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Period: 100 to
Early and Middle Ages
During this time span there were many different beliefs concerning the causes of mental illness they spiritual/religious (demonic possession), biological (four humors) and psychological. -
Period: 100 to
Timeline
This timeline spans 100AD to present to reflect influential events and persons in psychology. -
Aug 24, 1337
Bethlem Hosital Established
A part of London since 1247 Bethlem was first a priory. It became a hospital in 1337 and began admitting mentally ill patients in 1357. In 1547 the hospital came under the control of the city of London. The hospital was not considered a long term facility until around 1730, when an incurable wing was built. Prior to this, patients were allowed to remain for 12 months then were released, cured or not. -
Period: to
18th Century
During this period psychological disorders were thought to be caused by spiritual and biological means. -
Johan Joseph Gessner Born
He was an Austrian priest; ordained in 1750. He believed that evil spirits could harm the body as well as the soul so some sickness were the work of the devil. Utilized probative exorcism to determine if the illness was caused naturally or not then would use expulsive exorcism to rid the afflicted of the demons. He methods were investigated by the church and state. -
Pennsylvania Hosital
The Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital in the United States. It was founded by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin. Construction on the hospital was designed to provide care for the sick, poor and insane that was wandering the streets of Philadelphia. -
Mesemer receives Doctorate in Medicine from University of Vienna
He was a German physician with an interest in Astronomy. Mesemer believed that there was a life energy or fluid inside animate beings. Utilized the term “magnétisme animal” (animal magnetism). Mesemer’s theory became the origin for treatment in Europe and United States. Treatment consisted of gazes, movements of the hands near or over the body and actually touching the affected person. Branches of this practice included Hypnotism and Spiritualism -
Period: to
19th Century
This timespan represents a more psychological approach to the treatment and causes of mental illness -
Jean-Martin Charcot Born
A French Neurologist and professor of anatomical pathology, considered the founder of modern neurology. He thought that hysteria was a neurological disorder that people were pre-disposed through hereditary structures of their nervous system. He also considered the ability to be hypnotized as a clinical feature of hysteria. Began clinical reserach into hysteria in 1870. -
Institue for Experimental Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt establishes the first formal laboratory for psychological research at the University of Leipzig. This was the first of its kind dedicated to psychology. -
American journal of Psychology
G. Stanley Hall founds the American Journal of Psychology. The first English language journal devoted primarily to experimental psychology. -
Burrhus Frederic Skinner Born
A study was published in the June 2002 issue of Review of General Psychology. This study formed the rankings of the most influential psychologists. BF Skinner ranked number 1. He was a behaviorist and called his philosophy Radical Behaviorism. Skinner believed that a person’s behaviors were influenced by the consequences of their actions. -
Aelius Galenus (Claudius Galenus) Born
Galen was 2nd century Greek physician believed that mental disorders were the result of an imbalance of four body humors (black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm). * This theory was rooted in Humorism-four distinct body fluids influenced a persons temperment and health* -
Concept of Mental Hygiene Introduced
The concept was introduced by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (850-934 AD). Ahmed was a Persian physician, psychologist and scientist. He criticized many doctors of the time because they placed too much emphasis on the physical illnesses and ignored the psychological.
