Getting a feeling for (sense of ) Historical-Materialist Psychology. For example, How do we get from Marxist theory of political-economy to the psychological phenomenon of romantic love? What do the 2 have to do with each other? The linkage is cultural Psychology.
Social medicine as example. Integrating psychology with macro culture.
Chinese Neoliberal Sex is the capitalist commodification of sex. See sex as commodity, w. commodity motives, features and functions and effects. Foucault on history of sex to show historical features and dynamics.
Read my Introduction to the workshop, which includes selections from Max Horkheimer’s writings on psychology
Readings (all readings are available in this Google Drive folder)
Chs. 1 & 2 of my 2022 book, and pp. 3-19 of my Palgrave (publisher) book. (Integrating psychology and medicine with macro culture and historical-materialism. Scientific and political considerations.)
Foucault on cultural history of sex; Sass on history of mental illness
Chinese Neoliberal Sex
Zaretsky article. (to compare with Foucault and Chinese sex).
Marcuse, “Heideggerian Marxism” chap. 1. Optional, for your interest. Difficult reading but relevant. If you read and have comments we can spend some time at the end of the first class.
Week 1 Objectives:
Get a sense of Marxist Psychology, or Historical-materialist Psychology. How it elevates psychology to historical-materialist processes and forms. How it removes them from purely personal/individual/inter-individual processes and forms. How psychological phenomena are integral to Marx’s political theory. How solving psychological problems depends upon solving macro cultural problems. How Marxist Psychology stimulates solving macro cultural problems. How Marxist Psychology is not primarily therapeutic, to assuage psychological problems on an individual or group level. There is a place for Marxist therapy within Marxist Psychology. However, its place is to enlighten individuals about the historical-materialist basis of their individual experiences; and to enlighten individuals about the historical-materialist solution to their problems. All of which requires them to become active in macro cultural, political, economic transformation. Historical-materialism all the way down.
We shall discuss the Zaretsky article as failure by Marxists to engage with Marxist Psychology — with the hope that we can avoid such errors. He lapses into mainstream Psychology to explain historical-materialist psychological issues. This not only fails as an explanation of psychology, it also weakens Marxist theory by introducing into it antithetical principles and concepts.
In the second week, we shall read and discuss Marxist works about historical materialism in order to solidify and deepen Marxist Psychology. Marcuse’s chapter will be a transition from week 1 to 2.
Feel free to email me.
I'd like to spend some time learning your interests to fine tune the later sessions. I'd like to suggest some brief voluntary introductions in session 1 from anyone who would like to speak up.
I think that with 1 1/2 hours we do not need a break.