In the 1300s, how would a woman suffering from mental illness most likely have been perceived by society?

• A. She would be considered a victim of stress and encouraged to seek therapy.
• B. She would often be viewed as possessed by evil spirits or as a witch.
• C. She would be seen as someone needing medical treatment in a hospital.
• D. She would be regarded as a person with a biological imbalance requiring medication.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the historical context of mental illness in the 1300s, a period often referred to as the Middle Ages, where scientific knowledge about mental health was very limited.
2. Step 2: Recognize that during this time, mental illness was commonly explained through supernatural or religious beliefs rather than medical or psychological frameworks.
3. Step 3: Identify that women exhibiting symptoms of mental illness were frequently perceived as being possessed by evil spirits or accused of witchcraft, reflecting the societal and cultural attitudes of the era.
4. Step 4: Contrast this with modern understandings of mental illness, which involve biological, psychological, and social factors, and treatments such as therapy and medication that were not available or recognized in the 1300s.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the most accurate perception in the 1300s would be that a woman suffering from mental illness was often viewed as possessed by evil spirits or as a witch.