Confession in the prehistory of psychology

Authors

  • José Carlos Loredo Narciandi

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to approach confession as a form of “psychological therapy” previous to the institutionalization of Psychology. After outlining the historical development of practices preceding confession (particularly those of the Stoics), as well as the historical context of confessional praxis, Abate J. Gaume’s Manual de los confesores [Confessors’ Handbook] (1864) is analysed as a representative example. Several specific ways of interaction between priest and sinner are identified and re-interpreted in terms of current clinical psychology.

Published

2005-01-11

Issue

Section

Estudios