Emotions and the Making of Psychiatric Reform in Britain, c. 1770-1820

This book explores how people in Britain navigated the emotions provoked by the mad in the long eighteenth century, influencing the development of a 'humanitarian temperament' that drove psychiatric reform. It documents the intervention of early asylum reformers who confronted neglect and expressed their humanity through unflinching resolve, requiring careful emotional management.

Format: Hardback
Length: 297 pages
Publication date: 20 November 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This captivating book delves into the intricate ways in which individuals grappled with the emotions evoked by madness in Britain throughout the long eighteenth century. By building upon recent breakthroughs in the historical study of emotions, it charts the evolution of attitudes towards insanity and explores how shifting emotional norms shaped the emergence of a compassionate "humanitarian temperament," which drove the earliest movements for psychiatric reform in England and Scotland. In response to a culture that encouraged tears at the sight of tender suffering, early asylum reformers chose a different path. They expressed their humanity through unwavering determination, bravely venturing into madhouses to witness scenes of pain and suffering that were typically kept hidden from public view. They also confronted the authorities who perpetuated neglect, demanding change and accountability. This audacious intervention required a delicate balance of emotions, which is meticulously documented for the first time in this book. Drawing upon a diverse range of medical and literary sources, it offers invaluable insights into pre-modern attitudes towards insanity, shedding light on the complex and multifaceted nature of mental health care and treatment during that era.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030843557
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021