Cultural History of Psychotherapy in the US

elective courses

Basic interest in the history of psychology and psychotherapy. Readiness to explore artifacts of American therapy culture (texts, films, series).

Since late nineteenth century psychology and psychotherapy have had continued influence on American culture. Different forms of “the mind cure” have generated significant income, propelling the development of new professions and giving rise to important cultural debates. This course examines how the therapeutic ethos became instilled in American culture and how it has evolved since the nineteenth century.

Since late nineteenth century psychology and psychotherapy have had continued influence on American culture. Different forms of “the mind cure” have generated significant income, propelling the development of new professions and giving rise to important cultural debates. This history raises important questions for cultural critics. How have the notions of madness and sanity changed throughout American history? How has the discourse and practice of psychotherapy responded to changing regimes of gender, class and race? What is therapy culture? In what ways is mental illness and its treatment political?

This course examines how the therapeutic ethos became instilled in American culture and how it has evolved since the nineteenth century. We will explore a wide range of readings: academic studies, as well as works of fiction, documentaries and feature films, in which the theme of mental illness and psychotherapy is a central one.

Becker, Dana, The Myth of Empowerment: Women and the Therapeutic Culture in America, New York University Press, New York and London , 2005.

Chesler, Phyllis, Women and Madness, Doubleday, New York, 1972.

Cushman, Philip, Constructing the Self, Constructing America: A Cultural History of Psychotherapy, DaCapo Press, 1995.

Douglas, Ann, The Feminization of American Culture, Anchor Press, 1988.

Furedi, Frank, Therapy Culture: Cultivating Vulnerability in an Uncertain Age, Routledge, 2003.

Illouz, Eva, Cold Intimacies: The Making of Emotional Capitalism, Polity Press, 2007.

Illouz, Eva, Saving the Modern Soul, University of California Press, 2008.

Lasch, Christopher, The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations, Stenhouse Publishing, 2021.

Rapping, Elayne, The Culture of Recovery: Making Sense of the Self-Help Movement in Women’s Lives, Beacon Press, Boston, 1996.

Rieff, Philip, The Triumph of the Therapeutic: Uses of Faith after Freud, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1966.

KNOWLEDGE:

The student knows and understands:

- the notion of therapy culture and its basic types;

- social and historical processes which have contributed to establishing American therapy culture and affected its evolution;

- artifacts and examples of American therapy culture as well as their historical, social and political concepts.

SKILLS:

The student is able to:

-recognize, interpret, explain and analyze the causes and the course of phenomena related to American therapy culture using standard methids and tools used in humanities;

- critically examine and discuss artifacts and examples of American therapy culture;

- prepare and deliver presentations in English concerning American therapy culture using adequate terminology.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES

The student is able to:

- work in a group and actively participate in discussions;

- formulate own opinions in a consistent and clear manner while demonstrating a respectful attitude towards other perspectives;

-critically examine the complex phenomenon of American therapy culture.

The final grade is comprised of the following components:

1. attendance and preparation (assigned readings, films) - 40%

2. active participation in in-class discussions and in-class presentations - 35%.

3.final presentation - 25%.

Grading scale: 100-85 - 5; 85-73 - 4; 72-56 - 3; 55-0 - 2.