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Ronald Edwin Hunkeler (view source)

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== Psychiatric considerations ==

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Popular psychiatric interpretations of Ronald Hunkeler experience have been offered, including [[dissociative identity disorder]], [[Tourette's syndrome]], [[schizophrenia]], [[sexual abuse]], and [[group hysteria]]. Terry D. Cooper, Ph.D., a psychologist with doctorates from [[Vanderbilt University]] and [[Saint Louis University]], as well as Cindy K. Epperson, a doctoral fellow at the [[University of Missouri]], have analyzed the case of Ronald Hunkeler and have come to the conclusion that normal psychological explanations can not account for the claimed events; their explanations are offered here.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Popular Psychological Explanations">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Psychological interpretations have certainly been offered for this case. Some of these interpretations include multiple personality disorder (or what is now called dissociative identity disorder), Tourette's syndrom, schizophernia, sexual abuse by the aunt, and group hysteria.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dissociative Identity Disorder (also known as Multiple Personality Disorder) is a [[dissociative disorder]] involving a disturbance of identity in which two or more separate and distinct personality identities manipulate the individual's behaviour at different moments, whose treatment consists primarily of [[psychotherapy]].<ref name="NAMI - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_(formerly_Multiple_Personality_Disorder).htm|title= Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder)|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Although some symptoms of dissociative identity disorder line up with Ronald's behavior,<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dr. Cooper and Dr. Epperson criticize this explanation because it fails to explain how ~~Robbie~~'s symptoms suddenly disappeared after the exorcism ritual since psychotherapy is a slow and tedious process.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Moreover, Ronald Hunkeler displayed no previous history of multiple personality disorder earlier in his life.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/> According to Cooper and Epperson, labeling Ronald's condition as dissociative identity disorder also fails to explain the strange [[paranormal]] activity associated with the case to which forty-eight individuals testified.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/>

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Popular psychiatric interpretations of Ronald Hunkeler experience have been offered, including [[dissociative identity disorder]], [[Tourette's syndrome]], [[schizophrenia]], [[sexual abuse]], and [[group hysteria]]. Terry D. Cooper, Ph.D., a psychologist with doctorates from [[Vanderbilt University]] and [[Saint Louis University]], as well as Cindy K. Epperson, a doctoral fellow at the [[University of Missouri]], have analyzed the case of Ronald Hunkeler and have come to the conclusion that normal psychological explanations can not account for the claimed events; their explanations are offered here.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Popular Psychological Explanations">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Psychological interpretations have certainly been offered for this case. Some of these interpretations include multiple personality disorder (or what is now called dissociative identity disorder), Tourette's syndrom, schizophernia, sexual abuse by the aunt, and group hysteria.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dissociative Identity Disorder (also known as Multiple Personality Disorder) is a [[dissociative disorder]] involving a disturbance of identity in which two or more separate and distinct personality identities manipulate the individual's behaviour at different moments, whose treatment consists primarily of [[psychotherapy]].<ref name="NAMI - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_(formerly_Multiple_Personality_Disorder).htm|title= Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder)|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Although some symptoms of dissociative identity disorder line up with Ronald's behavior,<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dr. Cooper and Dr. Epperson criticize this explanation because it fails to explain how Ronald's symptoms suddenly disappeared after the exorcism ritual since psychotherapy is a slow and tedious process.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Moreover, Ronald Hunkeler displayed no previous history of multiple personality disorder earlier in his life.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/> According to Cooper and Epperson, labeling Ronald's condition as dissociative identity disorder also fails to explain the strange [[paranormal]] activity associated with the case to which forty-eight individuals testified.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/>

The essential feature of Tourette’s syndrome are multiple [[tic]]s, which may include blurting out inappropriate comments.<ref name="NAMI - Tourette's Syndrome">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Tourettes_Syndrome.htm|title= Tourette's Syndrome|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Ronald was indeed known to use foul language during the exorcism ritual,<ref name="Sue Lim - Foul Language">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them|quote=Robbie periodically awakened for moments...then fell back into his nightmare sleep and thrased and laughed and screamed. "I'm in hell," he shourted, laughing.|publisher = [[iUniverse]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> albeit he no longer swore after the successful exorcism.<ref name="Terry Douglas Lockhart - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=qhyOAAAAMAAJ&q=Robbie++exorcism&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=4|title= The dark side of God: a quest for the lost heart of Christianity|quote=And following the classical Tourette's syndrome, Robbie does curse and swear like a seasoned trooper; but he recovers from this compulsion when the exorcism...|publisher = Element|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dr. Cooperson and Dr. Epperson argue that reducing Ronald's "entire set of circumstances to this simple disorder does not do justice to this case. It's simply implausible that a young man with Tourette's was able to fool nine Jesuit priests, hospital personnel, and all the family members."<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Yet reducing Robbie's entire set of circumstances to this simple disorder does not do justice to this case. It's simply implausible that a young man with with Tourette's was able to fool nine Jesuit priests, hospital personnel, and all the family members.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Moreover, Tourette's syndrome is treated with medication and [[counseling]] - it simply does not go away.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Also, Tourette's syndrome, like the other disorders we've discussed, simply doesn't go away. It is usually treated with counseling and medication.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>

