Dorothea Dix Personality

In the 1840s, Dorothea Dix introduced the concept of humane treatment for individuals with mental illness. She advocated for better treatment and

"There are few cases in history where a social movement of such proportions can be attributed to the work of a single individual" (Kovach) At the age of thirty-nine, a woman by the name of Dorothea Dix devoted the rest of her life as an advocate to the humane attitude toward the mentally ill. She traveled the world from state to state visiting each and every prison, almhouse, asylum, orphanage, and hidden hovel documenting everything and anything she saw. After her intricate study of what she had been a witness of she wrote a letter or "memorial" and presented it to a legislator she knew who would present it to each legislature in each state she had studied. Dorothea Dix was the pioneering force in the movement to reform the

From being held against the inmate's will to being chained into cells. To the patients, in the mental hospitals, that had to endure neglect, abuse, and starvation. Dorothea Dix was a reformer that cared and tended to the needs of the mistreated. She did this gain better treatment and inequality for those who did not have a voice. Dix portrayed an important role of hospitals, reforming mental hospitals and insane asylums, and reform

During a time when women weren't known to have power, one woman stood out to me because she made such a huge impact on society. Dorothea Dix was an author, advocate, and reformer and she was known for her efforts to change how the mentally ill and prisoners were treated. She helped create institutions across the United States and Europe that would help change how people analyzed the mentally ill and prisoners. The reason for the creation of the institutes, was because she did research study, and found evidence that showed prisoners were neglected. That was not the only things Dorothea Dix had a desire to change. She also didn’t agree with the saying "people with mental disabilities cannot be cured or healed," but in fact her as individual proved that wrong. Growing up Dorothea had health issues that affected her working career and from her experience she formed a desire to help make a difference in others' lives. I view Dorothea Dix as a role model simply because I can relate to her when it comes to her view on the mentally ill. My brother underwent brain surgery which left him as being known as a person with mental disabilities.In today's society people are treated much different and less likely to be judged all thanks to Dorothea Dix. It amazes me how Dorothea Dix back in the 1860's still has an effect on today's society and how we view and treat the mentally ill. She not only brought awareness to the mentally ill and prisoner's but she also served in the Civil War as

The first major group that had their humanity striped from them, and where even treated as merchandise, were the slaves. Advocates for abolition sought to free slaves and give them the same rights that others had, which would expand the democratic institution already set in place. In document 1 William Lloyd Garrison underlines the sheer insult that slavery is to democracy by giving clear, haunting, images of the treatment of slaves and emphasizing that the issue is affecting millions of people. His argument presented that those who supported slavery, supported the inhumane treatment of other humans, and were threatening towards the ideals of freedom, liberty, and the pursuit happiness that this nation was formed on. Another misrepresented group of individuals, facing encroachment on their civil right to justice and liberty, where those diagnosed with mental illness. During this time in America we had no asylums or mental hospitals. Thus, many mentally-ill were sent to prisons and were treated unjustly. In document 5, Dorothea Lynde Dix makes an effective case towards the making a state hospital for the protection and cure of the insane. In her argument, like that of William Lloyd Garrison in document 1, she supports her claims with vivid descriptions of the injustices this group of people faces.

Known as an American philanthropist and reformer, Dorothea Dix transformed living conditions in prisons and established institutions for the mentally insane in 20 states, as well as Canada (“DIX”). Through her crusade for fair treatment of the mentally insane, Dorothea Dix exemplifies the ideals of her time – to protect the rights of all human beings, no matter their age, race, or mental capacity.

     http://www.psych.org/pnews/98-10-16/hx.html. This feature for the Psychiatric News answers the question as to why Dix became so involved, and felt so strongly about the mentally ill. The article gives more detail about the Dix family. It was also interesting to note that many in the psychiatric field feel that Dix is truly an unsung hero of the mental health movement.

