Essay on Hysteria - 1618 Words

â€Å"In the beginning was Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, who freed the emerging science from the chains of superstition, introduced empirical observation and the bedside manner, and both identified and named ‘hysteria’† (Gilman 1993, 3). Hippocrates, lived in ancient Greece from 460 BCE to 377 BCE, the first [known] person to study hysterical actions believed (as did the proceding Greeks and Romans) that hysteria was strictly a female problem, and in many cases almost any problem a female had was considered ‘hysteria’ (Gilman 1993, 4). This view was believed for an extensive period of time but as Appignanesi asserts many other things that were once believed to be true are proven false later, i.e., the earth is the center of the†¦show more content†¦Her mother suffered from ‘house wife’s psychosis’, her fathers brother was a hypochondriac, her fathers sister was extremely neurotic. Dora had one brother who had a stra nge connection with her. In the words of Freud, â€Å"†¦her brother was as a rule the first to start an illness and used to have it very slightly, and then she would follow suit with a severe form of it.† (15). Her brother (one and a half years older then her), who tried to stay out of family affairs, when involved would side with his mother over Dora or her father. This fits well with Freuds oedipal theories. In fact much of Freuds analysis of Dora uncovered ‘repressed’ sexual desires. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Around the age of eight Dora began to develop neurotic symptoms. Their family doctor diagnosed the ailments as strictly mental and not physical. This is the precursor to her hysteria, as hysteria is strictly a mental syndrome which can affect the physical body but resides in the confines of the mind. At the age of twelve Dora suffered severe migraine headaches and random attacks of nervous coughing. These usually went together but as the illness developed the afflictions came separately. By the age of 16 the coughing had totally although the coughing or tussis nervosa got worse and would last up to several months. â€Å"The most troublesome symptom duringShow MoreRelated Male View of Hysteria Presented in The Yellow Wallpaper3352 Words   |  14 PagesMale View of Hysteria Presented in The Yellow Wallpaper      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charlotte Perkins Gilmans short story The Yellow Wallpaper has been viewed as either a work of supernatural horror or as a feminist treatise regarding the role of women in society. A close analysis of Gilmans use of symbols reveals The Yellow Wallpaper as her response to the male view of hysteria from ancient times through the nineteenth century. In The Yellow Wallpaper Gilman questions the validity of HippocratessRead MoreFraud and Unjustified Conjectures in Dora An Analysis of a Case of Hysteria by Sigmund Freud 1672 Words   |  7 Pagesof Hysteria by Sigmund Freud exemplifies this situation, as Freud reveals an incomplete analysis relying on a slew of unjustified conjectures. During Dora’s time of treatment, Freud consistently ignores her denials and impresses his frequently outlandish theories on her, which ultimately leads to her early termination of treatment. Freud fails to cure Dora due to his flawed diagnosis upon unsupported conjectures and his embodiment of the patriarchal authoritativeness that lead to her hysteria. Read More Janes Psychological Problems in Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper1322 Words   |  6 Pagesexample of Sigmund Freud’s Studies In Hysteria. Jane suffers from symptoms such as story making and daydreaming. Jane has a nervous weakness throughout the story. 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This new idea that witchcraft exists in theirRead MoreFear, Hysteria, And Hysteria1534 Words   |  7 PagesFear/Hysteria in Society related to 1692 Hysteria shapes our live and determines who we will become though the process of developing ourselves to be imperturbable. It helps to comprehend what hysteria is--an overwhelming fear and elation that overrides all logic, and is often heightened and augmented by the presence of others who are acting out on that fear as well. Fear is the emotion of being terror-stricken of someone or something that is likely to cause you impairment, pain, or a risk. HysteriaRead MoreA Summary Of Johnathon868 Words   |  4 Pagescan be afflicted. Tiredness can be an affliction, one that needs to be loosened like a knot blocking the proper flow of energy. Or frustration, manifested in a multitude of ways - emotional, physical, sensual, and others. 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Hysteria furthered the prevalent notion of females as being intrinsically unstable, and was often heightened during the menstrual cycle, which is attributed to Miss Julie’s strangeRead MoreSexting Among Teenage Girls and Boys1435 Words   |  6 Pagesboys, men and women who participate are rapidly increasing, and with this too comes the rise of moral panic within societies. Individuals within the communities are becoming more and more fearful, afraid and shocked at this new form of youth culture hysteria. Although young people ‘expressing’ their sexuality has become much more open and free as of the last decade or so, the real uproar of panic is due to the risks they involving themselves in as well as the damage and harm they are inflicting on themselvesRead MoreHysteria and the Crucible1695 Words   |  7 PagesHysteria What is hysteria? By definition, hysteria is a state of intense agitation, anxiety, or excitement, especially as manifested by large groups or segments of society. In a broader sense however, hysteria is a killer, the delitescent devil. More specifically, hysteria was the main cause of nineteen deaths in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, and countless ruined reputations on account of Joe McCarthy. Hysteria does not just appear out of nowhere though. There are driving forces such as revengeRead MoreHysteria In The Crucible1474 Words   |  6 Pagess behavior and thoughts. Hysteria, uncontrollable emotion among groups, is a major leader in past and present day society when it comes to how people act and think in different situations. The Crucible provides great examples with how hysteria can affect a group of people. Back in Salem, Massachusetts 1692, hysterics swept the town, creating a storm of emotions. Everyone wondering, what to do? What to think? In The Crucible, Arthur Miller us es the effects of mass hysteria to reveal his purpose of