Insanity
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| - | [[Image:Portrait of a Kleptomaniac or Portrait of an Insane Person (French L'Aliéné or Le Kleptomane) is a 1822 oil painting by Théodore Géricault.jpg|thumb|left||200px|''[[Portrait of a Kleptomaniac]]'' (1822) by [[Théodore Géricault]]]] | + | [[Image:Portrait of a Kleptomaniac or Portrait of an Insane Person (French L'Aliéné or Le Kleptomane) is a 1822 oil painting by Théodore Géricault.jpg|thumb|left||200px|''[[Portrait of a Kleptomaniac]]'' (1822) by Théodore Géricault]] |
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| + | "There is neither [[crime]] nor [[misdemeanor]], if the accused was in a state of [[dementia]] at the time of the act, or if he has been constrained by [[Irresistible impulse |a force which he could not resist]]."--[[Napoleonic Code]] | ||
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| + | [[There is no great genius without some touch of madness]]. -- Seneca, Aristotle | ||
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| + | "It was from a youthful reverie filled with speculations of this sort that I arose one afternoon in the winter of 1900-1901 , when to the state [[Psychopathology|psychopathic]] institution in which I served as an interne was brought the man whose case has ever since haunted me so unceasingly."--[[Beyond the Wall of Sleep (short story)|"Beyond the Wall of Sleep"]] (1919) H. P. Lovecraft | ||
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| + | They're coming to [[Involuntary commitment|take me away]],<br> | ||
| + | Haha, they're coming to take me away,<br> | ||
| + | Ho ho, hee hee, ha ha,<br> | ||
| + | To the [[Psychiatric hospital|funny farm]]<br> | ||
| - | '''Insanity''', '''craziness''' or '''madness''' is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of [[Norm (sociology)|societal norms]], including a person becoming a danger to themselves or others, though not all such acts are considered insanity. In modern usage ''insanity'' is most commonly encountered as an informal unscientific term denoting mental instability, or in the narrow legal context of the [[insanity defense]]. In the medical profession the term is now avoided in favor of diagnoses of specific [[mental disorders]]; the presence of [[delusions]] or [[hallucinations]] is broadly referred to as [[psychosis]]. When discussing mental illness in general terms, "[[psychopathology]]" is considered a preferred descriptor. | + | --"[[They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!]]" (1966) |
| + | <hr> | ||
| - | In [[English language|English]], the word "sane" derives from the [[Latin]] adjective ''sanus'' meaning "healthy". The phrase "[[mens sana in corpore sano]]" is often translated to mean a "healthy mind in a healthy body". From this perspective, insanity can be considered as poor health of the mind, not necessarily of the brain as an organ (although that can affect mental health), but rather refers to defective function of mental processes such as reasoning. A Latin phrase for "sane" is "compos mentis" (lit. "of composed mind"), and a euphemistic term for insanity is "non compos mentis". In law, [[mens rea]] means having had criminal intent, or a guilty mind, when the act ([[actus reus]]) was committed. | + | Insane in the membrane<br> |
| + | Insane in the [[brain]] | ||
| - | A more informal use of the term insanity is to denote something considered highly unique, passionate or extreme, including in a positive sense. | + | --"[[Insane in the Brain]]" (1993) |
| + | <hr> | ||
| + | [[John Barclay]] who was executed at Glasgow in 1833, was also of unsound mind. He was familiarly known as " Daft Jack." The clergyman of the parish had always regarded him as [[imbecile]]. He thought that a watch was a living animal; and that there was no distinction between killing an ox and killing a man. Yet, although Barclay's weakness of mind was recognised both by the judge and by the jury, who, on that ground recommended him to mercy, still he was condemned and executed on the plea, forsooth, that " he knew right from wrong."--''[[On Insanity, and the Criminal Responsibility of the Insane]]'' (1866) by Thomas More Madden | ||
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| + | [[Image:Elagabalus.jpg|thumb|right|200px| | ||
| + | This page '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is part of [[psychopathology]] series. | ||
| + | <br>Illustration: the head of '''[[Elagabalus]]''', one of the five "[[mad emperors]]" of [[ancient Rome]]]] | ||
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| + | '''Insanity''', '''madness''', '''lunacy''', and '''craziness''' are [[behavior]]s performed by certain [[Abnormality (behavior)|abnormal]] mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity can manifest as violations of [[Norm (sociology)|societal norms]], including a person or persons becoming a danger to themselves or to other people. Conceptually, mental insanity also is associated with the biological phenomenon of [[Infection|contagion]] (that [[mental illness]] is infectious) as in the case of [[copycat suicide]]s. In contemporary usage, the term ''insanity'' is an informal, un-scientific term denoting "mental instability"; thus, the term [[insanity defense]] is the legal definition of mental instability. In medicine, the general term [[psychosis]] is used to include the presence of [[delusions]] and/or [[hallucinations]] in a patient; and psychiatric illness is "[[psychopathology]]", not ''mental insanity''. | ||
| - | ==Historical Treatment== | + | In English, the word "sane" derives from the Latin adjective ''sanus'', meaning "healthy". [[Juvenal]]'s phrase ''[[mens sana in corpore sano]]'' is often translated to mean a "healthy mind in a healthy body". From this perspective, insanity can be considered as poor health of the mind, not necessarily of the brain as an organ (although that can affect mental health), but rather refers to defective function of mental processes such as reasoning. Another Latin phrase related to our current concept of sanity is ''[[compos mentis]]'' ("sound of mind"), and a euphemistic term for insanity is ''non compos mentis''. In law, ''[[mens rea]]'' means having had criminal intent, or a guilty mind, when the act (''[[actus reus]]'') was committed. |
