Contributions to the History of Psychology: VII. Benjamin Rush: A Political and Historical Study of the “Father of American Psychiatry”

Abstract

This historical study of Benjamin Rush, an early American psychiatric reformer, includes his political interests and influence and how these affected his social reform work. To understand more fully Rush's political and social interests, we delved into the Revolutionary period and its leaders. We concluded that Rush was a moderate reformer for his psychiatric innovations barely went beyond the time. The peculiar mix of progressivism and conservatism are seen working in Rush's political and psychiatric life. We discuss in detail these differences and how they influenced his behavior.