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492nd out of 943 books
—
757 voters
Constructing The Self, Constructing America: A Cultural History Of Psychotherapy
In this ground-breaking cultural history of psychotherapy, historian and psychologist Philip Cushman shows how the development of modern psychotherapy is inextricably intertwined with that of the United States and how it has changed the way Americans view events and themselves. By tracing our various definitions of the self throughout history, Cushman reveals that psychoth...more
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
October 1st 1996
by Da Capo Press
(first published March 1st 1995)
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The book traces the development of the American self from post civil war to modern times.
Cushman is a Psychiatrist, but the book is a harsh critique of his profession. He makes a strong case that psychotherapy is based on a fundamental error - the belief that there is a transhistorical, transcultural self.
He also makes the case that psychotherapy was co-opted by industry [think advertising, public relations, organizational psych, etc.] and used to shape the American sense of "self" in order to...more
Cushman is a Psychiatrist, but the book is a harsh critique of his profession. He makes a strong case that psychotherapy is based on a fundamental error - the belief that there is a transhistorical, transcultural self.
He also makes the case that psychotherapy was co-opted by industry [think advertising, public relations, organizational psych, etc.] and used to shape the American sense of "self" in order to...more
A smart and thoughtful exploration of the origins of psychotherapy, and how therapy reflects and often reinforces dominant narratives of self in mainstream Western society (ie, an empty, individualistic, consumerist self). Cushman argues that therapy is inherently a moral and political discourse, and that as therapists we should own this, disclose it, and identify values propagated in the culture, dialectics of community and connection vs. individualism and consumerism. Interesting ideas about h...more
Apr 01, 2009
April
marked it as to-read
from J-term '09 Campus Ministry Seminar
Definitely different but a must read for all those involved with psychotherapy. This book highlights some interesting dynamics about why some therapies become successful. Unfortunately it doesn't include the developments of the past 30 years. I'd love to see a sequel.
I wrote about this book here:
http://healersandfeelings.blogspot.co...
http://healersandfeelings.blogspot.co...
One of the most influential books I've read.
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