Mental hospitals and the public : the need for closer co-operation / by Lt.-Colonel J.R. Lord, C.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P. Edin.

  • Lord, J. R. (John Robert), 1874-1931
Date:
1927
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Mental hospitals and the public : the need for closer co-operation / by Lt.-Colonel J.R. Lord, C.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P. Edin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ition of a group or race of people—always a social group—to environment. It is quite the same as “ public opinion ”—which is more discriminative and unstable at it may be said that the latter has its roots in it. rhe “ group mind ” or “ social mind ” contains nothing but what is to be found he “ individual mind.” It is really an attitude of mind of the many—that which develops and functions reciprocally in relationship to the herd and ronment. in studying the group mind of primitive mankind and comparing it with that of of to-day, one must have regard to mythology—which was an attempt to explain phenomena of life without scientifically acquired knowledge, and, therefore, lly speculative in character. To the outcome of this attempt we now apply term “ superstition.” The credulity and mysticism, the fantastic behaviour beliefs (all as a rule associated with primitive religious thought), having regard fie period at which they occurred should not be regarded as mental aberration more than are the beliefs and practices of the present time, kmolly Norman says : ‘ When any belief tends to reappear in various races from age to age and under litions of civilization and education, it acquires a special interest because it probably mds on some general trait in the mental organization of our species.” “ The sense Lystery from which we can never wholly rid ourselves is probably one of the primi- phases of human thought. It is perhaps connected with that great human desire >ok beyond the surface of things, and to be unsatisfied with that mere recollection henomena which apparently satisfies our fellow creatures who are lower in the lal scale.” (Journ. of Ment. Sci., vol. li, 1905, p. 116.) i. Marie says : ‘ Mankind will always require a religious faith or ideas of some kind, but there is a far progression in theological conceptions from primitive savagery onward. When ized man, by a kind of atavism returns to animism, fetichism, magic or other lous conception prevailing among primitive man, then and then only can religion 'me a morbid mental state.” (Mysticisms et Folie, Paris, Giard et Briere, 1907.) ft is feasible to think that the very common endemic and epidemic psychoses of middle ages were evidences of regression to primitive beliefs and conduct, lization has rendered the occurrence of these more difficult, yet they still break from time to time as strange forms of religious or sexual excitement in groups eople. rhe animism and demonology of ancient Egyptian and Jewish times, also the faience of lycanthropy, were perfectly logical, and the belief in them was ifiable, having regard to the state of knowledge in those days. Unusual, strange
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