Pierre Janet’s Psychology of Conduct

A synthesis of a forgotten psychology project

Authors

  • Yuri Pereira Antunes Vieira Universidade Federal Fluminense
  • André Elias Morelli Ribeiro Universidade Federal do Amapá

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/1676-1669.2024.46796

Keywords:

Pierre Janet, psychology of conduct, history of psychology

Abstract

Pierre Janet’s (1859-1947) ideas were very much debated at the beginning of the 20th century. The historiography values his contributions to psychopathology and, to a lesser extent, his debate with Freud. Few spaces approach his Psychology of Conduct, debated by important figures. This paper retrieves primary and secondary sources, presenting characteristics of his psychological project. Janetian psychological thought has a genetic and functionalist character, demonstrating the parts of the functioning of the mind as a recapitulation of the evolutionary history of the human species. The center of his theory is the behaviors, actions that incorporate elements of mental life, divided into animal, intellectual, average, and superior. Another concept is tendency, the disposition of the living organism to do a certain action. Despite the influence of his ideas on psychological theories, his lack of interest in founding a school and attracting pupils, coupled with his debate with Freud, led to Janet's ideas being perpetuated mainly indirectly.

Author Biographies

  • Yuri Pereira Antunes Vieira, Universidade Federal Fluminense

    Graduando em Psicologia na Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) e pesquisador bolsista PIBIC interessado no estudo da História da Psicologia Francesa da virada do século XIX-XX, especificamente na vida e obras de Pierre Janet.

  • André Elias Morelli Ribeiro, Universidade Federal do Amapá

    Psicólogo, mestre e doutor em psicologia pela Unesp-Assis, docente no Departamento de Psicologia da Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) – campus de Rio das Ostras; docente no programa de pós-graduação em História das Ciências e das Técnicas e Epistemologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) e coordenador do Portal História da Psicologia.

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Published

2024-08-11

Issue

Vol. 41 (2024)

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Articles

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How to Cite

Pierre Janet’s Psychology of Conduct: A synthesis of a forgotten psychology project. (2024). Memorandum: Memory and History in Psychology , 41, e46796. https://doi.org/10.35699/1676-1669.2024.46796