Romanticism and schizophrenia. Second part: The intimacy hypothesis

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Cultural History
• Genetics

Background:

• The recency hypothesis and intimate nature of schizophrenia require further exploration.
• Late Modernism, particularly Romanticism, introduced significant shifts in worldview and beliefs about human nature.
• Schizophrenia's characteristic alterations in subjectivity and selfhood may be exacerbated by Romanticism's challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of cultural aspects, specifically Romanticism, in understanding schizophrenia.
• To connect Romanticism's emphasis on 'discovery of intimacy' with schizophrenia's altered subjectivity.
• To link these cultural hypotheses with recent genetic perspectives on disease sets (diseasomes).

Main Methods:

• Analysis of evidence supporting the recency hypothesis of schizophrenia.
• Examination of cultural shifts during Late Modernism and Romanticism.
• Consideration of literary works (e.g., Hölderlin) to illustrate psychological themes.
• Integration with genetic diseasome perspectives.

Main Results:

• Romanticism's focus on intimacy and altered subjectivity may represent a vulnerability factor for schizophrenia.
• Literary analysis reveals Romanticism as a source of both creativity and potential destruction for the modern individual.
• A potential link is established between Late Modernism/Romanticism traits and core schizophrenia features.

Conclusions:

• Cultural shifts during Romanticism may contribute to understanding schizophrenia's core features.
• The interplay between societal changes and individual vulnerability offers new therapeutic avenues.
• Integrating cultural and genetic perspectives can advance schizophrenia research and treatment.