Psych 476 Child Psychopathology Historical
Perspectives With Explained Answers 100% Correct
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Historical Perspectives
I. Ancient Greece/Rome
o Those with physical or mental handicaps (of all ages) were an
economic burden and social embarrassment. The fate of these
individuals was to be ridiculed, abandoned, or put to death (French,
1977).
II. Prior to the 18th Century
o Children’s mental health problems were largely ignored.
o Abnormal behaviors were attributed to children’s uncivilized and
provocative nature – influenced largely by religious views at that
time.
o Children were subjected to harsh treatment due to beliefs that
they would die, were possessed, or were parents’ property. For
example, the Massachusetts Stubborn Child Act of 1654
permitted parents to put “stubborn” children to death for
misbehaving. Although no children were known to be put to
death, the law protected parents who kept children with severe
disabilities in cages and cellars (Donohue, Herson, & Ammerman,
2000).
III. End of 18th Century through the 19th Century
o Awareness and concern for children with psychological problems
increases as a result of:
▪ A move away from religious explanations for childhood
problems toward a disease model which emphasized more
humane treatment.
▪ Increased emphasis on teaching, training, and supporting
children.
, Psych 476 Child Psychopathology Historical
Perspectives With Explained Answers 100% Correct
Download To Score A Rated A+
o Interest in abnormal child behavior has continued to improve
since this time.
Important Early Figures
IV. John Locke (English philosopher and physician):
o Advanced the view that children should be raised with thought
and care, not with the harsh treatment common during his time.
He also was among the first to see the importance of education
and training for children.
V. Jean-Marc Itard (French physician):
o Engaged in one of the first documented efforts to work with a
child with special needs (Victor of Aveyron). This work sparked
, Psych 476 Child Psychopathology Historical
Perspectives With Explained Answers 100% Correct
Download To Score A Rated A+
other efforts to help children with developmental, psychological,
and behavioral problems.
VI. Dorothea Dix (American activist):
o Among a vast array of advocacy efforts, she helped establish
humane mental hospitals for the treatment of youths.
VII. Leta Hollingworth (American psychologist):
o Helped to distinguish between children with intellectual
impairments and those with serious emotional and behavioral
problems. This distinction was important for treatment of these
problems.
VIII. Benjamin Rush (American physician):
o Helped begin to distinguish between the mental problems of
children and adults. His views further advanced the humane
treatment of children as well as exploration into the causes of
psychological problems.
Important 19th and 20th Century Events
IX. 1896: First child clinic in the United States was established at the
University of Pennsylvania by Lightner Witmer.
X. 1905: Alfred Binet and Theophil Simon developed the first intelligence
tests to identify children who could benefit from special educational
efforts.
XI. 1909: G. Stanley Hall invited Sigmund Freud to lecture on
psychoanalysis at Clark University. Despite concern about some of
Freud’s theory, he advanced the idea that events during early
childhood can have a significant impact on development.
XII. 1909: William Healy and Grace Fernald established the Juvenile
Psychopathic Institute in Chicago, which would become the model of
the child guidance clinics.
Perspectives With Explained Answers 100% Correct
Download To Score A Rated A+
Historical Perspectives
I. Ancient Greece/Rome
o Those with physical or mental handicaps (of all ages) were an
economic burden and social embarrassment. The fate of these
individuals was to be ridiculed, abandoned, or put to death (French,
1977).
II. Prior to the 18th Century
o Children’s mental health problems were largely ignored.
o Abnormal behaviors were attributed to children’s uncivilized and
provocative nature – influenced largely by religious views at that
time.
o Children were subjected to harsh treatment due to beliefs that
they would die, were possessed, or were parents’ property. For
example, the Massachusetts Stubborn Child Act of 1654
permitted parents to put “stubborn” children to death for
misbehaving. Although no children were known to be put to
death, the law protected parents who kept children with severe
disabilities in cages and cellars (Donohue, Herson, & Ammerman,
2000).
III. End of 18th Century through the 19th Century
o Awareness and concern for children with psychological problems
increases as a result of:
▪ A move away from religious explanations for childhood
problems toward a disease model which emphasized more
humane treatment.
▪ Increased emphasis on teaching, training, and supporting
children.
, Psych 476 Child Psychopathology Historical
Perspectives With Explained Answers 100% Correct
Download To Score A Rated A+
o Interest in abnormal child behavior has continued to improve
since this time.
Important Early Figures
IV. John Locke (English philosopher and physician):
o Advanced the view that children should be raised with thought
and care, not with the harsh treatment common during his time.
He also was among the first to see the importance of education
and training for children.
V. Jean-Marc Itard (French physician):
o Engaged in one of the first documented efforts to work with a
child with special needs (Victor of Aveyron). This work sparked
, Psych 476 Child Psychopathology Historical
Perspectives With Explained Answers 100% Correct
Download To Score A Rated A+
other efforts to help children with developmental, psychological,
and behavioral problems.
VI. Dorothea Dix (American activist):
o Among a vast array of advocacy efforts, she helped establish
humane mental hospitals for the treatment of youths.
VII. Leta Hollingworth (American psychologist):
o Helped to distinguish between children with intellectual
impairments and those with serious emotional and behavioral
problems. This distinction was important for treatment of these
problems.
VIII. Benjamin Rush (American physician):
o Helped begin to distinguish between the mental problems of
children and adults. His views further advanced the humane
treatment of children as well as exploration into the causes of
psychological problems.
Important 19th and 20th Century Events
IX. 1896: First child clinic in the United States was established at the
University of Pennsylvania by Lightner Witmer.
X. 1905: Alfred Binet and Theophil Simon developed the first intelligence
tests to identify children who could benefit from special educational
efforts.
XI. 1909: G. Stanley Hall invited Sigmund Freud to lecture on
psychoanalysis at Clark University. Despite concern about some of
Freud’s theory, he advanced the idea that events during early
childhood can have a significant impact on development.
XII. 1909: William Healy and Grace Fernald established the Juvenile
Psychopathic Institute in Chicago, which would become the model of
the child guidance clinics.
