Brief history of Psychopathology

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Questions and Answers

What was the main focus of Hippocrates' theory on personalities?

An evaluation of moral character based on behavior

The relationship between temperaments and bodily humors (correct)

The impact of brain shapes on personality

Psychological conditions linked to social status

Which of the following does NOT describe the temperament of a sanguine individual according to Hippocrates?

Passive (correct)

Optimistic

Cheerful

Easily heated (correct)

What misconception does phrenology by Franz Joseph Gall promote regarding personality?

Mental illness is purely a social construct

Head shape directly correlates with temperament (correct)

Personality varies with age and life experiences

Personality traits are solely influenced by genetics

What was a significant outcome of Philippe Pinel's work in the treatment of mental illness?

He categorized psychopathologies for better understanding Signup and view all the answers

How did the perspective of mental illness change post-French Revolution?

They began to be seen as individuals needing compassion rather than punishment Signup and view all the answers

What was the perception of mentally ill individuals during the medieval ages?

They were often punished harshly and mistaken for criminals Signup and view all the answers

What did Cesare Lombroso base his theories on regarding crime and personality?

Phrenological theories related to cranial features Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'idiocy' refer to in Philippe Pinel’s classification of psychopathologies?

Intellectual handicaps Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of John B. Watson's approach to psychology?

Behavior as a measurable entity Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist is known for formalizing the scientific study of personality in the 1930s?

Gordon Allport Signup and view all the answers

What does Allport's perspective suggest about personality traits?

They determine behavior and exist independently. Signup and view all the answers

How does the field of psychopathology categorize abnormal behavior?

As a deviation from normal traits without judgment. Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological school is associated with the use of introspection and detailed methods to study consciousness?

Structuralism Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered the father of psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud Signup and view all the answers

What is the main principle of connectionism in psychology?

Complex ideas arise from simpler associations. Signup and view all the answers

Which theorist is known for studying developmental phases in child psychology?

Jean Piaget Signup and view all the answers

In the 20th century, what advancement in psychiatry allowed for a significant change in treatment methods?

Emergence of psychopharmacology. Signup and view all the answers

What role do social influences play in modern psychopathology?

They are integrated with personality theories for evaluation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Historical Perspectives on Personality and Mental Health

Hippocrates (460-377 BC) identified four temperaments: Sanguine (cheerful and optimistic), Melancholic (passive with low moods), Choleric (brave and easily angered), and Phlegmatic (stable and introspective).
Humoral theory connected these temperaments to bodily fluids: blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm.
Galen expanded Hippocrates' ideas, emphasizing mental health as a balance of humors.
Middle Ages saw a shift to demonic explanations for mental illness, leading to fear, mistreatment, and chaining of patients.

Development of Psychiatry

Phrenology, created by Franz Joseph Gall, linked personality to brain anatomy, suggesting cranial bumps indicated mental states.
Gall proposed 28 brain "organs," associating anterior regions with intellect and posterior with instincts.
Cesare Lombroso applied Gall's theories to criminal behavior.
Treatment for mentally ill patients focused on segregation rather than rehabilitation until the French Revolution.
Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) advocated for humane treatment, categorizing psychopathologies into four types: Mania, Melancholy, Dementia, and Idiocy.

Emergence of Psychology

Psychiatry evolved in Germany with neurologists like Broca, Wernicke, and Meynert.
Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in 1879 focused on conscious experiences.
John B. Watson introduced behaviorism, emphasizing observable behavior over internal processes.
Gordon Allport formalized personality study in the 1930s, arguing that traits are real entities influencing behavior.
Other significant contributors to personality theory include Bandura, Rogers, and Maslow.

Conceptualizing Abnormality

"Abnormal" in psychology describes deviations from normal distribution, not inherently negative.
Mental illness often corresponds with individual suffering and societal adaptation challenges.
Early psychological schools shaped contemporary views, including:

Major Psychological Schools

Structuralism, led by E.B. Titchener, utilized introspection, likening the mind to biological structures.
Functionalism, championed by William James, focused on behavior's causal effects and the nervous system's role in adaptation.
Connectionism emphasized building complex ideas from simpler associations, with key figures like Ebbinghaus and Thorndike focusing on learning.
Gestalt psychology, pioneered by Wertheimer and Kohler, centered on perception and cognitive processing.
Psychoanalysis, founded by Freud, introduced concepts like the unconscious and psychic energy, significantly impacting psychopathology.
Jean Piaget's genetic epistemology advanced developmental psychology, outlining stages of child development.

Modern Advances in Mental Health

The late 20th century's psychopharmacology boom replaced outdated practices like physical restraints with chemical treatments based on brain chemistry.
Recent approaches to psychopathology integrate personality theories, biological underpinnings, and social influences for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

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Description

Explore the ancient insights of Hippocrates on personality through his theory of the four temperaments: Sanguine, Melancholic, Choleric, and Phlegmatic. This quiz will help you understand how each temperament relates to different moods and humors in the body, illustrating the early attempts at personality classification in history.