Historical Maltreatment Research Paper

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Historical Maltreatment of Psychiatric Inpatients in Western Culture Marilyn Alm Abnormal Psychology 3110 History of Maltreatment of Psychiatric Inpatients Capella University January, 2014 History of Maltreatment All throughout history, people have not known how to deal with the mentally ill. They have labeled them as outcasts, “less than human”, and left them with nowhere to go. Many of these sufferers are mentally ill and homeless, destitute and in strict survival mode. Their families have neglected them or given up hope. Conditions are less than optimal for the homeless. Back in the nineteenth century, being homeless would have been step up from the conditions that were suffered in the asylums. Because the mentally ill were not…show more content…
The process of dehumanization involves not acknowledging human characteristics within the inferior person/persons. “Denying uniquely human attributes to others represents them as animal-like, and denying human nature to others represents them as objects or automata.” (Haslam, 2006). Making a separate out group that is animal-like, meaning replacing their human characteristics with those of animals, parasites, and other similar organisms gives a message to the inferior group as to the established hierarchy. “Set the construct of “power” next to constructs such as “control,” “dominance,” “outcome dependency,” or “influence,” and you can watch the edges melt and blend together.” (Overbeck, 2001.) Philip Zimbardo’s study is an excellent example to the birth of power within a group, and the cognitive and behavioral abuses that were given and suffered. Once the guards gained power, they submitted their prisoners to humiliation to further dehumanize and reestablish their position of power. The element of groupthink follows when one believes that they are part of an in-group, whether it be the powerful or the powerless. “Power without surveillance by higher authorities was a poisoned chalice that transformed character in unpredictable directions.” (Zimbardo,…show more content…
Education and awareness introduce people to the issues present and help them to understand how to cope with an affected individual. Studies, research and publications continue to fascinate and inform medical professionals, as well as others about findings, and possible solutions. Biological studies are more effective for the world we live in because it can offer physical proof of disorders, as well have give options to counteract the problems associated. Cognitive research helps people with that need to change behavior patterns and the information reported or observed can be used to find out more about the subject’s problem and how to solve it. Compassion is a human approach that is far underrated, but highly effective. Having compassion initiates a bond and provides support. Some of our mentally diagnosed today may have an increased chance of getting better with simple human relational
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