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Stendhal syndrome refers to psychogenic (reactive) psychoses. This is the body’s response to stress caused by art. The syndrome is named after the French writer Henri Marie Bayle, known under the pseudonym Stendhal. In the book «Rome, Naples and Florence» he outlined unusual exciting emotions and impressions from visiting Florence and contemplating the masterpieces of painting in the temples. Therefore, the pathology is also referred to as the Florentine syndrome.
Characteristics of a mental disorder
Stendhal syndrome has been described by different writers for 3 centuries in a row. From a medical and scientific point of view, this mental disorder was discussed in 1979. The pioneer of the Florentine syndrome is the Italian psychiatrist, writer and psychotherapist Graziella Magerini. In 1989, her book The Stendhal Syndrome was published and has since been reprinted many times.
This mental disorder is provoked by the power of art, for example:
- virtuoso singing;
- great music;
- expressive images in the paintings of artists.
Contact with objects of art causes a sharp rise in mood, wild delight, confusion of thoughts. There is inspiration, a desire to do something beautiful. In some cases, with Stendhal syndrome, a person wakes up with a craving for vandalism, terrible and destructive deeds. Manic desires do not leave and push to rash acts.
Psychiatric disorders are usually short-lived. However, there are exceptions. A person can be under the influence of works of art from several days to a week. At the same time, he needs qualified medical assistance.
In the 21st century, Stendhal syndrome is most commonly seen in tourists visiting Florence. This Italian city is the cradle of the Renaissance. It contains the greatest works of classical art. The cultural heritage of the Renaissance has a powerful influence on the psyche of people affected by the Florentine syndrome.
In museums, churches and galleries in Italy, one can meet travelers who have an unhealthy reaction to paintings, mosaics, frescoes, sculptures, etc. People with this syndrome can be recognized by their characteristic behavior. They freeze in front of art objects. Their faces take on a blissful and detached look. They are completely immersed in what they see in front of them. The real world ceases to exist for them. Sometimes tourists, seized with an unhealthy euphoria, begin to shout enthusiastically or anxiously, run around the hall or from museum to museum.
Who is affected?
Exploring the Stendhal syndrome, Graziella Magherini came to the conclusion that the inhabitants of Asia and North America are least affected by this disorder. The culture of these countries differs from the European canons.
Indigenous people in Italy also rarely suffer from Florentine syndrome. They live surrounded by renaissance monuments since childhood. Therefore, they have developed immunity to such things.
Most often, an unhealthy reaction to art objects is observed in people:
- sentimental;
- lonely;
- with higher religious, philological or cultural education;
- with a high level of intelligence;
- vivid imagination;
- suspicious;
- with an anxious character;
- prone to paranoid thoughts;
- with a stuck type of character.
Graziella Magerini claims that women between 25 and 40 years old are more prone to Florentine syndrome. This is due to the fact that the psyche of men is more stable. Representatives of the stronger sex rarely lose touch with reality. Women by their mental nature are more emotional and sensitive than men.
Origins of the disorder
To understand why and what effect art has on an educated person, it is necessary to understand the roots of pathology.
The existence of Stendhal syndrome has not been scientifically confirmed. However, Graziella Magerini identifies the following prerequisites for its occurrence:
- the transfer of external cultural objects into the internal spiritual space;
- the first «collision» with objects of art;
- long nurturing the idea of travel (visiting a museum, church, etc.);
- increased emotionality;
- the individual nature of the journey.
Mental disorder does not appear out of nowhere. If it appeared, then there were prerequisites for this. With Stendhal syndrome, a person always perceives a work of art as an unconditional value (moral, aesthetic and historical).
clinical picture
Stendhal syndrome manifests itself in different ways. Psychomotor and emotional disorders have different degrees of severity. They depend on gender, age and education of the person.
There are common features of the pathological influence of art on an educated person. Among them are the following symptoms:
- cardiopalmus;
- lack of air;
- chest tightness;
- nausea;
- pre-fainting states;
- dizziness;
- pain under the ribs and in the region of the heart;
- hard breath;
- delusions and hallucinations;
- depersonalization;
- derealization;
- short-term memory loss;
- clouding of the mind;
- aggression;
- hysteria;
- euphoria;
- panic attacks;
- anxiety;
- paranoid thoughts.
Often a person covered by the Florentine syndrome renounces reality and is transferred to the events described in the picture, fresco, mosaic, etc. The patient identifies himself with the heroes of the work of art. At the same time, he can start singing songs, screaming, dancing, rushing around the room with inarticulate exclamations right in the museum, gallery or church. Such behavior is already considered unhealthy and requires medical attention.
The attack may be short-term or prolonged. In the first case, it is enough for the patient to leave the room in which great works of art are concentrated.
The protracted syndrome lasts from several hours to 8 days. At the same time, the individual completely renounces reality, ceases to perceive the world around him and the people around him. In especially severe forms, the patient becomes socially dangerous. There are cases when, with Stendhal’s syndrome, a person even took his own life.
Treatment of a pathological condition
If the pathology is detected at an early stage, when the person has not yet lost touch with reality, hospitalization is not required. It is enough just to isolate the patient from provoking factors (objects of art). An excited nervous system can be brought back to normal with the help of light sedatives, herbal teas, good rest.
A protracted progressive syndrome is treated on an outpatient basis with antipsychotics and tranquilizers. Prescribed drugs that block fear, anxiety, as well as drugs that eliminate autonomic symptoms and psychomotor agitation.
Medicines are prescribed by a psychiatrist after a comprehensive diagnosis of the patient. It is impossible to independently diagnose and treat a patient without the help of a doctor. It is dangerous for his life.
To get rid of the Florentine syndrome, psychotherapy methods are also used: cognitive-behavioral, rational and hypnosis.
I also recommend looking at an article about the Sapir-Whorf linguistic hypothesis. There you will find out what influence the language environment in which a person is in has on thinking.
The material for the article was prepared by Yulia Gintsevich.