Author(s)

Jiamin Jiang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom

Corresponding Author

ABSTRACT

This paper delves into the profound impact of neurasthenia on early theories of childhood and adolescence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originating from American neurologist George Beard's conceptualization of nervous system disorders caused by the stresses of modern industrialized life, neurasthenia quickly gained widespread acceptance as a diagnosis, particularly in Western societies. This essay analyzes how neurasthenia influenced perceptions of child behaviors, parenting practices, and developmental models, with a focus on figures like G. Stanley Hall. Incorporating cross-cultural insights, it examines how neurasthenia was constructed and applied differently in non-Western contexts, such as China. While neurasthenia pathologized certain child behaviors and informed educational and psychological theories in the West, it had less sway in non-Western contexts due to alternative medical paradigms. Through a comparative analysis, this paper highlights the culturally contingent nature of neurasthenia and underscores the importance of embracing pluralism in understanding childhood and adolescence. Ultimately, it advocates for a shift towards sustainability of localized realities and ways of knowing rather than imposing external standards based on paternalistic myths.

KEYWORDS

CITE THIS PAPER

Jiamin Jiang, Neurasthenia and its impact on early theories of childhood and adolescence. Applied & Educational Psychology (2024) Vol. 5: 176-182. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/appep.2024.050323.

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