The pursuit of happiness: using Hellenistic and Romantic foundations to demedicalise and demystify modern therapeutic approaches regarding depression

This thesis investigates modern therapeutic approaches ab initio to retaliate against the monopoly that psychopharmacology has on the therapeutic industry of the twenty-first century. I offer a comparison between Hellenistic and Romantic philosophy to bidirectionally supplement two unique approaches to mental well-being. The chosen canon may equally appear inaccessible, so the concepts of Stoic emotional regulation, Epicurean sources of distress and Romantic depictions of positive affect and melancholy will be explained with appropriate background given to the relevant periods. Despite this philosophical foundation, elements such as emotional regulation, self-expression and imagination are already frequently utilised in non-pharmacological modern therapeutic approaches. A 'case study' of Goethe's character of Werther provides a Romantic example of Aaron Beck's cognitive idiosyncrasies of depression upon which the Stoic-informed technique of cognitive reframing can be applied. In this way the chosen Romantic canon expresses countless links to the extremes of emotional expression, as in the case of Werther, but also bears relevance to everyday cognitive patterns. Specific therapeutic approaches, such as Rogers' person-centred therapy are explained as a reminder of the immense benefits non-pharmacological approaches have on adapting cognitive patterns, stress and anxiety management as well as good social and psychological functioning. I conclude that a degree of 'de-medicalisation' is required to allow room for such re-introduction of philosophical focus in therapeutic approaches.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Author dc:creator

• Hawkins, Madeline

Contributors dc:contributor

• Boulter, Stephen

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/xq44-xh83

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:dd042d45-0f99-41c4-95e7-194b5afca08a:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1