Degeneration and “Socially Dangerous” in Late Imperial Russia Psychiatry

Mikhail Pogorelov ()
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Mikhail Pogorelov: National Research University Higher School of Economics

HSE Working papers from National Research University Higher School of Economics

Abstract: The article examines the role of degeneration theory in Russian medical and public discourses at the turn of the 20th century. Drawing on a wide range of historiography and primary sources, including archival records and medical writings, the article aims to outline different contexts of the concept’s usages: from rhetorical idioms to “scientific”, clinical and instrumental applications. Then, it seeks how psychiatrists defined the category of “socially dangerous” and tried to modify the existed institutional and legal framework. This focus could explain degeneration theory influence on social policy and the late imperial institutional system.

Keywords: deviant; socially dangerous; psychiatry; degeneration theory; Russia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16 pages
Date: 2016
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cis, nep-his and nep-hpe
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Published in WP BRP Series: Humanities / HUM, December 2016, pages-16

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hig:wpaper:139/hum/2016

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