| - | During the 18th century, in England and France, humane treatment of the insane was introduced and mental hospitals were built. The first mental hospital in America was built in Williamsburg, Virginia around 1773. Before the 19th century, these hospitals, or asylums, were seen as a place to hide these people from the view of others. Pictures from these dark times portrayed them as tied up and bed ridden. Straitjackets and chains controlled patients and forced them to be seen as inferior. Depression, a very understandable issue for people who have been through tough times, was often a factor in the “insane.” The sadness would force people to do things which others did not understand. Things like self-mutilation and suicide were misinterpreted and misunderstood. These people were locked up and treated unfairly which caused them to lash out and become even more mysterious. | + | A more informal use of the term insanity is to denote something or someone considered highly unique, passionate or extreme, including in a positive sense. The term may also be used as an attempt to discredit or criticize particular ideas, beliefs, principles, desires, personal feelings, attitudes, or their proponents, such as in politics and religion. |
| - | ==Results== | + | Insanity is no longer considered a medical diagnosis but is a legal term in the United States, stemming from its original use in [[common law]]. The disorders formerly encompassed by the term covered a wide range of [[mental disorder]]s now diagnosed as [[bipolar disorder]], [[organic brain syndrome]]s, [[schizophrenia]], and other [[Psychosis|psychotic]] disorders. |
| - | Because people seemed to be so unfamiliar with people who acted this way, it caused scientists and other people to become more involved with studying them. It eventually caused people to study parts of the brain and how they function with resulted in many scientific achievements. This was also why the word "insane" is no longer used as a medical term, but "mentally ill" is. People have researched and discovered that someone is not just insane, but something has caused them to be that way. Insane is now either used as a slang term or used in law. | + | ==See also== |
| - | ==Slang usage== | + | * [[Insane in the Brain]] |
| - | In [[popular culture]], "insane" could also refer to something extremely [[stupidity|foolish]], while persons may be deemed "insane" if their behavior strongly deviates from accepted [[social norm]]s; in the past, insanity has been used to refer to individuals who have exhibited [[Apathy|apathetic]], [[Cruelty|cruel]], [[Hypersexuality|hypersexual]] and [[Homosexuality|homosexual]] behavior. The term is typically negative, but departure from established norms may also be seen as a positive quality; in this case, being "insane" is being daringly unconventional or [[individualistic]]. This use of ''insane'' is illustrated by the following quote from [[Henry David Thoreau]]'s ''[[A Plea for Captain John Brown]]'', an essay supporting the well-known [[militant]] [[abolitionist (slavery)|abolitionist]]: | + | |
| - | :Many, no doubt, are well disposed, but sluggish by constitution and by habit, and they cannot conceive of a man who is actuated by higher motives than they are, accordingly they pronounce this man insane, for they know that they could never act as he does, as long as they are themselves. | + | |
| - | In this sense, "insanity" is not implied to be an actual disorder, let alone severe. | ||
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"There is neither crime nor misdemeanor, if the accused was in a state of dementia at the time of the act, or if he has been constrained by a force which he could not resist."--Napoleonic Code There is no great genius without some touch of madness. -- Seneca, Aristotle "It was from a youthful reverie filled with speculations of this sort that I arose one afternoon in the winter of 1900-1901 , when to the state psychopathic institution in which I served as an interne was brought the man whose case has ever since haunted me so unceasingly."--"Beyond the Wall of Sleep" (1919) H. P. Lovecraft They're coming to take me away, --"They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" (1966) Insane in the membrane --"Insane in the Brain" (1993) John Barclay who was executed at Glasgow in 1833, was also of unsound mind. He was familiarly known as " Daft Jack." The clergyman of the parish had always regarded him as imbecile. He thought that a watch was a living animal; and that there was no distinction between killing an ox and killing a man. Yet, although Barclay's weakness of mind was recognised both by the judge and by the jury, who, on that ground recommended him to mercy, still he was condemned and executed on the plea, forsooth, that " he knew right from wrong."--On Insanity, and the Criminal Responsibility of the Insane (1866) by Thomas More Madden |
Illustration: the head of Elagabalus, one of the five "mad emperors" of ancient Rome
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Insanity, madness, lunacy, and craziness are behaviors performed by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity can manifest as violations of societal norms, including a person or persons becoming a danger to themselves or to other people. Conceptually, mental insanity also is associated with the biological phenomenon of contagion (that mental illness is infectious) as in the case of copycat suicides. In contemporary usage, the term insanity is an informal, un-scientific term denoting "mental instability"; thus, the term insanity defense is the legal definition of mental instability. In medicine, the general term psychosis is used to include the presence of delusions and/or hallucinations in a patient; and psychiatric illness is "psychopathology", not mental insanity.
In English, the word "sane" derives from the Latin adjective sanus, meaning "healthy". Juvenal's phrase mens sana in corpore sano is often translated to mean a "healthy mind in a healthy body". From this perspective, insanity can be considered as poor health of the mind, not necessarily of the brain as an organ (although that can affect mental health), but rather refers to defective function of mental processes such as reasoning. Another Latin phrase related to our current concept of sanity is compos mentis ("sound of mind"), and a euphemistic term for insanity is non compos mentis. In law, mens rea means having had criminal intent, or a guilty mind, when the act (actus reus) was committed.
A more informal use of the term insanity is to denote something or someone considered highly unique, passionate or extreme, including in a positive sense. The term may also be used as an attempt to discredit or criticize particular ideas, beliefs, principles, desires, personal feelings, attitudes, or their proponents, such as in politics and religion.
Insanity is no longer considered a medical diagnosis but is a legal term in the United States, stemming from its original use in common law. The disorders formerly encompassed by the term covered a wide range of mental disorders now diagnosed as bipolar disorder, organic brain syndromes, schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders.
See also
