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, shifting attitudes towards insanity and driving the earliest movements for psychiatric reform. It documents the intervention of early asylum reformers who confronted authorities and provided valuable insights into pre-modern attitudes towards insanity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 297 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2022
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. 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 temperament that 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, venturing into madhouses to witness scenes of misery that were typically hidden from public view, and confronting the authorities who perpetuated neglect. This audacious intervention demanded a meticulous approach to emotional management, which is documented in remarkable detail for the first time in this book. Drawing upon a diverse range of medical and literary sources, this work offers invaluable insights into pre-modern attitudes towards insanity, shedding light on a complex and often misunderstood era.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030843588
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021