the i nvention of ’the p sychopath g irl’
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The I nvention of ’the P sychopath G irl’. From a Social to a Psychiatric Perspective on Girls in Reformatories. Bolette Frydendahl Larsen Queen Mary University, May 2014. Outline. Part 1: Introduction The Argument in T odays ’ P aper Source M aterial - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Invention of ’the Psychopath Girl’
Bolette Frydendahl LarsenQueen Mary University, May 2014
From a Social to a Psychiatric Perspective on Girls in Reformatories
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Outline
Part 1: Introduction• The Argument in Todays’ Paper• Source Material
Part 2: ’The Psychopath Girls’ • The Case: Vejstrup and the Failed Social Practice• The Introduction of ’Psychopathy’• Political Demands of a Psychiatric Solution• Conclusions
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
This Paper
Questions• Why and how did the problem of ”difficult girls” become a
problem of ”psychopath girls”
Sources:• Annual reports (1909-1945)• Example of records from the Vejstrup Archive (1908-1962)• Government reports (1940-1955)
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Vejstrup State Reformatory
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Incorrigible Girls at Vejstrup
• 580 girls released from Vejstrup between 1908-1948 • 14% released as incorrigible
• At Danish asylums and reformatories for both sexes only 3-4% were released as incorrigible between 1929-1939
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
The introduction of ’Psychopathy’, 1930
”She is very degenerated and has strong sexual aptitudes (…). She was tested for intelligence and declared "of normal intelligence, but defective in character, suffering from pronounced ’Custody Council Disobedience’ ”. She was than set to be released as incorrigible, but because of her [young] age the Custody Council thought it would be indefensible (…). The future of this distinctly psychopath girl is difficult to predict (...)"
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
’Psychopathy’ in Denmark: Prisons vs Asylums and Reformatories
• ”Psychopathy” became established as a legal category in Denmark in the 1930 Revised Insanity Law– Establishment of psychopath asylums for men in 1935
• Differences in the use of the diagnosis
• At asylums and reformatories: Synonymous with ”incorrigible”.
…let’s see an example
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Psychopathy in Vejstrup reports #1
• ”A tiring pupil to deal with, she could probably do a job well, but she was moody, often sloppy, and superficial. A childish, silly and short-tempered girl, often with a disturbed and superior behaviour. If she was not satisfied with something, she was stubborn and coarse . She had a bad influence on the other girls, and one never felt comfortable with what she was talking to them about. (...) There was not much progress with her, she was almost stagnant ”
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Psychopathy in Vejstrup reports #1
• ”A tiring pupil to deal with, she could probably do a job well, but she was moody, often sloppy, and superficial. A childish, silly and short-tempered girl, often with a disturbed and superior behaviour. If she was not satisfied with something, she was stubborn and coarse . She had a bad influence on the other girls, and one never felt comfortable with what she was talking to them about. (...) There was not much progress with her, she was almost stagnant ”
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Psychopathy in Vejstrup reports #2
• Childish• No progression and incorrigible• Difficult to work with • Able to work, but sloppy• Wants attention
Sent away from Vejstrup Political concerns
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Political Demands of a Psychiatric Solution
1952:• ”a large part of the children and adolescents at
asylums/reformatories were mentally retarded or had a psychopathic character”
1956:• ”Every year 16 year old girls are sent out of the
reformatories as ’incorrigible’ and their future is left to themselves and to their often very poor homes”; "the psychiatric contribution to the treatment [had] been rudimentarily”
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Some conclusions
Lund University / The National Graduate School of History / Bolette Frydendahl Larsen
Thanks for listening!
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