Concept, History, Symptoms and Simulation of madness

We explain what madness is and how this pathology developed throughout history.Madness in society and its symptoms.

Madness is considered as deprivation of judgment or use of reason.

What is Madness?

Madness consists of a pathology or disturbance of mental faculties .It is also defined as "deprivation of judgment or the use of reason".

Until the end of the 19th century, it was understood by madness to all the behaviors that departed from those expected socially , that is, that did not meet the established norms, but all this on the basis or because of a psychic imbalance , such as epilepsy or any other "disease" that caused the person to manifest strange behaviors.

See also: Melomano.

Madness throughout history

Before it was said that crazy people could be possessed or bewitched.

Before associating with the psyche of man, was directly related to supernatural facts , even saying that a person was possessed , bewitched or derived.It was also said that madmen came to that state because of their own sins.So for a long time the demons and divine punishments were linked to mental disorders.

Subsequently, specifically from the Middle Ages, different diseases began to be added to the list of «crazy» , in this century they were lepers, but after the plague, venereal diseases followed.

In the Renaissance period madness was conceived as a manifestation of evil and the mad were banished from civilization in the "stultifera navis" or ship of the crazy.

It is not until Humanism that madness becomes a matter of human reason and an important turn arises, it is about questioning people's habitual vision, criticizing the conception of reality.And finally, it is in the 17th century when the crazy hospital is created .

Madness in society

The "crazy" tend to suffer social isolation.

• It is a behavior that moves away from socially dictated norms.


• The "crazy" tend to suffer social isolation, because they do not tend to be very well integrated by the common civilians, although in certain societies people who suffer from different types of psychological pathologies have been better included.


• Integration is linked to the opportunities offered by the State or non-governmental entities.

Symptomatology of madness

Madness is not a disease in itself , but is a way to group people who have psychic disorders in a generic way.Therefore establishing symptoms of madness is difficult, but if you can name certain characteristics such as:

• Conduct away from what is expected in society, characterized by being erratic.


• Loss of emotion control, disinhibition.


• Bizarre, absurd and useless acts that are executed by the person believing that it is natural, "normal".

Stigma of madness

For centuries the end of psychotics was the confinement , having them isolated and far from civilization was the most "reasonable" decision at the time, since so citizens do not They were disturbed by them.

In the postwar period, this changed. He began to have a more human and "democratic" vision on this subject, that is, it was understood that during the past time he acted cruelly, by This is a new approach to these people who are not yet conceived within minorities when they are.

Nowadays and in western cultures integration is sought .However, this is still flawed and that is disinformation.

In countries like Spain, bells are made to explain that a person suffering from schizophrenia can access jobs like any of the people and lead a common life like everyone else, as long as they are under treatment, something that enhances inclusion.

Family and madness

Many times it It requires the attention of professionals in an efficient way.

Families are a fundamental part of any person , with greater reason when they have a certain dependence, such as psychotics.

Any family in charge of a person with psychiatric disorders not only requires help from the government or the State , such as economics, but also needs resources such as professional care efficiently , where the time of attention is optimal, with home visits if necessary, among others.

Currently, families, in most countries, feel little supported and when patients do not have family support, they usually fall into what the State provides, which is not usually a minimum acceptable assistance.

Simulation of madness

In society there are phenomena that serve as a defense or a kind of "adaptation", within them lies lies, we will consider within them simulation, over-simulation and concealment of madness.

• Simulation: Is to pretend to be crazy, either to say what you think or justify behaviors.


• Overstimulation: It is the intention of the alienated to go through crazy, is what happens with criminals who seek through this way to get rid of convictions or social stigmas related to crime.


• Sneaky: It consists of people who try to camouflage their psychic problems, since they suspect they have psychiatric problems and do not want to be hospitalized, treated or known in this way in society.