The document discusses how Monty Python and the Holy Grail comically depicts psychological aspects of witchcraft and psychopathology through the concept of generalization. It explains that ancient theories viewed witchcraft as involving supernatural women who were often mentally ill. The film generalizes the face of witches as having large noses, reflecting how perceived differences were generalized to create fear. The document argues that generalization of witches through the comedy validly reflects the ancient practice of accusing mentally ill or different women of witchcraft.

1. She's a Witch!

2. Monte Python and the Holy Grail comically
depicts the psychological aspects of
Witchcraft in psychopathology with the concept
of generalization

3. Psychology Basis

4. Psychopathology
~ the study of psychological and behavioral
dysfunction occurring in mental disorder or in
social disorganization

5. Ancient Theory
~ Witchcraft is an ancient
theory, regarding fear of
someone equipped with
supernatural abilities
~ It is believed that women
accused of witchcraft
may have had a mental
illness

6. The Malleus Maleficarum,
written in Latin, is the
most infamous witch
hunting manuals
It was used for 300 years to
distinguish and
exterminate “witches”

7. Media

8. Peasant 1: We have found a witch, may we
burn her?
(cheers)
Vladimir: How do you known she is a witch?
Peasant 2: She looks like one!

9. V=Vladimir P=Peasant
V: So, why do witches burn? (long pause)
P2: Cuz they're made of... wood?
V: So, how do we tell if she is made of wood?
V: Does wood sink in water?
P1: No
P3: No. It floats!
V: What also floats in water?
King: A Duck!
V: Exactly! So, logically...
P1(thinking): If she weighs the same as a duck...
she's made of wood!

10. This ties into another
concept from Psychology,
generalization
~ Generalization is the
process in which an
organism responds to
stimuli that are similar to
the conditioned stimuli

11. Connection

12. The generalized face of
witches as we know them
is to have a big nose

13. ~Is it valid that the ancient
theory of supernatural
women, also known as
witches, are generalized
through the comedy of
Monte Python and the
Holy Grail?
----->Yes

14. My Take
~My take on it is that witches have been made out to be
an ugly person, but they may of in fact just been a little
different. Generalization is always a process that as
humans use. Familiarity is a safety mechanism to
remind us how we've handled situations that we've
already experienced to know if it's safe or not. Its
interesting that witches have been made into a scary
part of one of the most fun holidays, with roots from a
very gruesome past.

15. Sources
She's a witch!
Here is the youtube link to watch the video, I would suggest it for a good laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g
Meriam-Websters dictionary of psychopathalogy
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychopathology