Pre-1450: Possession by Demons Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due to the physical possession by a demon

of some kind

Response – removal of the demon

1450 to 1750: Possession by the Devil Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due to the spiritual possession by the devil

Response – “encourage” the devil to leave the person

1750 to 1800: Biological Abnormality & Proportional Responses Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due to some (usually unknown) biological

cause

Response – crude biological responses (e.g., ice baths)

1800 to 1850: Institutionalization Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due

to some uncontrollable cause

Response – separation and institutionalization

1850 to 1900: Medical Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due

to a medical problem

Response – operations and medications

1900 to 1930: Psychoanalytic EraCause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due

to early childhood conflicts and unconscious impulses

Response – intensive individual therapy

1930 to 1950: Behavioural Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due

to learning

Response – behaviourally-based treatments

•Aversive Therapy•Reconditioning

1950 to 1980: Humanistic Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due to the need for people to self-actualize

Response – group therapy aimed at impacting empathy, unconditional

acceptance, and genuineness

1980 to Today: Cognitive Era

Cause - abnormal behaviour (including criminal behaviour) believed to be due

to faulty thinking (cognitive) styles

Response – alteration of thinking styles