| Psychohistory
Psychohistory is the study of the psychological motivations of
historical events. It combines 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. This field of study is considered
by some to have significant differences from the mainstream fields
of history and psychology.
Description
Psychohistory derives many of its insights from areas that are
perceived to be ignored by conventional historians as shaping factors
of human history; in particular, the effects of childbirth, parenting
practice and child abuse. The historical impact of incest, infanticide,
and child sacrifice are considered. Psychohistory holds that human
societies can change between infanticidal and non-infanticidal practices
and has coined the term 'early infanticidal childrearing' to describe
abuse and neglect observed by many anthropologists.
Psychohistory holds that many political scientists and historians
teach that social behaviour is usually for rational reasons rather
than irrational ones, and that international violence is often instigated
for economic gain. Psychohistorians suggest that social behaviour
may be a self-destructive re-enactment of earlier abuse and neglect
- that unconscious flashbacks to early fears and destructive parenting
could dominate individual and social behaviour.
Psychohistory has been credited with helping to revitalise the
historical biography. Notable examples of psychobiography are those
by Lewis Namier, who wrote of the British House of Commons and Fawn
Brodie, who wrote of Thomas Jefferson.
Areas of Psychohistorical Study
There are three inter-related areas of psychohistorical study.
- The History of Childhood - which looks at such questions as
How have children been raised throughout history
How has the family been constituted
How and why have practices changed over time
The changing place and value of children in society over time
How and why our views of child abuse and neglect have changed
Why there is still denial in modern societies 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, including nations, in history and current affairs.
In doing so, psychohistory advances the use of group-fantasy analysis
of political speeches, political cartoons and media headlines
since the fantasy words therein offer clues to unconscious thinking
and behaviors.
Emergence as a Discipline
Sigmund Freud is probably most qualified to be described as the
inventor of the field as his works, such as Civilization and Its
Discontents, often included historical analysis supported by his
theories of psychoanalysis. The actual term "psychohistory"
was coined by Isaac Asimov as the name for a fictional science in
his Foundation Trilogy universe. Its first academic use appeared
in Erik Erikson's book Young Man Luther, where the author called
for a discipline of "psycho-history" to examine the impact
of human character on history. Lloyd deMause was a pioneer in the
field of psychohistory and continues to be extremely influential
in it. Other notable psychohistorians include Alice Miller and Julian
Jaynes, though they are rarely thought of as being specifically
psychohistorians.
Independence as a Discipline
Lloyd deMause and others have argued that psychohistory is a field
of scientific inquiry with its own peculiar methods, objectives
and theories and that it is separate from history and anthropology.
Some historians, social scientists and anthropologists have, however,
argued that their disciplines already describe psychological motivation
and that Psychohistory is not, therefore, a separate subject.
Others have dismissed deMause's theories and motives arguing that
the emphasis given by Psychohistory to speculation on the psychological
motivations of people in history make it a completely undisciplined
field of study. Doubt has also been cast on the viability of the
application of post-mortem psychoanalysis, which is a concept that
neither Freud nor the post-Freudian schools of psychoanalysis had
in mind while developing their theories.
Psychohistorians reply that the difference is one of emphasis and
that, in conventional study, narrative and description are central
and psychological motivation is hardly touched on. In psychohistory
motivation takes centre stage.
DeMause makes a case for the predictive value of his models, which
arguably distinguishes psychohistory as a real science.
Organisations and Centers of Study
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.
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