A Study of Association in Insanity

"A Study of Association in Insanity" by Grace Helen Kent is an early 20th-century scientific work that investigates the ways people make connections between thoughts, both when they are healthy "normal" and when they have mental illnesses, especially insanity. The publication shows how differences in these connections can show how the mind and body process differently. The authors implement psychological tests to better understand this complex subject. The research employs an association test, where participants give words that come to mind after hearing certain cue words. The beginning establishes the test's design, explaining that there are many participants who do not suffer from mental illness that help set the basis for what would be considered "normal" associations, prior to examining the responses of mentally ill individuals. The study thus prepares for a complete look into the dynamics of thought as influenced by mental health.