Psychology Is Alive and Well

This essay examines the historical context of cholera outbreaks in London and how they influenced the development of modern psychology. It explores the Victorian era's understanding of disease, the emergence of germ theory, and the contributions of prominent figures like Dr. John Snow. The essay highlights how psychological perspectives on health and disease have evolved over time, emphasizing the importance of scientific inquiry and the role of psychology in understanding human behavior and health.

Psychology Is Alive
and Well (and Doing
Fine among the
Sciences)

ESSAY.............................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

ESSAY
Psychology is a science of manners and mind that covers conscious and unconscious
behaviour of a person as well as their feeling. Its main objective is to understand the person or
group of people with the help of general principles and researching through particular cases.
However, psychologist is an individual who get involved in understanding the role of mental
functions and social behaviour. Moreover, these professional practitioner or investigator includes
certain factors such as; perception, cognition, attention, emotion, intelligence, motivation, brain
functioning and personality (Charmaz and McMullen, 2011). It means psychologists are those
people whose are coming with their views and opinions towards certain subject area by
considering necessary facts or figures. For example; cholera is an infectious disease of small
intestine through small strains of bacterium Vibrio Cholerae and have been endemic in various
parts of world from centuries. Thus, numerous of psychologists are come up with their opinions
upon cause of cholera such as; few thought foul drains which spread by contagion is a major
cause of cholera, unhygienic water is another factor and many more. In fact, numerous of
approaches like Victorian and theories are identified which shows distinct concept on cholera
disease. For instance; Miasma theory is an obsolete medical framework which shows that health
problems like; cholera, chlamydia or Black Death are incurred because of miasma means
pollution, noxious form like bad air which is consider as night air.
First or foremost diagnosed case of cholera was identified in Sunderland in February in
around 1831 which comes from an epidemic in Bengal that was spread across the land through
Russia to West Europe. Furthermore, cholera gets spread from Sunderland to London in nearly
1832. As a result, this disease has created a major distress environment and panic situations at
public place. Therefore, this disease is increasing at rapid way along with Banks of Thames that
includes lower parts of Westminster. Hence, Health department have taken some initiative for
dealing with outbreak of cholera and asked from various hospitals such as; The Middlesex
Hospital for admitting the case of cholera but some of them have refused for admission. On the
other hand, The Royal Free Hospital has opened their doors in order support for curing this
epidemic. According to the Board of Health report definition of diarrhoea is stools faecal with no
vomiting with and cramps whereas cholera is a term which means Rice water stools, colourless,
cramps, poor pulses etc. However, number of psychologist from London has come up their
opinion in order to describe the cause of cholera (Jardim, 2015).
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Miasma Theory is another framework that is obsolete medical approach which is held
that these disease such as; cholera, chlamydia or Black death that is caused by miasma means
pollution or form through bad air known as night air. It means, as per this approach origin of
epidemics is incurred because of miasma. Moreover, these approach of Victorian shows the
psychologist viewpoint that pollution is a major reason behind diseases like cholera. However,
this framework is mainly coined by scientist or physicians after 1880 that was replaced by Germ
theory of disease; particular germs, not miasma causes specific illnesses.
Early Victorian thoughts of human physiology show a clear understanding of
examination. Scientific growth in 19th century and through entire scenario of cholera, modern
psychologist have identified that it have a major influence on understanding health and disease.
This means that, an experimental investigation was resultant into new knowledge in histology,
pathology and about microbiology (Martin and Schwartz, 2014). However, some of these
advances were took place in Britain where very rare medical practice is linked with scientific
work. By analysing the case of Victorian approaches on cholera, biochemical understandings of
physiology initiated in Germany in almost 1850s, simultaneously by having important work on
vision and neuromuscular system. On the other hand, France Louis Pasteur coined the
foundations of Germ theory of disease which is based on determination of micro-bacterial
organisms. Till the end of century, new understanding on biology was also coming into being,
escorting emphasis on new rigorous hygiene and fresh air as well as long lasting fear of invisible
contamination from unwashed multitude, utensils which were shared and toilet seats. Along with
this, technological developments underpinned this procedure from ophthalmoscope and
enhanced microscopes which help in identifying micro-organism. In the mid-century stethoscope
launched in France in 1817 to support in diagnosis of respiratory and cardiac disorders as well as
it become one of the symbolic icons of medical profession.
On the other hand, Jan Marsh is author of The Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood (1985) and
biographies of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Christina Rossetti. However, she have written broad
