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Insane Asylum Research Paper

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Insane Asylum Research Paper
The Fall and Rise of Mental Institutions

Alex Hayes
Advanced English 10 Morton
March 18th, 2013

There are many different icons in society that inspire fear into the hearts of mankind, from Dracula to Frankenstein; however, insane asylums found their way into American culture in earlier centuries and have risen to a source of terror and misery. Asylums are still feared today based on their practices and behaviors up until the 20th century when drastic changes in both the culture and laws of society changed. Nevertheless, their bad reputation has followed them throughout the years and will seemingly cling on to the institutions for the rest of time. As thoughts and views of mental illness have changed in recent decades, asylums too …show more content…
The causes of these conditions were varied. Firstly, due to the large quantity of the mentally ill there was little to no room for cleaning and housing. Additionally, understaffing in institutions resulted in most patients suffering from diseases; many resulting in death (Canton asylum). Due to common prejudices regarding the mentally ill, staff behaviors were also a factor. The pain and suffering caused by the underpaid staff’s abuse took a toll on the health of the patients and subsequently hurt their chance of recovery (Mental illness). Overall early colonial and foreign insane asylums resulted in little recovery to patients and, in most cases, resulted in further illness and injury up until the early 1800s (Canton …show more content…
While it is important to understand the differences in today’s institution compared to their predecessors; it is also critical to take heed of lessons learned. Throughout history mankind has been challenged by how to treat members of society who are different whether these differences are based on physical or mental attributes. As for mental illness, we have entered into an age of new beginnings where the negative aspects of these places are being forgotten and images of safety and happiness for these patients are being
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