History of Psychology through Symbols
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Volume One of The History of Psychology through Symbols provides a groundbreaking approach by expanding the roots of psychology beyond the Greeks to concurrent events during the same period (800 BCE–200 BCE), defined as the Axial Age by German-Swiss psychiatrist Karl Jaspers. The Axial Age emphasized seeking the universal connection that unites all humanity, a focus not on what one believed, but how one lived. This includes the human desire to connect to something greater, the totality of being human, explained by using symbols, the universal language. This volume describes the psychological implications of the Axial Age through the developments of Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, as well as Greek thought. Rooted in the Axial Age, Volume One explores how the Christian and Islamic eras influenced psychology, which resulted in the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution, which provided the historic roots of modern psychology. Rejecting the idea that science transcends historical events, this volume provides a political, socioeconomic, and cultural context for all the historic developments. The chapter on the history of mental illness provides inspiration for a new mental health system with specific recommendations for radical system reform. In the spirit of the Axial Age on the importance of how one lives, there is an emphasis on engagement with symbols and with specific exercises, called emancipatory opportunities, to apply the lessons of psychological history to daily life.
Volume Two
Volume Two of The History of Psychology through Symbols continues a groundbreaking approach of using symbol to deepen the understanding of psychological history as well as the importance of how one lives, an emphasis on engagement with symbols and with specific exercises, called emancipatory opportunities, to apply the lessons of psychological history to daily life.
From the birth of modern psychology in the laboratory of Wilhelm Wundt, Volume Two discusses how the early theories of voluntarism, structuralism, evolution, and pragmatism influenced the modern development of psychology. The importance of making unconscious shadow forces in science conscious is explored through the impact of the eugenic movement, the controversies surrounding the development of psychological testing, and current research biases in psychology. Volume Two describes how Clinical Psychology emerged as a powerful profession in mental health care. The Four Forces of Psychology are explored through their natural and hermeneutic science influences. Psychoanalytic and Jungian Analytical Psychology comprise the first force, behaviorism the second force, humanistic-existential the third force, and transpersonal psychology the fourth force which includes groundbreaking discussion of psychedelic history and research which could revolutionize mental health and drug and alcohol treatment. Rejecting that science transcends historical events, the Volume provides a political, socio-economic, and cultural context for modern psychology and all the Four Forces of Psychology.
Both volumes are also available for purchase separately.
This book is ideal for those seeking a dynamic and engaging way of learning about or teaching the history of psychology and would also be of interest to students, practitioners, and scholars of science, philosophy, history and systems, religious studies, art, and mental health and drug and alcohol treatment, as well as those interested in applying the lessons of history to daily life.
Volume 1 Table of Contents
1. History of Psychology through Symbols: From Reflective Study to Active Engagement
2. Symbols of the Axial Age: The Age of Psychological Transformation
3. Symbols of the Greek Era: The Foundation of Western Psychology
4. Symbols of the Hellenistic, Christian, and Islamic Eras
5. Symbols of Psychological Rebirth during the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment
6. The Symbols of the History of Mental Illness: Past, Present, and a New Vision for the Future
Volume 2 Table of Contents
1. Symbols of the Birth of Modern Psychology: Voluntarism, Functionalism, the Darwinian Revolution, Eugenics, and Clinical Psychology
2. Symbols of Freudian and Relational Psychoanalysis: The First Force in Psychology
3. The World of Symbol – Jungian Analytical Psychology: First Force in Psychology
4. Symbols of Behaviorism, Neobehaviorism, and Cognitive Behavioral Psychology: The Second Force in Psychology
5. Symbols of Humanistic-Existential Psychology: The Third Force in Psychology
6. Symbols of Transpersonal Psychology – A Return to the Axial Age and Beyond: The Fourth Force in Psychology
Biography
James L. Broderick, PhD, ABPP, is Board Certified in Clinical Psychology and currently in private practice in Santa Barbara, California. He is the former Chair of the Clinical Psychology Program and current adjunct professor at Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, California; he was formerly the director of Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol services in Shasta and Santa Barbara Counties in California. Website: newlifesb.com
Critics' Reviews
“Jim Broderick’s The History of Psychology through Symbols is a radically original and deeply thoughtful way of creatively reimagining a story that we tend to see as humdrum and all-too familiar.”
Christine Downing, author of Mythopoetic Musings.
“Long fascinated by the analysis of myth, symbol, and storytelling in understanding the human psyche, I approached The History of Psychology through Symbols by Jim Broderick with great interest. I was rewarded with an incredibly original, evocative, and encyclopaedic yet highly readable work that employs the very medium he analyzes – the experience and meaning of symbols. Charting its political, historical, and socioeconomic evolution, Dr. Broderick invites the reader to explore the power of symbol from the earliest religions to modern psychology. It is with great pleasure that I recommend this book to all who share the enchantment of the symbol-producing brain.”
John C. Robinson, PhD, DMin, author of Death of a Hero, Birth of the Soul; What Aging Men Want: The Odyssey as a Parable of Male Aging; Bedtime Stories for Elders: What Fairy Tales Can Teach Us About the New Aging.
“Dr. Broderick’s History of Psychology through Symbols does exactly what we would want from a history of psychology book, it awakens our faith in the future. As a lover of history and teacher of the history of psychology, I have wanted a textbook that offers a rich description of psychological history but that is also inspirational and engaging, showing us (clinicians, educators, depth practitioners) opportunities to move into a shared, creative future. His analysis integrates the history of individual experience within a cultural context that accounts for the emancipatory interests of genuine science while maintaining the creative energies necessary to help psychology find its own voice amongst other important disciplines. His writing style is fluid, compelling, and inviting all at the same time. This is truly a user-friendly approach to our shared history and is much needed. It is an encyclopaedia without sounding like one.”
Peter T. Dunlap, PhD. Awakening our Faith in the Future: The Advent of Psychological Liberalism. Co-chair Clinical Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute. Carpinteria, California, USA.
This book is ideal for those seeking a dynamic and engaging way of learning about or teaching the history of psychology and would also be of interest to students, practitioners, and scholars of science, philosophy, history and systems, religious studies, art, and mental health and drug and alcohol treatment, as well as those interested in applying the lessons of history to daily life.