Hmmmm, I guess now it all makes sense. Its interesting to see the originated definition and awareness of being obsessed and its development. In this chapter we have witnessed well within the nineteenth century, people have displayed characteristics of what we now view as obsessions. Referred to as monomania - these cases at times placed the individuals in asylums. But today we treat patients with more therapeutic remedies as opposed to classifying them as insane in addition to, institutionalizing them regardless of profession. Making comparisons to those before as well as those today, bridges the connection of OCD being a disorder of inevitable conclusions that followed a current theory. Monomania's hospitalizations -as discussed in this chapter- increased drastically during the era of "the idea of insanity". I like the distinction Davis has made between mania, and the new monomania which he has desribed as, combining the awareness and the distraction into one entity. He also recognized the lack of rationality. Another factor that has remained consistent during this era in comparison to now is, Monomania was a disorder evident in works of art at the time. Examples of such works are the author of "Insanity-My Own Case", and Frankenstein by May Shelly. Davis' mention of these particular arts showed the movement of this fad, and evolution/spread of the awareness. Its the same concept of reality shows and such works displaying ocd, in a wider spectrum. I.e hoarders, true life, survivor, etc. This is not to say that a reality show is a work of art, this only exemplifies a changes coveyed through a medium appropriate during a certain time. Davis said on page 74, it is no surprise that the concept of monomania, therefore, took to literature and spread like wildfire. I believe it is the same concept we witness today. This chapter continues to add in my belief that OCD is an remains a disease entity.
it's interesting to see how Obsession was named and described before it became the obsession we know today. I do agree that this chapter is one way Davis wants to prove that obsession is a disease entity and that the first definitions of obsession were not wrong, and as time grows we learn more and more about it.
ReplyDeleteIts a recurring cycle!!! We learn more as time goes.
ReplyDeleteYour right, I guess it all does make sense now. This chapter went in depth about how monomania originated and became what we now know as obsession. I agree that this chapter sheds light on how obsession remains a disease entity because as time goes on, we learn more about this disorder and simply add on to its definition. Monomania and obsession are very similar to each other and from then to now we were never wrong about what an obsession meant, we just became more aware of its meaning.
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