A
History of Helping
Riding the Waves of change
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES. OF HUMAN SERVICES
Prehistoric civilizations; earliest records
of helpful treatments can be traced back to the stone age. Through cave drawing
a treatment called Trepanning
l. A hole was cu in the skull to allow a for
the escape of evil spirits . In this early era most human problems were
attributed to devils, demons or other evil spirits. Demonology and animism [
belief that spirits inhabit various inanimate objects.
Early Civilizations;
Prior to 450 bc the world was believed to be
governed by supernatural spirits. During the Golden age of Greece a number of
philosophers began to put forth new beliefs concerning human nature. Hypocrites
[460-377 BC] introduced the belief that diseases were physical in nature rather
than caused by spirits. At this point this look at what was now about the
world. Plato had proposed the idea of Plato's cave.
Rene' Descartes [1596-1650]-reductionism to
the smallest components. [know components]
John Locke [1632-1704] information comes in
behavioral in base
George Berkeley [1685] thinking and ideas
built on information gathered an created by knowledge
David Hume [1711-1776] impressions ideas were
mental experiences.
James Mill [1773-1836] behavioral external
stimuli and knowledge was the accumulation of elements
John Staurt Mill [1806-1873] mental chemistry
[biological approach]
The Middle ages.
The church and its doctrine aspired to a more
powerful position and espoused the belief that the wealthy or those with
adequate resources had a duty or responsibility to help the less fortunate. The
rich and poor developed social roles and expectations. During this period
little interest was had in why or the reasons for poverty. As the church
developed in human services the overall climate of the Middle Ages was marked
by extremes. Gradually the disadvantaged cam to be classified according to
whether they physically could work or were unit for therefore establishing
norms of those "worthy" of receiving services.
The Renaissance
The government became more powerful and the
feudal system began to go away and the "Middle Class" began to grow.
under Henry the VIII of England the government formally took over the human service
functions and Elizabethan Poor Law was established in 1601. A system was
started; first the family was to provide then the state though the local
communities. As a result of these Poor Laws classification of the disadvantage
was established. This was seen as 3 categories.
1. the poor who were capable of work
2. the poor who
were incapable of work due to age, physical disability, or motherhood
3. orphaned or abandoned children who
became wards of the state.
The poor could be forced to work in state
operated workhouse. Massive over crowding, filth and inadequate food and
sanitary conditions existed. Also, the "ALMSHOUSE" [poor house] were
established for other categories. the conditions again were deplorable.
Industrial Revolution
By the 1800's the industrial revolution was
gathering momentum and therefore creating a movement from he rural areas to the
urban areas and resulting in the change of the numbers of individuals needing
aid. Prior to this movement communities were smaller and the numbers of those
who need some sort of HS
1820 John Griscom established the Society
for the Prevention of Pauperism whose aim was to investigate the habits and
circumstance of the poor and to suggest plans by which the poor could help
themselves.
1877 Charity Organization Society and English
invention was adopted by many American cites starting in Buffalo NY. This
organization attempted to get other agencies to join together to provide direct
services to individuals and families.
*worth noting the movement toward
organizing and learning about the problems the people needing HS.
Discuss the times in our society ie the
advent of the union movement which stemmed from advocating for the worker.
There became the movement of advocacy for the dis- advantaged. It was slow as
the disadvantaged did not have power. As noted earlier John Grisom aimed at the
circumstances that lead to poverty.
{The thought that environment and
situation may have something to do with poverty and the disadvantaged was
increasing.} If we look at science and philosophy and the trends that were
happening during that time. Medicine was making new discoveries and finding
cures for illness and limited prevention. the science movement was beginning to
focus on prevention.
1776 Adam Smith in his book "The Wealth
of Nations" argued that Human Services was a waste and misguided attempt
that would hinder people and society. John Calvin presented that the poor and
disadvantage should be left as they are because God had divinely ordained this
position for them. Herbert Spenser [England] expounded Social Darwinism and
used the argument of natural selection and the less fittest shouldn't survive.
Early reform movements in the US
Universities began to include social work
training and in 1898 a training course was offered to charity workers. Jane
Adams in 1885 established Hull House which provided immediate help for those in
need. help such s temporary shelter, food, medical.
The movement of institutionalization gained
acceptance [out of growth of disadvantaged] a formalized system of professional
helpers was more or less created.
Prior to this
movement the social programs and the help was done by "do gooders"
individuals who primarily wanted to something for the poor out of Christian
belief or social consciousness. Problem was there was little if any consistency
nor research...
The Depression...
Stockmarket crash resulted in governmental
programs to meet the increasing needs of the growing population of the
disadvantaged. The private sector was unable to keep up. Government began to
look at the idea that it was its responsibility to "look after the
poor".
Mental Health Services Since the Renaissance
Again referring back the ideas or belief that
individuals with mental illnesses were possessed or deserved of their illness
treatment was best grim. Early asylums were basically there to keep the
mentally ill away from others. There were no guidelines nor policies for care
or treatment. note worthy is people could be sent to mental institutions or
prison or the poor house without regard as to what they needed or deserved.
Following the French Revolution 1792 a
physician named Phillipe Pinel became director of a mental institution in
Paris. He thought the "insane" could be cured and began to unchain,
feed and tend to the basic needs of the "patients." Slowly this
movement began to spread and in 1813 a British Physician named Samual Tutle
began to advocate and reform treatment of the mentally ill. This movement was
not always successful with society at large. Dorothea Dix in mid 19th century
in the US began a advocacy campaign to treat the mentally ill and to change the
attitudes toward the mentally ill from seeing them as no different from paupers
or criminals to seeing them as ill and another ill person they needed hospitals
and treatment. by the time her career ended 32 mental hospitals were built in
the US
The Era of Humanitarian Reform;
1950's the pharmacological revolutions and
the idea [economics played an important part] that it would be cheaper and
better to treat people in the communities. The 1960's was an important era for
the mental health field--1963 the COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ACT was signed into
law. it allocated funds for comprehensive mental health centers. An other
important development began in the 1960's was in order to meet the increasing
need of hs, the generalist human services worker and the paraprofessional
worker began to be viewed as significant and important. Two year and four year
programs began springing up in the colleges and jr colleges across the nation.
Louise Johnson and Charles Schwartz emphasize
3 societal changes that are affecting our societies response to human needs.
1. Population shifts in size, urban rural
residence, and age distribution
2. Growth in dependence on monetary
economy
3. Changes in family structure and
functioning
The History of Mental Illness: A MontFort College Documentary
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