Abnormal Psychology Schools

Author: Zhu Guangqian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: In the modern era, the study of abnormal psychology flourished most in France. In the 19th century, French abnormal psychology had two major schools. One, centered around the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, was known as the Salpêtrière School or the Paris School, with its most prominent leader being Charcot (J.M. Charcot). The other, centered around the University and Hospital in Nancy, was known as the Nancy School, with its most prominent leader being Bernheim (H. Bernheim). Both schools had a significant influence. The Nancy School later evolved into the New Nancy School, and the currently popular autosuggestion technique originated from it.
The Paris School Charcot taught two outstanding disciples who surpassed him—Janet (P. Janet), a towering figure in modern French psychology, and Freud (S. Freud), the founder of psychoanalysis. The Paris School and the Nancy School were in opposition. Their debate centered on hypnosis, so hypnosis can be considered the catalyst for modern abnormal psychology. It is best to first briefly discuss the history of hypnosis.
The History of Hypnosis Hypnotism originated from animal magnetism. The founder of animal magnetism was Mesmer of Austria in the 18th century, hence it was also known as "Mesmerism." Mesmer believed that the human body contained a fluid that circulated throughout, similar to magnetism. Health depended on this "animal magnetic fluid" maintaining balance in all parts of the body. If the fluid was in excess or deficient in any part, illness would result. The animal magnetic fluid could be controlled by the will and transferred from one body to another. Therefore, when the fluid was imbalanced, animal magnetism could be used to transfer excess fluid from one part to another or to transfer some fluid from one body to another, restoring balance. Once balance was restored, the illness would immediately be cured.
Mesmer opened an animal magnetism treatment center in Paris, where he achieved remarkable results, making his practice extremely popular at the time. How did he perform animal magnetism? The treatment center was surrounded by curtains, giving it a strong mystical atmosphere. In the center of the room stood a large wooden barrel filled with iron sand, glass powder, and water, with numerous small holes in the lid through which iron rods were inserted. The patients would stand around the barrel, each holding an iron rod and touching the part of their body affected by the illness. Everyone remained silent, and the room was filled with the mournful sound of a harp, as if a religious ceremony were taking place.
Mesmer, dressed in a dark blue silk robe and holding iron rods like those used by magicians, would gaze at the patients while walking around the barrel, touching them in turn with the rods and massaging their bodies. He believed that with each touch and massage, the magnetic energy would reach the patients. After this treatment, patients often entered a trance-like state, laughing wildly, murmuring incoherently, or dancing uncontrollably. Mesmer called this trance-like state (which was actually a hypnotic state) a "salutary crisis," as many patients experienced the disappearance of their original illnesses after undergoing animal magnetism and entering this state.
The Evolution of Animal Magnetism into Hypnotism How did animal magnetism later evolve into hypnotism? One day, when Marquis de Puysegur, a disciple of Mesmer, was performing animal magnetism,