Some reform movements sought to expand democratic rights in order to attain greater equality among American society. However, others believed that limiting democratic rights was essential to the preservation of American society. One reform movement that looked to limit democratic rights was the Nativist movement. Samuel Morse, who clearly was a strong nativist, expresses his anti-immigrant views, wishing to deny immigrants the right to vote (Doc3). Morse was part of the larger American Party, which pushed for anti-immigration legislation.

One of the more powerful speakers within prison reform was Dorothea Dix, who spent time within a prison for the insane, to explain the horrors that occurred behind the scenes. As seen in Document 5, Dorothea Dix explains to the General Assembly of North Carolina the inhumane treatment of the mentally ill. This shows how reform was beginning to make an impact on, not only the social, but political side of America. In regards to educational reform, Horace Mann addresses the Massachusetts Legislature on the human right to be educated in Document 3. He argues that education is “the antidote to poverty,” explaining how public education would benefit the public. Both of these documents address the government, thus presenting how American society reformed to address more democratic

Do you know what Dorothea Dix did to make this world a better place? Dorothea Dix assured the lives of the Union Army and the mentally ill, through hard-work and overcoming obstacles. As a kind and thoughtful person, Dix reserved a portion of her life towards the mentally ill. With time, another door opened leading her to another accomplishment, being Superintendent of Nurses. As superintendent, Dix chose and trained many nursed to assist her and take their job as seriously as she did.Over a course of time, Dorothea Dix showed that women could fulfill the duty of many difficult tasks.

On March 28, 1841, Dorothea Dix was invited to teach a Sunday class at East Cambridge, Massachusetts women 's jail. The invitation was at the right time because Dix have already heard how horrible the conditions and treaments of the mentally ill were in Massachusetts, it was just not justified. After her class she toured the jail and was appalled by what she had discovered. The innocent, guilty, and the mentally ill were combined in the unsanitary, crowded, cells of the East Cambridge jail. In addition, a keeper in the jail stated that the prisoners did not need heat or ventilation because they did not need it. With a strong character and high morality of Dorothea Dix, she immediately took action that led to the betterment of the

Dorthea Dix’s own troubled family background motivated her to tour the country gathering information about how the mentally ill were treated, as well as other prisoners from 1838 until 1861. Dorthea Dix was an activists as well as a teacher. Dix worked hard to publicize the terrible and unforgiving conditions in poorhouses and basements where the insane were often kept in chains. Her charismatic personality and great ability to voice her arguments with officials helped her to establish the first American mental asylum, as well as 24 new hospitals and asylums in fifteen American states and in

Dorothea Lynde Dix was salient to the development of both the Reform and Civil War Eras that she lived during, and to the overall United States. Moreover, Dorothea Dix had minor, but crucial, contributions to the education of children during her early years, which would help her effort in creating different perspective and establishing institutions for the mentally ill. Her onerous efforts even required her to plead to the State Legislative body, which was essential in achieving her goals for the mentally ill. In addition, Dix contributed to the Civil War when she was appointed superintendent of nurses for the Union army. Dix’s action would leave a permanent mark to the character of the United States when she helped form institutions for the mentally ill and wrote the “Bill of the Benefit of the Indigent Insane.”

Born in 1802, Dorothea Dix played an important role in changing the ways people thought about patients who were mentally-ill and handicapped. These patients had always been cast-off as “being punished by God”. She believed that that people of such standing would do better by being treated with love and caring rather than being put aside. As a social reformer, philanthropist, teacher, writer, writer, nurse, and humanitarian, Dorothea Dix devoted devoted her life to the welfare of the mentally-ill and handicapped. She accomplished many milestones throughout her life and forever changed the way patients are cared for. She was a pioneer in her time, taking on challenges that no other women would dare dream of tackling.

When given the tasks of choosing a subject, 3 different theorists and there views on personality and having to combine these two in a paper, it seemed not to be to much of a challenge. Until you actually have to sit down and figure out that one interesting person that you then have to describe pleasant traits of but you also have to bring to light their bad qualities. After much contemplation and countless outlines and lists of qualities of different subjects I finally settled on the one subject I felt could provide me with the most information to have a successful paper.