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: The authors argue that while Freud is often credited with "discovering" the psychological roots of hysteria, he actually inherited a 3,000-year-old lineage of medical and cultural thought.

: Explores the origins of hysteria in antiquity, specifically examining the Hippocratic tradition and the myth of the "wandering womb".

: Examines the visual and cultural "image" of the hysteric throughout history. Central Themes

: Investigates the development of hysteria as a "strange pathology" in the early modern world (1500–1800).

The work is a collaboration between five prominent historians and cultural critics:

: 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

: 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 Apr 2026

: The authors argue that while Freud is often credited with "discovering" the psychological roots of hysteria, he actually inherited a 3,000-year-old lineage of medical and cultural thought.

: Explores the origins of hysteria in antiquity, specifically examining the Hippocratic tradition and the myth of the "wandering womb". Hysteria Beyond Freud

: Examines the visual and cultural "image" of the hysteric throughout history. Central Themes : The authors argue that while Freud is

: Investigates the development of hysteria as a "strange pathology" in the early modern world (1500–1800). Central Themes : Investigates the development of hysteria

The work is a collaboration between five prominent historians and cultural critics:

: 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

: The text demonstrates that hysteria was frequently defined not just by biological symptoms, but by prevailing social norms regarding gender, behavior, and "proper" womanhood.

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