History of Japanese Psychology: Global Perspectives, 1875-1950

This book explores the origins of Japanese psychology, charting cross-cultural connections, commonalities, and the transition from religious-moralistic to secular-scientific definitions of human nature. It emerged at the intersection of philosophy, pedagogy, physiology, and physics and became allied with attempts to integrate individual subjectivities into larger institutions and organizations. Applied psychology led to personality tests, personnel selection, therapy, counseling, military science, colonial policies, and "national spirit." The birth of Japanese psychology heralded a transformation of the very mental processes it claimed to be exploring.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 28 June 2018
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This book delves into the origins of Japanese psychology, tracing its development through the contributions of pioneers like Motora Yujiro (1858–1912) and Matsumoto Matataro (1865–1943). It explores cross-cultural connections, commonalities, and the transition from religious–moralistic to secular–scientific definitions of human nature. Emerging at the intersection of philosophy, pedagogy, physiology, and physics, psychology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries faced the challenges of industrialization and aligned itself with efforts to integrate individual subjectivities into larger institutions and organizations.

To achieve this social management, Japan established a schooling system that incorporated psychological research, transforming educational practices and shaping evolving notions of selfhood. Applied psychology responded to the demands of new forms of labor and loyalty, leading to the development of personality tests, personnel selection, therapy, counseling, military science, colonial policies, and the cultivation of "national spirit."

However, the birth of Japanese psychology was not merely an adaptation to the challenges of modernity. It heralded a profound transformation of the very mental processes it sought to understand. The book is enriched with detailed appendices, tables, and charts that offer readers a meticulous and comprehensive exploration of the subject, adopting a truly comparative perspective. It is a valuable resource for students and scholars of Japanese intellectual history and the history of psychology, providing insights into the complex and evolving nature of psychological thought and practice in Japan.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 171 x 244 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350074385