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Schizophrenia is another mental disorder that some people believe Ronald might have had. According to the [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]: "Schizophrenia often interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, to distinguish reality from fantasy, to manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. The first signs of schizophrenia typically emerge in the teenage years or early twenties."<ref name="NAMI - Schizophrenia">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036|title= Schizophrenia|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> It is often treated with [[antipsychotics]].<ref name="NAMI - Schizophrenia">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036|title= Schizophrenia|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Psychologist Cooper states that Ronald was too young to have developed schizophrenia. Cooper also argues that Mannheim never became [[psychotic]], but rather, remained coherent throughout the process and did not receive any medication or psychotherapy for his condition.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Schizophrenia">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Applying the diagnosis of schizophrenia to Robbie also involves several problems. First, at thirteen, Robbie was generally too young for schizophrenia, whose onset typically occurs between seventeen and twenty-five years of age. More importantly, there is no evidence that Robbie became pyschotic of lost complete touch with reality. He remained coherent throughout the precess. Also, even if Robbie were schizophrenic, how did he suddenly become "cured" of it? There was no medication and no psychotherapy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> According to a Christian argument, the Maryland youth went on to lead a healthy existence, whereas schizophrenia and other dissociative disorders are often lifelong and require extensive psychiatric treatment; moreover, Ronald Hunkeler never had a [[relapse]].<ref name="Emissary - Happily Married">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false|title= A Faraway Ancient Country |quote= While most psychologists would like to dismiss both these cases as that of mental illness, they cannot fully explain why both people never had a relapse. Clara and the Maryland youth went on to lead normal, healthy existences, whereas schizophrenia and other dissociative disorders are often lifelong and require extensive psychiatric treatment. In the early to middle part of twentieth century, people were committed to sanitariums for these conditions. Yet, in both cases, there seems to be no recorded residual effects. Full-blown mental illness rarely (if ever) goes away on its own.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>

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While some allege that Ronald Hunkeler may have been sexually abused by Aunt Harriet, there is no evidence to support this assertion and moreover, with the prevalence of sexual abuse in society, most individuals who have been sexually abused do not delineate Ronald's behaviour.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=First, it must be admitted that it is sheer speculartion that Robbie ''was'' sexually abused by the aunt. There is no solid evidence to support this. And second, sexual abuse is, unfortuntately, quite common in our society. How often do we see symptoms such as the ones displayed by Robbie?|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Some critics also allege [[group hysteria]] to explain the case of Ronald Hunkeler.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Yet the problem is that Robbie's eyewitnesses were spread out. they came from entirely different settings and reported the same things. For instance, the shaking bed was reported by numerous people both in the Washington D.C. area and in St. Louis. Is it really possible that forty-eight eyewitnesses in different areas and at different times were all hysterical?|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> However, ~~Robbie~~'s forty-eight witnesses were spread out in different locations.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria"/> For example, Ronald's shaking bed was reported by numerous individuals both in [[Washington D.C.]] and [[St. Louis]].<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria"/>

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While some allege that Ronald Hunkeler may have been sexually abused by Aunt Harriet, there is no evidence to support this assertion and moreover, with the prevalence of sexual abuse in society, most individuals who have been sexually abused do not delineate Ronald's behaviour.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=First, it must be admitted that it is sheer speculartion that Robbie ''was'' sexually abused by the aunt. There is no solid evidence to support this. And second, sexual abuse is, unfortuntately, quite common in our society. How often do we see symptoms such as the ones displayed by Robbie?|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Some critics also allege [[group hysteria]] to explain the case of Ronald Hunkeler.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria">{{cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Yet the problem is that Robbie's eyewitnesses were spread out. they came from entirely different settings and reported the same things. For instance, the shaking bed was reported by numerous people both in the Washington D.C. area and in St. Louis. Is it really possible that forty-eight eyewitnesses in different areas and at different times were all hysterical?|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> However, Ronald's forty-eight witnesses were spread out in different locations.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria"/> For example, Ronald's shaking bed was reported by numerous individuals both in [[Washington D.C.]] and [[St. Louis]].<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria"/>

Other medical experts who have examined Ronald's case have suggested that he had [[Automatism (medicine)|automatism]] or [[obsessive-compulsive disorder]] although the physicians and psychiatrists who examined Ronald Hunkeler did not find any evidence to make these conclusions.<ref name="Mario Gregorio">{{cite web|url = http://www.propheties.it/anexample.htm|title= Casting out the Devil!|publisher= Mario Gregorio|quote= Medical experts who have looked at Robbie's case suggest that he could have been suffering from one or more of the following psychological conditions: Automatism - acting in a mechanical or involuntary manner, a feature of some forms of schizophrenia. Gilles de la Tourette's Syndrome - a personality disorder, in which victims scream uncontrollably, grunt, twitch and involuntarily use foul language. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - this features frequent bouts of anxiety with little relevance to actual events, or recurrent strong urges to perform unnecessary or irrelevant acts. The doctors who examined Robbie had found no evidence of any of these symptoms.|accessdate = 2010-04-04}}</ref>

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