Hippocrates Ideas Of Abnormal Behaviours

The word abnormal refers to actions and behaviours that are seen to be different from majority. There have been many different explanations and views of abnormality suggested for
1000's of years. One view is that of the Greek and Roman's. Hippocrates taught that illness had natural causes. He perceived abnormal behaviour as a disease derived from internal physical problems. He believed it was an imbalance in the four humors that flowed through the body that caused abnormal behaviours. The four humors were yellow bile, black bile, blood and phlegm. Too much yellow bile caused mania and an excess of black bile caused a deep sadness that couldn't be shaken. Hippocrates believed that black bile levels could be reduced by a quiet life, plenty of
Society blamed the devil for war, urban uprisings and plagues. Abnormal behaviour increased with large numbers of people having delusions and hallucinations. Tarantism came to light as well where groups of people would suddenly start to jump, dance and go into convulsions. These people believed that had been bitten by the tarantula and to dance was the cure to their disorder. Exorcisms were brought back with priests pleading, chanting and praying to make the evil spirits flee. If exorcisms didn't work torture was used. As the middle ages came to an end demonology and it's methods were lost from view.
Medical theories of abnormality took over in helping the mentally ill. Lunacy trails were held to determine the sanity of the individuals. Sometimes a hit on the head or the fear of one's father were held responsible for an individuals abnormal behaviour. During these years many individuals with psychological disturbances received treatment in medical hospitals in England. Another view following on from this is the renaissance and the birth of asylums. In the early renaissance individuals with mental health disorders improved at home, community health programmes