“Going in for Insanity”: W. H. R. Rivers, World War One, and War-Neurosis Morgan Bourque University of Prince Edward Island
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Running head: “GOING IN FOR INSANITY” 1 “Going in for insanity”: W. H. R. Rivers, World War One, and War-Neurosis Morgan Bourque University of Prince Edward Island “GOING IN FOR INSANITY” 2 Abstract Dr. William H. R. Rivers was found to have made significant contributions to the field of psychology, along with various other fields of study including anthropology, neurology, and ethnology. Rivers is often described as one of the first experimental psychologists in Britain, and is credited with the founding of the country’s first two experimental psychology laboratories. He conducted noteworthy psychology research and also pioneered cross-cultural psychology. Perhaps most significant, however, were Rivers’ contributions during the First World War when he worked with shell-shocked patients and developed his own theory and method of treatment for war-neurosis. This Honours thesis made use of several of Rivers’ own published works to convey his significance within the history of psychology, especially Instinct and the Unconscious: A Contribution to a Biological Theory of the Psycho-Neuroses, published in 1920 and which detailed his theory and treatment for war-related trauma. Within this Honours thesis, Rivers was also considered in relation to three of his main students; Charles Myers, William McDougall, and Frederic Bartlett. All three of these students are largely significant within the history of psychology and Rivers was found to have influenced each of them, both personally and academically. “GOING IN FOR INSANITY” 3 Introduction William H. R. Rivers, M.D., D. Sc., LL. D., F.R.S., was a notable English anthropologist, ethnologist, neurologist, and psychiatrist. Often noted for his anthropological contributions, Rivers also spearheaded the first two experimental psychology laboratories in Britain. He was appointed as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War, during which time he treated “shell-shocked” soldiers. Inspired by the writings of Sigmund Freud, Rivers treated soldiers at Maghull War Hospital (Maghull, England), Craiglockhart War Hospital (Craiglockhart, Scotland), and the Royal Air Force Hospital (Hampstead, England). The famous war poet, Siegfried Sassoon, was Rivers’ most noteworthy patient during his wartime service. However, Rivers only practiced psychotherapy during the war; during this time he was able to advance a humane and effective therapy that encouraged and helped patients face and deal with repressed memories through re-education. At this period in time, there were few psychological treatments for shell-shock, and even fewer which were humane and compassionate. Shell-shock itself was a relatively new phenomenon and prior to the First World War no one had encountered this degree of psychological trauma. Despite his lack of recognition in the history of psychology, Rivers’ work contributed significantly to the development of psychology. This Honours thesis will aim to offer a detailed exploration into the life and work of Rivers, situating it within the broader context of combat-related trauma and its treatment during the First World War. While scarcely recognized in psychology today, the treatment that he offered to those suffering from shell-shock was inspirational and ahead of his time. It is important and worthwhile to acknowledge the important work and significant contributions Rivers made in the history of psychology and the military. Additionally, the world is still plagued by the consequences of warfare, making war-related trauma a highly relevant and timely “GOING IN FOR INSANITY” 4 field of study in psychology. Through a careful consideration of Rivers’ contributions to psychology, readers may be able to envision psychology’s history in a way that greater incorporates Rivers’ work and influence. Additionally, through analyzing Rivers’ treatment for war-neurosis in the context of other historical treatments for war-neurosis, it may be possible to better understand the social and historical constructions of war-related trauma. Method The foundation for this paper consists of several primary sources written by Rivers, including his textbook, Instinct and the Unconscious: A Contribution to a Biological Theory of the Psycho-Neuroses, published in 1920. In this book, Rivers provided a thorough breakdown of his theory on the “psycho-neuroses”, offering additional information regarding the “war- neuroses”. His article in The Lancet in February 1918, entitled “An Address on the Repression of War Experience”, was also analyzed. The novel W. H. R. Rivers: Pioneer Anthropologist, Psychiatrist of The Ghost Road by Richard Slobodin provided comprehensive biographical information, while The Complete Memoirs of George Sherston by Siegfried Sassoon offered a fictionalized account of Sassoon’s personal experiences with Rivers. This Honours thesis will begin with a biographical analysis of Rivers, presenting a chronological examination of his life and his work in various fields of study. His work with patients suffering from shell-shock at Maghull Military Hospital, Craiglockhart War Hospital, and the Royal Air Force will be analyzed, with a close look into his treatment and methods. The paper will also delve into his theory regarding the psycho-neuroses, providing a detailed account of his approach. Then, Rivers’ theory and treatment will be analyzed within the context of the First World War along with other common methods that were being used to treat shell-shock at “GOING IN FOR INSANITY” 5 this time. Through this comparison, this paper will seek to demonstrate the continued relevance and significance of Rivers and his influential work, especially within the field of psychology. This extensive study into the life and works of Rivers was built on a foundation of personal inspiration and enthusiasm. I first encountered Rivers through the well-known historical fiction novel by Pat Barker called Regeneration. This novel, the first in a trilogy, told the story of Rivers’ work during the First World War. Despite its fictional elements, Barker wrote a novel that was very heavily researched and which presented Rivers’ work in a detailed and historically accurate manner. Upon learning of Rivers’ psychological work, I was greatly inspired, not only to learn more about Rivers but to enter into psychology studies myself. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I spent countless hours furthering my knowledge about Rivers and the work that he did. Subsequent research did not dull my interest in Rivers but rather strengthened it, prompting me to make him the subject matter of my Honours thesis. Many aspects of Rivers’ accomplishments have fascinated me over the years, however I have always been particularly impressed by his work within psychology. His clinical treatments for mental ailments appeared, to me, to be progressive and enlightened, demonstrating great insight. There is much that I have learned from this man, and I believe that there is a great deal that others can learn from him as well. As a historical thesis, certain historiographic and methodological issues must be recognized and considered. Historiography is the study of how past events are considered, researched, and constructed. As presented by Leahey et al. (2015), the “perennial questions of historiography” outline various methodological approaches to historiography . The questions which will be addressed in this thesis include: continuous/discontinuous, internalist/externalist, “great person”/”Zeitgeist”, and historicism/presentism. “GOING IN FOR INSANITY” 6 Each of these perennial questions exists as a type of dichotomy; the first we consider is that between historical continuity and historical discontinuity. An approach guided by historical continuity would portray historical events through a narrative that stresses their interconnections and continuity over time. A discontinuous narrative, however, would focus on the discrepancies between historical contexts and therefore the differences between the historical events that occurred within these contexts (Leahey et al., 2015). While Rivers’ psychological approach to shell-shock will be compared to present treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Rivers’ life and work will still be considered and analysed within its social and historical context. Thus, while connections will be made between some of Rivers’ theories and current psychological theory, these connections will not be made at the expense of a discontinuous historical narrative. Moreover, it is important that theories and treatments for shell-shock are analysed firmly within the framework of their historical context; shell-shock is not a current psychological diagnosis and can therefore not be considered outside of the conditions in which it was conceived. Another of the perennial questions considers a presentist approach in comparison to a historicist approach. A presentist approach to historiography views history through the lens of the present and focuses primarily on how the present developed from the past. In contrast, a historicist approach to historiography is focused on the careful analysis of historical events within their own context rather than through the context of the present (Leahey et al., 2015). As indicated, there will be some comparison between Rivers’ theories and current methods and assumptions, however Rivers’ theories will not be considered through the lens of present day approaches. While it is impossible to remain truly and completely objective (current knowledge will always influence our