on gender and society in 19th century by getting inspired with the cholera outbreak in London as
well as with the psychologist of that time. Recently, she has visited professor at Humanities
Research Centre of University of Sussex as well as got engaged in working on Victorian
Representation of ethnicity.
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By assessing cholera outbreak and DR. Snow hypothesis, it has been analysed that
various modern psychologist have come up with their views on certain subject as well learnt
numerous of things from the authors whosever designed their hypothesis on this subject
(Joralemon, 2015). For example; five major viewpoints are expressed in psychology through this
outbreak such as; biological, psychodynamic, behavioural, cognitive and humanistic. Hence,
each perceptive have their own thought process on origin and in identifying the reason behind
certain situation. Additionally, approaches in psychologist are becoming very much broad and
strong due to the introduction of several frameworks which helps psychologist in coming on
certain decision about specific subject. Apart from this, numerous of things are identified which
shows that modern psychologist have learnt from cholera outbreak and through Victorian
approaches. For example; Dr. Snow has explained the causes of cholera with the help of proper
research and investigation process in order to proven the things which are not understood by
common people. For example; By his own experience, he have noticed that in around 1831
miners work for almost ten hours in a day and they bought their meals after that workers had no
opportunity to even wash their hands because there is absence of sanitary arrangements.
Moreover, those particular hands are also used for faces as well as conveyed to mouth also which
automatically shows the bacteria which is faced by miners while working. Therefore, this
psychological opinion of Dr. Snow convinces others with the cause of cholera by showing
comparison of two water supplies that is; Vauxhall and Southwark (Rodin, Schooler and Schaie,
2013).
Dr. John Snow was most interesting character or psychologist who has expressed their
opinion on cause of cholera in the regions of London. He was a son of Yorkshire farmer who
born in almost 1813 and died in 1858 at a very initial age of 45. During the time of 1831
epidemic he was sent as an unqualified medical assistant for few coal mines where he noticed
that there is full absence of any attempt related with sanitation or lack of washing facilities. He
had completed his studied at Little Windmill Street School of Anatomy as well as completed his
clinical training at Westiminster hospital. One of the major achievements of Snow’s was in
providing that cholera was water borne infection and contrary to this there are views that this
problem was airborne and impossible to reduced. However, he has given his general practice in
almost 1848 for investigating spread of cholera. He believes that cholera started with diarrhoea
and vomiting the poison must be acting on alimentary canal through direct contact. Additionally,
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emanation is initially entered into lungs then its goes to blood stream in which some of the
general symptoms is; high temperature, rigors, headache and maximization of pulse (Tisher and
Nichterlein, 2018).
Hence, there are number of approaches are determined or available on causation of
outbreak of cholera which were dismissed but still explained number of things to modern
psychologist as they get aware about the way of representing things in more clear way. For
example; one is for putting into new sewers few months ago had disturbed hidden contamination
in soil. Therefore, Broad Street sewer was put in almost 1852. Another framework or theory was
about old plague pit by Carnaby Street was disturbed which was outside region. Additionally,
most significant investigation which was carried out in around 1855 by Rev. Henry Whitehead,
curate of St. Luke’s Berwick Street who was of nearly 29 age and hired curate in 1851. On the
other hand, Snow had represented his book on his 1849 research that was based on cholera but at
the same time Whitehead was not agree on that and wrote this to Snow for telling him so. After
that Whitehead has sent his own prejudiced research inquiries that were against hypothesis of
Snow. Hence, it has been understood that number of psychologist are coming with their views
and opinions on single subject. All these things proven that modern psychologist views are still
alive and performing very much well in coming with logical meanings or concepts. As a result,
these enquiries and researchers help in enhancing science well in proper manner by
implementing logical things.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Charmaz, K. and McMullen, L.M., 2011. Five ways of doing qualitative analysis:
Phenomenological psychology, grounded theory, discourse analysis, narrative research,
and intuitive inquiry. Guilford Press.
Jardim, J.B., 2015. John Snow's behaviorsphere. The Psychological Record, 65(1), pp.209-213.
Martin, L. and Schwartz, D.L., 2014. A pragmatic perspective on visual representation and
creative thinking. Visual Studies, 29(1), pp.80-93.
Tisher, M. and Nichterlein, M., 2018. Love in Times of Cholera: Systemic Reflections on
Supporting Families Through the Journey (s) of Illness. Australian and New Zealand
Journal of Family Therapy, 39(2), pp.243-256.
Joralemon, D., 2015. Exploring medical anthropology. Routledge.
Rodin, J., Schooler, C. and Schaie, K.W., 2013. Control and Health: An Epidemiological
Perspective. In Self Directedness(pp. 225-258). Psychology Press.
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