Samuel Beckett and Experimental Psychology: Perception, Attention, Imagery

Samuel Beckett's private writings and public work explore the human mind, and Samuel Beckett and Psychology explores the author's engagement with experimental psychology, revealing the links between his aesthetic method and the methodologies of experimental psychology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 29 July 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Samuel Beckett's private writings and public work showcase a profound fascination with the intricacies of the human mind. Samuel Beckett and Psychology: An Innovative Exploration delves into the author's profound engagement with key concepts in early experimental psychology and the rapidly evolving scientific understanding of perception, attention, and mental imagery. By employing innovative new readings of Becketts later dramatic and prose works, the book unveils the interconnectedness between his artistic approach and the methodologies of experimental psychology throughout the 20th century. This comprehensive study encompasses significant later works such as Happy Days, Not I, and Footfalls, shedding valuable new light on Becketts portrayal of the intricate workings of the embodied mind.

The book explores Becketts's interest in the psychological theories of his time, including those of Wilhelm Wundt, Edward B. Titchener, and Sigmund Freud. It examines how these theories influenced his writing and how he used them to create his unique literary style. Through close readings of his plays, poems, and prose, the book demonstrates how Becketts used language, imagery, and structure to explore the complexities of human consciousness, emotion, and identity.

One of the key themes of Samuel Beckett and Psychology is the relationship between language and the mind. The author believed that language was a powerful tool for shaping and expressing the mind, and he used it to create his own distinctive literary language. The book explores how Becketts used language to create ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty, which are essential elements of his writing. It also examines how language can be used to manipulate and control the reader's perception of the world.

Another important theme of the book is the concept of the embodied mind. Becketts believed that the mind was not just a cognitive process but also a physical and sensory experience. He used his writing to explore the relationship between the body and the mind, and how the body can influence and shape the mind. The book examines how Becketts depicted the body in his writing, including its physicality, its limitations, and its ability to transcend its physical boundaries.

Samuel Beckett and Psychology also explores the role of memory and imagination in shaping the mind. The author believed that memory was a crucial aspect of human consciousness, and he used it to create his own unique form of memory theatre. The book examines how Becketts used memory and imagination to create his characters, their relationships, and their experiences. It also explores how these processes can be used to manipulate and control the reader's perception of the world.

In addition to its exploration of Becketts's writing, Samuel Beckett and Psychology also includes a critical analysis of his place in the history of experimental psychology. The author argues that Becketts's work was a significant contribution to the field, and that his use of language and his exploration of the embodied mind were particularly influential. The book also examines how Becketts's work has been interpreted and analyzed by other scholars and critics, and how it has influenced contemporary literature and philosophy.

Overall, Samuel Beckett and Psychology is a groundbreaking study that offers new insights into the complex relationship between Samuel Beckett's writing and the field of experimental psychology. Through its innovative readings and critical analysis, the book sheds valuable new light on Becketts's artistic method and his contributions to the understanding of the human mind.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350237421