Description
Psycho-Politics between the World Wars, (PDF) explores the intricate interplay of psycho-political theories and initiatives during the tumultuous early twentieth century in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Amidst the chaos and upheaval that followed the First World War, mental health professionals sought to apply their clinical knowledge to decipher, identify, and address the broader societal challenges of the time. This engaging ebook delves into a treasure trove of both unpublished and published materials, meticulously charting significant debates, key figures, and the interconnected networks that contributed to the evolving landscape of psychiatry’s influence.
The narrative is anchored in three interdependent case studies: first, the ambitious project of medical expansionism branded as ‘applied psychiatry’ throughout inter-war Vienna; second, the blatant pathologization associated with the revolutionary wave of 1918/19, driven by right-wing German psychiatrists; and third, the endeavor to harmonize diverse methods of psychiatric prevention within the burgeoning movement for mental hygiene. By examining these pivotal historical moments, the ebook illuminates the genesis of concepts that continue to resonate in contemporary psychiatric discourse, revealing the troubling nexus between hopeful utopian ideas and the damaging practices that have historically afflicted the field of psychiatry.
Review
“In this refreshingly insightful account of interwar psychiatry in the German-speaking world, David Freis examines how prominent psychiatrists, such as Emil Kraepelin, Erwin Stransky, and Auguste Forel, transitioned their diagnostic approaches from individual patients to the societal fabric as a whole. With a blend of readability, vibrancy, and thorough research, David Freis’s ebook serves as a poignant reminder of the human toll that arises from erroneous correlations between nationalism and mental health ideologies, both then and now.” — Elizabeth Ann Danto, Hunter College of the City University of New York, USA
NOTE: The product includes the ebook Psycho-Politics between the World Wars: Psychiatry and Society in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in PDF format only. Please note that no access codes are provided.
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