The stranger so surprised, burst out into invectives in a language which was unmistakable. The jester apologised profusely, but he went back to the king with a joyful heart and told him the nationality of the newcomer. The jester had correctly imagined that the stranger would betray himself and speak in his native tongue when his basic emotions of fear and anger were aroused. Crisis theories tell us that after the initial shock, one tries to solve the problems surrounding the crisis following familiar, well-worn methods by which he had solved problems before. Only when those fail, other ways are explored or the person decompensates.
Any crisis causes stress.
Stress does not often produce mental illness but mental illness always creates stress. A person who is losing a grasp of his emotional equilibrium will initially be prompted to look for familiar solutions. Hence the investigation of such events and possible therapeutic decisions to follow, necessitate an enquiry into the past of the person. This enquiry not only explores his past experiences, but also his environment and his general relationship with it, amongst other things. Depending on the type of therapy, this exploration may extend to the unconscious and thereby a consideration of the inner and outer worlds of the patient and their development.