Social psychology of the nervous system.

Abstract

General Remarks Concerning the Nervous System* See any textbook on neurology-as Wechsler, Tilney and Rileyfor diseases of these pathways. For example, if the impulses from the muscles and joints are cut off by syphilis in the disease called tabes dor-

Remedies for the housewife's nervousness: Life advice in Abraham Myerson's popular self‐help texts, 1920–1930

“…Instead, he adopted the widely recognized term “nervous.” Since people used nervous to refer to states of anger, fear, and restlessness, as well as behaviors like nail biting and hair pulling, Myerson expected the popularity of the term would help communicate his arguments to a wider audience (Myerson, 1920a). He clarified for his readers that “what we are dealing with in the nervous housewife is not a special form of nervous disorder,” and that it conformed to the general types found in the general population (Myerson, 1920a; p.17). What distinguished nervousness in the housewife from other manifestations, Myerson explained, was the intensity and causes of the symptoms.…”

“…Despite their popularity, Myerson rejected these explanations. He asserted that “the causes of these forms of nervousness are simpler, more related to the big obvious factors in life, than to the curiously complicated and bizarrely sexual Freudian factors.” (Myerson, 1920a; p. 34). According to him, it did not matter where the conflict was occurring, as it was the presence of conflict which was responsible for the nervous symptoms.…”

“…According to him, it did not matter where the conflict was occurring, as it was the presence of conflict which was responsible for the nervous symptoms. He clarified that “people get tired, disgusted, apprehensive; they hate where they should love; love where they should hate; are jealous unreasonably; are bored, tortured by monotony; have their hopes, purposes, and desires frustrated and blocked; fear death and old age.” (Myerson, 1920a; p. 34). This dismissal of Freud constitutes an evolution in Myerson's approach to psychiatry.…”

“…In the opening line of his 1920 self‐help book The Nervous Housewife , the psychiatrist Abraham Myerson rhetorically asked “how old is the problem of the Nervous Housewife?” (Myerson, 1920a; p. 1). In light of major transformations brought on by industrialization, urbanization, and immigration in early 20th century America, there was a growing concern that modern society was harmful to the health of the population.…”

“…To achieve this goal, Myerson created what this article will argue was one of the first self‐help books written by a psychiatrist on how to live. I nsisting that it was the housewife's everyday experiences in modern America that were responsible for her nervous symptoms, Myerson identified the objective of his book as helping the housewife “know herself better and thus move towards the light.” (Myerson, 1920a; p.267) The Nervous Housewife helped readers understand the relationship between their everyday struggles and symptoms by describing how major social transformations had rendered housekeeping, childcare, and marriage as the primary sources of nervousness in housewives. After explicating the sources of nervousness for the modern housewife, the text offered corresponding lifestyle changes that would allow the reader to manage and prevent her symptoms at home.…”