Metaphors in the History of Psychology

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When psychologists speak of human memory as a matter of "retrieving" earlier "input" from "storage, " they are basing their discussion on a series of metaphors drawn from cybernetic theory (the science of communication and control). Similarly, when clinical psychologists try to "relieve" the "pressure" that someone "represses" inside, their actions are directed by the metaphors that have shaped their understanding of the "inner workings" of "psychodynamics." The contributors to this volume argue that psychologists have turned to metaphor to articulate their theories regarding psychological functioning. By specifying major metaphors in the history of psychology, the contributors offer a "key" to understanding this area of knowledge. Metaphors in the History of Psychology describes and analyzes the ways psychological accounts of brain functioning, consciousness, cognition, emotion, motivation, and behavior have been, and are still being shaped from metaphors used by contemporary psychologists. Focusing on an issue of concern in disciplines ranging from linguistics and literary studies to cognitive science, this work provides a useful guide to the history, current orientations, and future prospects of modern psychology.