1.2.1 Interview with Dr Fiona Reid
In the following video, Dr Fiona Reid, an expert on shell shock, describes what shell shock was, how it was treated and how it was regarded by contemporaries. She also explores the specific British connotations of the term, and the way we associate it with the First World War in particular.
As you watch, you could make a note of how Fiona describes the condition and try to answer the following questions:
- What was shell shock?
- How was it treated?
- Why is the term imprecise?
- What is the importance of class and age for the condition?
Transcript
Later, you will explore how attitudes towards the condition changed after the fighting had finished.