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The neutrality of this article is disputed.
For the fictional use of the term "psychohistory", see psychohistory (fictional)
Psychohistory is the study of the psychological motivations of historical events, combining the insights of psychotherapy with the research methodology of the social sciences to understand the emotional origin of the social and political behavior of groups and nations, past and present.
Description
Psychohistory derives many of its insights from areas that are ignored by conventional historians as shaping factors; in particular, childbirth, parenting practise, child abuse and willful neglect.
The often hidden historical roles of incest, infanticide, and child sacrifice are considered.
Most political scientists and historians teach "realism" and "neo-realism"; ie. that social behaviour is rational, not irrational, and that international violence is for economic gain, not loss. Psychohistory contemplates that often social behaviour is a self-destructive re-enactment of earlier abuse and neglect. It holds that unconscious flashbacks to early fears and destructive parenting dominate society.
There are three inter-related areas of psychohistorical study.
- History of Childhood - which looks at such questions as:-
- How have children been raised throughout history,
- How has the family been constituted,
- How & why has it changed over time,
- The changing place & value of children in society over time,
- How & why our views of child abuse and neglect have changed,
- Why there is still such denial about the reality of child abuse.
- Psychobiography - which seeks to understand individual historical people and their motivations in history.
- Group Psychohistory - which seeks to understand the motivations of large groups in history.
Some historians and anthropologists complain that they, too, are attempting to describe motivations in their fields of study . Psychohistorians reply that the difference is in emphasis, in conventional study narrative is central and motivation is peripheral, while in psychohistory motivation takes the centre stage. Despite this assertion, Psychohistory does lend itself to narrative and has been credited with helping to revitalize the historical biography. Critics doubt the viability of the application of post-mortem psychoanalysis, a concept which neither Freud nor the post-Freudian schools of psychoanalysis seemed to have in mind while developing their theories. See also Independence of psychohistory.
The principal centre for psychohistorical study is The Institute for Psychohistory which has 19 branches around the globe and has for 30 years published The Journal of Psychohistory. Its director is Lloyd deMause,
The International Psychohistorical Association, is the professional organisation for the field of psychohistory. It publishes “Psychohistory News” and has a psychohistorical mail order lending library. It hosts an annual convention.
Psychohistory is taught at a few universities as an adjunct to history or social science or as a post graduate study.
The following have published course details; Boston University, City University of New York, University of Nevada, State University of New York, at Rockland, and Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut.
Centers of Research
References
External links
