Madness in American History ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This study is based on the idea that we can understand American history through the history of mental illness, and that we can understand the history of mental illness by understanding American history. Theories of mental illness, its diagnosis and treatment, and social attitudes toward it intersect with the history of institutions, science, gender roles, views about the family and social ideals in the US. As we explore these topics, we will arrive at a greater understanding of how mental illness can reflect larger cultural issues. Students will explore both the historical development of theories of mental illness, and the debates concerning diagnosis and treatment. In order to understand the context of these developments, students will study American history from the late 1800s to the present.