The Transient Nature of Hysteria: How Patriarchal Victorian Values Fostered its Existence

Hysteria is an everchanging illness that has historically been regarded as both a medical and mental disorder. Characterized by a plethora of symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and grand movements, the disease was particularly diagnosed in females at its peak in the 19th century. Key figures of the 19th century’s medical and psychological spheres, such as Jean-Martin Charcot and Sigmund Freud, contributed to the perception of hysteria as a predominantly female disease. Charcot’s presentations of the female hysterical body, coupled with the patriarchal values of the Victorian Era, created the perfect environment for hysteria to be viewed in this way. Although once quite prominent, the diagnosis of hysteria ultimately disappeared with its removal from the DSM-III in 1980. Its disappearance and transient nature raise questions about how societal and cultural factors impact the narrative of illnesses. These questions can be approached using Canadian philosopher Ian Hacking’s framework for transient mental illnesses. This framework asserts that mental illnesses are transient because they require a specific environment to flourish, often referred to as an “ecological niche”. Furthermore, Hacking suggests there are four possible vectors that contribute to the development of these illnesses: 1) the illness and its symptoms must be deemed abnormal, 2) the deviant behaviour of the illness must align with other illnesses, 3) the illness must lie between a cultural polarity, and 4) the illness must provide release. Thus, using the concept of Ian Hacking’s framework, hysteria can be viewed as a transient mental illness fostered by the patriarchal values of the Victorian Era and can be examined through each of the four vectors.