Metaphors in the History of Psychology (Cambridge Studies in the History of Psychology)

Metaphors in the History of Psychology describes and analyzes the ways in which psychological accounts of brain functioning, consciousness, cognition, emotion, motivation, learning, and behavior have been shaped—and are still being shaped—by the central metaphors used by contemporary psychologists and their predecessors. The contributors to this volume argue that psychologists and their predecessors have invariably turned to metaphor in order to articulate their descriptions, theories, and practical interventions with regard to psychological functioning. By specifying the major metaphors in the history of psychology, these contributors have offered a new "key" to understanding this critically important area of human knowledge. This theme has become an issue of central concern in a variety of disciplines ranging from linguistics and literary studies to cognitive science, psychology, and philosophy. Through the identification of these metaphors, the contributors to this volume have provided a remarkably useful guide to the history, current orientations, and future prospects of modern psychology. "When psychologists speak of human memory as a matter of "retrieving" earlier "input" from "storage," they are basing their discussion of memory upon a series of metaphors drawn from cybernetic theory (the science of communication and control) and computer technology. Similarly, when clinical psychologists try to "relieve" the "pressure" that someone has been "repressing" inside, their actions are directed by the hydraulic metaphors that have shaped their understanding of the "inner workings" of "psychodynamics."" "The contributors to this volume argue that psychologists and their predecessors have invariably turned to metaphor in order to articulate their descriptions, theories, and practical interventions with regard to psychological functioning. By specifying the major metaphors in the history of psychology, these contributors have offered a new "key" to understanding this critically important area of human knowledge." "Metaphors in the History of Psychology describes and analyzes the ways in which psychological accounts of brain functioning, consciousness, cognition, emotion, motivation, learning, and behavior have been shaped - and are still being shaped - by the central metaphors used by contemporary psychologists and their predecessors. The volume is a stylistically and substantively coherent collection of essays on a theme that has become an issue of central concern in a variety of disciplines ranging from linguistics and literary studies to cognitive science, psychology, and philosophy. Through the identification of these metaphors, the contributors to this volume have provided a remarkably useful guide to the history, current orientation, and future prospects of modern psychology. Book jacket."--Jacket Contents......Page 5 About the authors......Page 7 Preface......Page 11 1. Psyche's muse: the role of metaphor in the history of psychology......Page 14 2. From metaphors to models: the use of analogy in neuropsychology......Page 92 3. Inner feelings, works of the flesh, the beast within, diseases of the mind,driving force, and putting on a show: six metaphors of emotion and their theoretical extensions......Page 117 4. Motives and metaphors: a study in scientific creativity......Page 146 5. Cognitive metaphors in experimental psychology......Page 186 6. Metaphors of consciousness and cognition in the history of psychology......Page 243 7. Metaphors of knowledge and behavior in the behaviorist tradition......Page 252 8. Metaphor, meta theory, and the social world......Page 280 9. Metaphors of unwanted conduct: a historical sketch......Page 313 10. Generative metaphor and the history of psychological discourse......Page 344 11. Metaphor, theory, and practice int he history of psychology......Page 370 Name index......Page 381 Subject index......Page 393 Ever since Aristotle asserted that "the greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor," numerous scholars have studied and written about the nature and functions of metaphor.