: Some contributors, like Helen King, argue that "Classical hysteria" was a retrospective invention by later physicians to legitimize their own medical theories. Hysteria Beyond Freud - UC Press E-Books Collection
: Investigates the development of hysteria as a "strange pathology" in the early modern world (1500–1800). Hysteria Beyond Freud
: Examines the visual and cultural "image" of the hysteric throughout history. Central Themes : Some contributors, like Helen King, argue that
: Discusses the intersection of hysteria with feminism and gender, viewing the condition through a socio-political lens. Central Themes : Discusses the intersection of hysteria
The work is a collaboration between five prominent historians and cultural critics:
: The text demonstrates that hysteria was frequently defined not just by biological symptoms, but by prevailing social norms regarding gender, behavior, and "proper" womanhood.
Hysteria Beyond Freud is a widely respected scholarly volume published in 1993 by the University of California Press . The book provides a historical and thematic reevaluation of the medical concept of hysteria, moving away from traditional psychoanalytic perspectives to explore its social and cultural evolution from antiquity to the early 20th century. Core Contributors and Chapters