish and conflict.
• This laid the groundwork for modern psychodynamic theories of abnormal behavior.

Renaissance Period

• This period was marked by increased humanism and curiosity about behavior.
• Johann Weyer emphasized psychological conflict and disturbed interpersonal relationships as causes of psychological disorders.
• He also insisted that ‘witches’ were mentally disturbed and required medical, not theological, treatment.

Age of Reason and Enlightenment (17^th & 18^th century)

• The scientific method replaced faith and dogma as ways of understanding abnormal behavior.
• The growth of a scientific attitude towards psychological disorders in the 18^th century contributed to the Reform Movement and to increased compassion for people who suffered from these disorders.
• Reforms of asylums were initiated both in Europe and America.
• One aspect of the reform movement was the new inclination for deinstitutionalization which placed emphasis on providing community care for recovered mentally ill individuals.

Interactional or Bio-Psycho-Social Approach

• From this perspective, all three factors (biological, psychological and social) play important role in influencing the expression and outcome of psychological disorders.