Marxist Psychology - A Short Introduction (Book)

Marxist Psychology - A Short Introduction (Book)
Chapter Summaries and Contents

Chapter 1. Marxism and Psychology: An Outdated Interest or A Promising Research Field?

Abstract

In this article, ‘Marxist psychology’ is introduced within a historical and theoretical context. ‘Which Marxism?’ and ‘which psychology?’ were the initial questions for discussion which brought responses related to historical personalities, movements, schools of thoughts, countries and subfields. Alienation, ideology and methodology were considered to be major themes for a Marxist psychology. The relationship between Marxism in power (e.g. Marxism(s) in former Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China) and psychology was considered as a separate category to compare and contrast it with Marxist criticisms aimed at capitalism in capitalist countries. After briefly discussing the links between Marxism and critical psychology, the article proceeds to subfields of psychology to discuss the actual and potential links.

Keywords: Marxism, Marxist psychology, critical psychology, Marxist social psychology, and Marxist industrial psychology

1. Introduction

2. Marxism in Power and Psychology

3. Marxism and Critical Psychology

4. Marxism and Social and Political Psychology

5. Marxism, Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology

6. Marxism and Industrial and Organizational Psychology

7. Marxism and Educational and Developmental Psychology

8. Marxism, Personality and Clinical Psychology

9. Marxism and Economic and Consumer Psychology

10. Future Research Directions for Marxist Psychology

11. Conclusion

Chapter 2. Alienation: The Key Term for Marxist Psychology

Abstract

In this chapter, the significance of the notion of alienation for Marxist psychology is discussed and various conceptualizations of alienation are presented and reviewed. The wider contexts of research on alienation is the next topic. In fact alienation had undertaken various meanings that are far from its original sense. Finally some of the variables associated with alienation are presented. Conclusion of this chapter is the most important section since it discusses a number of practical issues for Marxist psychologists as a consequence of the discussion of various forms of alienation.

Keywords: Marxism, Marxist psychology, alienation, production-related alienation, consumption-related alienation and social alienation

1. Introduction: The Significance of the Notion of Alienation for Marxist Psychology

2. Various Conceptualizations of Alienation

3. The Wider Contexts of Research on Alienation

4. Some of the Variables Associated with Alienation

5. Conclusion

Chapter 3. False Consciousness: Why People Don’t Revolt?

Abstract

In this chapter, we focus on why people don’t revolt. Our discussions revolve around various terms drawn from sociology, politics and other related social sciences such as false consciousness, just world belief, ideology, hegemony and system justification. Although these are more or less conducive to explain people’s apathy, the chapter has no pessimistic tenor. We know that despite of all these explanations, people’s history is full of revolts and revolutions. In fact, 20th century can be said to be characterized by the highest number of revolts and revolutions in all human history. The situation is somewhat different in 21st century. In our discussions we review these concepts not for bemoaning the hopeless state of humanity, we try to think about how to counter them. A good opposition should start with a good description of the problem. That is what we try to do in this chapter.

Keywords: False consciousness, just world belief, ideology, hegemony and system justification

1. Just World Belief

2. Ideology

3. System Justification

4. Hegemony

5. Revisiting the Relevance of Psychology for Marxism

6. Conclusion

Chapter 4. Consumer Society: Commodity Fetishism, Debt Fetishism and Alienation

Abstract

In this chapter we first explain how consumer society and psychology are related. Then we proceed to explore the social and economic basis of consumer society. We show how consumer society and consumerism can’t be understood properly without elaborating on commodity fetishism and alienation. Such an analysis also provides clues about what is wrong about sustainability and fair trade. Another discussion topic in this chapter is the link between consumerism and consumer’s happiness. The chapter uses a relatively new term to characterize consumer’s debt economy: Debt fetishism. Together with the use of credit cards, the effect of advertisements is well-known. But then are the consumers sovereign and active agents in their economic activity or merely puppets of the system? This is one of the questions that are discussed throughout the chapter. Our conclusion proposes that far from a frozen and outdated area of research, the discipline of Marxist psychology offers various avenues for new research studies.

Keywords: Consumerism, consumer society, commodity fetishism and alienation

1. Consumer Society and Psychology

2. The Social and Economic Basis of Consumer Society: Commodity Fetishism

3. Consumerism and Happiness

4. Commodity Fetishism and Alienation

5. Conclusion

Chapter 5. From Ignacio Martín-Baró’s Liberation Psychology to Marxist Psychology

Abstract

In this chapter, Ignacio Martín-Baró’s liberation psychology is presented and discussed. Martín-Baró (1942-1989) was a Spanish-Salvadoran psychologist and priest. He was deeply influenced by liberation theology, thus Marxism and pro-poor religion. His strong intellectual background in Marxism and mainstream psychology is noticeable. He didn’t align with the latter, rather he critically worked on mainstream psychology to identify its weaknesses and uncover its ideological distortions. Thus, his work consists of criticism of both mainstream psychology and capitalism. He particularly focused on how official lies are enforced as truth, and alienation. His work spanned across social psychology as well as mental health fields (not only clinical psychology but also mental health fields out of psychology). His therapeutic approach was based on deideologization and empowerment. His work has inspired numerous studies in psychology, sociology, psychiatry and social work areas. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the relevance of Ignacio Martín-Baró’s liberation psychology for our times and proposes 4 principles for Marxist psychology and healing.

Keywords: Liberation psychology, Ignacio Martín-Baró, deidelogization, dealienation, defetishization, dehegemonization and internalized colonialism

1. Ignacio Martín-Baró’s Life

2. Ideology and Deideologization

3. Outlines of Liberation Psychology

4. Intellectual Precursors and Successors of Liberation Psychology

5. Conclusion: 4 Principles of Marxist Psychology and Healing