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Group Psychology and Problems of Contemporary History

Group Psychology and Problems of Contemporary History Group Psychology and Problems of Contemporary History Bruce Mazlish Events of recent history have begged for explanation in terms of group psychology and group behaviour. The omnipresent reality of totalitarianism, especially, calls for its interpretation in the very terms - growing 'irrationality', and hence psychology - that shape the phenomenon itself. Somehow, we must make what seems al­ most totally irrational submit to rational explanation. The term 'cult of personality' itself emphasizes the psychological dimension. So, too, our increased interest in, and awareness of, racial situations provokes an inquiry into the inter-personal relations that underlie an otherwise irrational, and often uneconomical, system. Colonial relations, messianic cults, all ask similar questions. Yet, since the publication of William McDougall's 11llroduction to Social Psychology in 1908, perhaps the earliest text in the field, little seems to have been done here that satisfies the historian's quest for greater understanding. As for psychoanalytically-oriented work, the theories of Freudian individual psychology, even for those convinced of their validity, seem not to have been satisfac­ torily connected to the problems of group psychology. Thus the stem and demanding challenge ofgroup psychology and its relation to history still confronts us, unsmilingly. The cheerful note in this situation http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Contemporary History SAGE

Group Psychology and Problems of Contemporary History

Mazlish, Bruce
Journal of Contemporary History , Volume 3 (2): 15 – Apr 1, 1968
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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 1968 SAGE Publications
ISSN
0022-0094
eISSN
1461-7250
DOI
10.1177/002200946800300210
Publisher site
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Abstract

Group Psychology and Problems of Contemporary History Bruce Mazlish Events of recent history have begged for explanation in terms of group psychology and group behaviour. The omnipresent reality of totalitarianism, especially, calls for its interpretation in the very terms - growing 'irrationality', and hence psychology - that shape the phenomenon itself. Somehow, we must make what seems al­ most totally irrational submit to rational explanation. The term 'cult of personality' itself emphasizes the psychological dimension. So, too, our increased interest in, and awareness of, racial situations provokes an inquiry into the inter-personal relations that underlie an otherwise irrational, and often uneconomical, system. Colonial relations, messianic cults, all ask similar questions. Yet, since the publication of William McDougall's 11llroduction to Social Psychology in 1908, perhaps the earliest text in the field, little seems to have been done here that satisfies the historian's quest for greater understanding. As for psychoanalytically-oriented work, the theories of Freudian individual psychology, even for those convinced of their validity, seem not to have been satisfac­ torily connected to the problems of group psychology. Thus the stem and demanding challenge ofgroup psychology and its relation to history still confronts us, unsmilingly. The cheerful note in this situation

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Journal of Contemporary History – SAGE

Published: Apr 1, 1968

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