Constructing The Self, Constructing America: A Cultural History Of Psychotherapy

456 Pages·1995·27.623 MB·English

by  Philip Cushman

ieee
Ing
S e e
Z Ts HS E WY = SEKO Lae F hwyA seti e nee EB ee si snE P
Eo ettAe yN

Construct Ing } ,hU eaeS = 3 ir .a ,MM sa SSNI sna a r reee e |.ese ,sar epO sew ho yev aca i
AMERICA » 8 )m
yt
yo :
ka } eoo aiR yoh :
:e - hj
A CULTURAL HIs yaa
TORY
OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
$27.50 US
$35.95 CANADA
Constructing
THE SELF,
Constructing
AMERICA
»

Philip Cushman
A revolutionary study of the
evolution of the self
In this groundbreaking “cultural history of
psychotherapy,” historian and psychologist
Philip Cushman shows how the develop-_ .
ment of modern psychotherapy is inextri-
cably intertwined with that of the United
States and how it has fundamentally
changed the way Americans view events
and themselves. Using an interpretive his-
torical approach, Cushman shows how and
why psychotherapy was created, what its
functions are, and how it has come to play
such an enormous role in American life.
Asserting that each era develops a different
conception of “what it means to be
human,” Cushman traces the evolution of
the self throughout history to contempo-
rary times, naming its current configuration
in our consumerist society the “empty
self,” one that needs constant filling.
Continued on back flap
VALENCIA LIBRARY
23743 W. VALENCIA BLVD.
VALENCIA, CALIF, 91355
{EEO DKA C9f,. 4a
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012
http://archive.org/details/constructingselfOOcush

Constructing
THE SELE,
Constructing
AMERICA

Constructing
THE SELE,
Constructing
AMERICA

A Cultural History
of Psychotherapy

PHILIP CUSHMAN, PH.D.
VALENCIA LIBRARY
23743 W, VAT EVCTA PLVD. 1 vO ~
VALE , CALE, 91355 }
(885) 259-8942 =e ae
A
vv
ADDISON-WESLEY PUBLISHING COMPANY
READING, MASSACHUSETTS MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA
New YorRK DON MILLS, ONTARIO
WOKINGHAM, ENGLAND AMSTERDAM BONN
SYDNEY SINGAPORE TOKYO MADRID SAN JUAN
PARIS SEOUL MILAN MEXICO City TAIPEI
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish
their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in
this book and Addison-Wesley was aware of a trademark claim, the designa-
tions have been printed in initial capital letters (i.e., Chevrolet).
Photographs on page 51 are from Dailey Paskman and Sigmund Spaeth, “Gen-
tlemen, Be Seated!” (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1928).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cushman, Philip.
Constructing the self, constructing America : a cultural history
of psychotherapy / Philip Cushman.
p- cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-201-62643-8
1. Psychotherapy—Social aspects—United States. 2. United
States—Civilization—Psychological aspects. 3. Psychotherapy—
Moral and ethical aspects. 4. Identity (Psychology)—United
States. 5. Individualism—United States. I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Psychotherapy—history—United States. 2. Sociology.
WM 11 AA1 C9c 1995]
RC443.C84 1995
616.89'14'0973—dc20
DNLM/DLC
for Library of Congress 94-33066
CIP
Copyright © 1995 by Philip Cushman
All rights reserved. No part of this publicaton may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Published
simultaneously in Canada.
Jacket design by Suzanne Heiser
Text design by Barbara Cohen Aronica
Set in 10.5-point Stemple Schneidler by Pagesetters, Inc.
123 4 5 6 7 8 9-MA-98979695
First printing, January 1995