History of Psychology Round-Up: From Phineas to Film
Every month I share several interesting links about the history of psychology.
Last month you learned about everything from America’s first sport psychologist to Freud’s infamous patient, the Wolf Man, to what led to the rise and demise of mental asylums.
This month I share everything from recent findings on Phineas Gage to the use of film in studying worker safety and satisfaction to the real relationship between Carl Jung and his patient Sabina Spielrein.
“How I Became a Historian of Psychiatry”
I’m always curious how people enter their respective professions. (Plus, part of me has always wanted to be an historian. This is why I love writing these posts — and I’m addicted to the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars…”) The informative blog History of Psychiatryhas started a super-interesting series that delves into how individuals became historians of psychiatry. So far they’ve featured these three historians.
“Neuroscience Still Haunted By Phineas Gage”
Ever taken an intro psychology course? Then I’m sure you’re very familiar with Phineas Gage, the mild-mannered turned foul-mouthed and aggressive foreman after an explosion forced a three-and-a-half-foot iron rod through his head. Since the 1980s scientists have tried to recreate Gage’s injury to better understand what actually happened. In this piece at the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest blog, Christian Jarrett summarizes the findings along with what we know today. The Guardian also explores the newest findings in this article.
“Donald Broadbent and the Cocktail Party”
In this BBC podcast Claudia Hammond revisits the work of British cognitive psychologist Donald Broadbent, who radically revised our understanding of how we process information. He’s famous for devising an experiment that explored dichotic thinking. Here, Hammond interviews various psychologists who’ve either studied or worked with Broadbent. Plus, if you have headphones, you can participate in a few of his experiments!
“Psychology’s First Forays into Film”
Industrial psychologist Lillian Moller Gilbreth, PhD, and her husband Frank Bunker Gilbreth were among the first psychologists to employ film in their experiments. In this Monitor on Psychology article, doctoral student Arlie R. Belliveau reveals how the Gilbreths used film to boost worker safety and satisfaction.
“The Real Spielrein Between Jung and Freud”
The film A Dangerous Method depicts the intimate – and sexual – relationship between Jung and his patient Sabina Spielrein. In this piece in The Psychiatric Times clinical professor Zvi Lothane, MD, who’s researched the life and work of Spielrein, reveals the truth behind their relationship along with other inaccuracies.
Tartakovsky, M. (2012). History of Psychology Round-Up: From Phineas to Film. Psych Central. Retrieved on August 22, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/06/13/history-of-psychology-round-up-from-phineas-to-film/