Historical Dimensions of Psychological Discourse

American and European scholars from various disciplines illustrate the historical shaping of psychological discourse as it touches the fields of emotion, cognition, development, psychotherapy and gender differences. The book questions the ability of a psychological science to make positive affirmations that are historically-independent. In this volume, prominent American and European scholars explore the historical shaping of psychological discourse. Speaking from several disciplinary standpoints, attention is directed to the ideological, intellectual, political, economic and literary forces that enter into the cultural construction of mental life. In its explorations, the volume not only challenges the reality of the taken for granted world of everyday life, but raises fundamental questions concerning the potential of psychological science to establish historically independent knowledge of mental process. Contributions to the volume treat a variety of subjects, including the emotions, cognition, the concept of child development, psychotherapy, gender differences and knowledge. Additional chapters represent first-hand accounts of historical change in psychological movements.