<論文>二つの「時代病」 : 神経衰弱とノイローゼの流行にみる人間観の変容

Abstract

This article deals with two epidemics, "shinkeisuijaku (neurasthenia)" and "noiroze (neuroses)", the former spread over Japan from early years of this century (c. 1905-1930s), and the latter after World War II (c. 1955-1980s). By focusing on the difference between two views of the apparently same disease, I attempt to demonstrate how the humanistic=psychological perspective, which prepared for "mental problems" of today, has prevailed among lay figures after World War II. Citing a lot of discourses concerning "shinkeisuijaku" and "noiroze", I try to show how the two diseases were understood by lay figures. "Shinkeisuijaku" was thought to result from the strain of nerves, caused by the high pressure of civilization. It attacked especially on "brain workers", and on men more than women. It was considered not as a mental process but a physiological process that caused such symptoms as headache, insomnia and depressing mental state. In contrast, "noiroze" was understood as a mental or psychological process, so that symptoms similar to "shinkeisuijaku" are considered to result from some kind of mental conflict. The cases of "noiroze" were described with such humanistic terms as "personality", "human relationships", "life history", etc. What distinguishes the view on "noiroze" can be called humanistic=psychological perspective, which prevailed with the epidemic of the disease. From this perspective, our sufferings are always interpreted as mental one. Today we notice people suffering from "mental problem" more than ever, which shows us how wide and deep the perspective has prevailed over us.