Preview

An Introduction to the History of Psychology

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1712 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
An Introduction to the History of Psychology
Ch. 15-16 Assignment: An introduction to the history of psychology, 6th ed. by Hergenhahn
By Richard Thripp for Prof. John Beltran, PSY 4604 sec. 0W58, Univ. of Central Fla., Sp. 2013
2013 April 11

Ch. 15: 1. What is mental illness? In your answer, include the criteria that have been used throughout history to define mental illness. Mental illness is a condition characterized by emotions, thoughts, or behavior that are substantially abnormal for a given time and place in history (p. 514). Historically, it has been broadly been defined by self-harm, unrealistic thoughts and perceptions (delusions, hallucinations, magical thinking, etc.), inappropriate emotions, and rapid shifts in moods or beliefs. All these criteria compare the subject to the “average” member of the community, which, right or wrong, continues to be the standard used to define mental illness (p. 487).

3. What, if anything, do all versions of psychotherapy have in common? Modern and ancient forms of psychotherapy all have a sufferer, a helper, and a ritual through which help is offered. The basic reasons for psychotherapy have always been diminishing anxiety, depression, and other distressing physiological states, changing undesirable behavioral patterns, and promoting effective functioning and positive personal growth. While all versions of psychotherapy would ideally help the sufferer, this is often not the case (p. 489).

4. Describe what therapy would be like if it were based on the psychological model of mental illness, on the supernatural model, and on the biological model. Treatments based on the psychological approach often involve the patient re-enacting traumatic experiences to achieve catharsis, offering emotional support, dream analysis, and behavioral guidance. In the 18th century, the belief in natural law prevailed, meaning that sinful actions lead to madness, disease, and poverty, but industrious actions lead to wealth, health, and prosperity. This belief shaped

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Nt1310 Unit 4

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages

    34. Write out each bolded sentence under “Understanding Mood Disorders” and give a brief explanation of each as needed to help you understand the bolded sentence.…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Also, mental illness could be defined as a group of disorders the affects the brain chemistry affecting the person cognitive functioning, feelings and behaving which is associated with distress or disability. It is not a part of a normal development or in a…

    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Human behavior is complex and extremely variable among people. Some conducts of acting in the world are exposed by the population on a regular basis and seem to be well adjusted for functioning well in certain situations. Over time, understanding of and explanations for psychological disorders have gone through several significant changes. The primary statement of the medical mode is that mental, like physical, illnesses are best diagnosis and treated as medical illnesses. Psychiatry is a division of medicine, so it is not a coincidence that terms such as illness, diagnosis, and therapy or treatment are used in the context of psychological disorders.…

    • 103 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Psy Matrix

    • 268 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Select three psychotherapy approaches to summarize. Include examples of the types of psychological disorders appropriate for each therapy.…

    • 268 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    | Psychodynamic Therapy seeks to bring unresolved past conflicts and unacceptable impulses from the unconscious into the conscious, where patients may deal with the problems more effectively (Feldman, 2010, p. 430).…

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Psychotherapy Matrix

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Select three psychotherapy approaches to summarize. Include examples of the types of psychological disorders appropriate for each therapy.…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Within this assignment the intention is to discuss the biological, psychological and social models and perspectives of care. This will be achieved through examining the influences of each model and their effects upon the practice of mental health care. Some historical information will be provided to give explanation of the background into the evolution of social and moral perspectives that have shaped mental health care practice throughout the ages.…

    • 3319 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Before the middle ages society believed that if an individual had mental illness it was because they were filled with evil sprits. Families were the main caregivers to the mentally ill but they treated them very inhumanely. In the 3rd century is when a physician by the name of Hippocrates used the scientific approach to explain and treat mental illness. Religious Catholic figures from the 1500 are considered by some to be the first human services professionals; they helped help establish institutions for the poor, orphans, elderly and disabled. By the end the 18th century the care for the mentally ill changed dramatically in areas of more humane treatment, better diets, daily exercise and development of the mind. The history of events that took place towards individuals with mental problems has helped human services understand and provide greater care for over time.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Over the years many perspectives have been discussed, researched and explored in order to try and best understand and explain human behaviour, these perspectives are termed models, there are currently six prevalent models which try to explain the ‘abnormal’ functioning of individuals the medical model, the cognitive model, the psychodynamic model, the sociocultural model, the behavioural model and the biopsychosocial model. The various models that are used to try and understand the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders have been used to help group mental disorders which are outlined…

    • 1908 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Communalism Casteism

    • 4537 Words
    • 19 Pages

    There are many different conditions that are recognized as mental illnesses. The more common types include:…

    • 4537 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Foundation of Development

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages

    3. How have societal viewpoints concerning mental illness or health influenced human services over the past three centuries?…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The understanding of mental illness today since the early 1900s has changed significantly. In the 1900s, people still had no real understanding of what caused mental illnesses, let alone how to treat the disease. The disease was feared and was seen as incurable. Mentally ill patients would be sent to asylums, and as a form of treatment they were tortured. Until in the later 1900s, it was discovered that certain factors and drug therapy could be a treatment to cure the mentally ill. Today there are various forms of treatment and treatment settings for the different mental illnesses that help to benefit the patients’ condition.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Vulnerable Populations

    • 1280 Words
    • 6 Pages

    All communities contain a mentally ill population. Their behavior is considered to be inappropriate and abnormal. Every society has cultivated solutions in which to treat the mentally ill in order to prevent disruption of the strong civil function. Normal behavior varies through generations and societies. When deciding if a person is mentally ill, the generation and culture must be taken into consideration.…

    • 1280 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    So what is mental illness? According to the National Alliance on mental illness as a medical conditions that disrupt a person 's thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to others and…

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mental health plays a role in everyone’s lives if they know it or not. Record of mental illness dates back as early as 3500 BC in ancient Mesopotamia as evidenced by the discovery of trephined skulls. Along with Mesopotamia, the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and India attributed the will of the gods or demonic possession to why individuals would act outside of the norms of society, when the root of the problem had less supernatural reasons, and was actually caused by mental illness. Hippocrates was the first to introduce the concept of disturbed physiology as the basis for all illnesses. (Lyons) This placed mental illness on the same level as other medical disorders from the belief that the mentally ill are genuinely suffering,…

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics