Writings
30 April 2025
Vol. 36 No. 1 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.4081/rp.2025.916

A brief ideological history of Italian psychology

Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
History of psychology, neoliberalism, neo-idealism, dualism, ideology
472
Views
415
Downloads

Authors

Simone Cheli
chelis@stjohns.edu
Center for Psychology and Psychotherapy, Tages Onlus, Florence; Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, Rome, Italy.

The aim of this paper is to trace a brief and partial ideological history of Italian psychology. The use of the term ideological wishes to highlight the inextinguishable link between a system of thoughts and values and the community or social group to which this system refers. In accordance with this perspective of cultural relativism, I propose to discuss three specific moments in the history of Italian psychology: the influence of Gentile thought up to the racial laws; the university reform that confirmed the (Gentilian) rift between natural and social sciences; the polarization of the recent debate on issues such as professional policies and gender identity. The thesis I try to defend is that the history of Italian psychology is characterized by a strongly dualistic thought, which has influenced its scientific development and the possibility of offering practical implications in civil society. While aware of the limits of such a partial reflection, I conclude by suggesting the need to recover a relational perspective on science and society.

Altmetrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Amaldi, E, & Zevi T. (1989). Conseguenze Culturali delle Leggi Razziali in Italia. Convegno linceo (Roma, 11 maggio 1989). Retrieved from: http://www.lincei.it/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=200
Bannister D.D. & Fransella, F. (1971). The Inquiring Man. The Psychology of Personal Construct. Penguin Book.
Beylik, U., Cirakli, U., Cetin, M., Ecevit, E., & Senol, O. (2022). The relationship between health expenditure indicators and economic growth in OECD countries: A Driscoll-Kraay approach. Frontiers in public health, 10, 1050550. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1050550
Boyd, R., & Richerson, P. J. (1985). Culture and the evolutionary process. Chicago University Press.
Cheli, S. (2017). On doubt and otherness. Deconstructing power and dissent. In S. Baiasu & S. loriaux (Eds.), Sincerity in politics and international relations (pp. 122-136). Routledge.
Cheli, S. (2023). Le linee guida italiane sulle terapie psicologiche di ansia e depressione: un’innovazione o un’occasione persa?. Ricerca Psicoanalitica, 34(2). doi: 10.4081/rp.2023.734
Cimino, G. & Dazzi, N. (1998). La Psicologia Italiana. I protagonisti e i Problemi Scientifici, Filosofici e Istituzionali (1870-1945). LED.
Ferruzzi, F. (1998). La crisi della psicologia italiana. In G. Cimino & N. Dazzi (Eds.), La Psicologia italiana. I protagonisti e i problemi scientifici, filosofici e Istituzionali (1870-1945). LED.
Fuller, S. (2002). Social epistemology. Indiana University Press.
Galesi D. (2005). L’università di fronte all’autonomia. In A. Balloni (a cura di), La riforma universitari nella società globale (pp. 11-44). Franco Angeli.
Garber, Z. (2008). The Impact of the Holocaust in America: The Jewish Role in American Life. Purdue University Press.
Hale, S., Leggett, W., & Martell, L. (2018). The Third Way and beyond. Criticisms, futures, alternatives. Manchester University Press.
Hanushek, E. A., & Wößmann, L. (2007). The role of education quality for economic growth. World Bank policy research working paper, WPS4122. Retrieved from: https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/260461468324885735/pdf/wps4122.pdf
Julien, F. (1997). Traité de l'efficacité. Grasset.
Kelly, G.A. (1955). The psychology of personal constructs. Norton.
Lacoue-Labarthe, P. & Nancy, J.L. (1992). Il Mito Nazi. Il Merangolo.
Legrottaglie, L. (2019). L’autonomia universitaria e i suoi critici in parlamento e nelle piazze (1989-1990). Diacronie, 37, 1. doi: 10.4000/diacronie.10846
Lévinas, E. (1961). Totalité et Infini. Martinus Nijhoff.
Luccio, R. (2013). Storia della Psicologia. Un’Introduzione. Laterza.
Marhaba. S. (2003). Lineamenti della Psicologia Italiana (1870-1945). Seconda Edizione. Giunti.
Malinowski, B. (1960). A scientific theory of culture and other essays. Galaxy Book.
Malizia, G. (2011). La riforma universitaria in Italia: problemi e prospettive. Rassegna CNOS : problemi esperienze prospettive per la formazione professionale, 3, p. 129-142.
Mecacci, L. (2019). Storia della Psicologia del Novecento. Decima Edizione. Laterza.
Michels, R. (1910). La democrazia e la legge ferrea dell'oligarchia: saggio sociologico. Cooperativa Tipografica Manuzio.
Nolte, E. (1971). I Tre Volti del Fascismo. Arnoldo Mondadori.
Patocka, J. (2003). Socrate. Bompiani.
Safran, J., & Segal, Z.V. (1990). Interpersonal processes in cognitive therapy. Jason Aronson.
Tarquini, A. (2016). Gentile e Mussolini. In Enciclopedia Treccani. Retrieved from: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/gentile-e-mussolini_%28Croce-e-Gentile%29/
Tocci, W. (2010). Quale riforma per l’università. Critica della proposta Gelmini e autocritica delle politiche di centrosinistra. Democrazia e Diritto, 32, 182-213 doi: 10.3280/DED2009-001012
Vaira, M. (2011). La costruzione della riforma universitaria e dell’autonomia didattica. Idee, norme, pratiche, attori. LED.
Vallier, K. (2022). Neoliberalism. E.N. Zalta & U. Nodelman (Eds.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from: https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2022/entries/neoliberalism/
von Uexküll, J. (1926). Theoretical biology. Harcourt, Brace & Co.
Zecchino, O. (2015). La riforma universitaria alla prova dei quindici anni. Rubettino.

How to Cite



A brief ideological history of Italian psychology. (2025). Ricerca Psicoanalitica, 36(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/rp.2025.916
Copyright (c) 2025 the Author(s) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.