History timeline of Abnormal Psychology

By ttennell
  • Jan 23, 1403

    Dark Ages

    No new understanding of mental illness was made during the Dark Ages. Mentally ill patients were often placed in overcrowed asylums and tortured as a means of control.
  • Jan 23, 1492

    14th Century Renaissance

    Salem witch trials start. Indicating again a mystical approach, mentally ill people were believed to be witches and put to death as a way to control the condition
  • Jan 23, 1563

    Jahann Weyer - De Praestigiis Daemonum(The Deception of Demons)

    A different way to look at mentally ill people, the book written by Jahann Weyer attempted to discredit some beliefs that all mentally ill people were possessed by demons. Natural causes may be the reason for some abnormal behavior. Jahann Weyer was riduculed for his beliefs by politicians and religious figures.

  • Benjamin Rush - scientific approach

    Considered the father of American psychiatry, Benjamin Rush moved away from the mystical or religious and approached mental sickness from a scientific point of view.

  • First movement for humane treatment for the mentally ill

    Philippe Pinel is given credit as the primary figure in the humanitarianism movement. Pinel's approach to treatment was kindness and sensitivity. He believed mentally ill people should be treated as sick patients and not possessed by demons.

  • Dorthea Dix

    Dorthea Dix began a movement to inform the public on how mentally ill patients were treated. It took almost 40 years but she was successful seeing 32 psychiatric hospitals opened.

  • Emil Kraepelin

    Kraepelin believed some mental conditions were the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain and others were a metabolism irregularity.

  • American Psychological Association

    The American Psychological Association develops a code of ethics in treating mentally ill patients

  • White House

    President George W. Bush guarantees mental health coverage by promoting legislation

  • Greek and Roman Civilization 800-400 BC

    800 BC - Mainly a mystical approach, physicians would encourage relaxation and sleep. Once alseep, mental disorders would be cured within their dreams. Diet and exercise would sometimes be included in the treatment process.
    400 BC - A more scientific approach, bodily fluids would be drained depending on what type of disorder was to be cured.