Therapeutic Turn

Ole Jacob Madsen is Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo, Norway. His primary field of research interest is the unfolding of ‘the therapeutic culture’ in Scandinavia and consequent new societal ethical dilemmas facing professional psychologists.

This book is a masterful exposition of "the therapeutic turn" taken by our consumer society. Ole Jacob Madsen demonstrates how psychology infiltrates its every corner. Although psychology greatly influences the present, it is unable to understand its own operations due to its inherent individualism. This book will help the reader understand both psychology and contemporary society, and the relation between them. - Svend Brinkmann, Professor of Psychology, University of Aalborg, Denmark This book builds and expands upon elements of what has come to be known as Critical Psychology. Its originality lies in its analysis of the pervasive and insidious bleed of psychological ideology through the fabric of western culture. It will be welcomed by postgraduate students in psychology and social work, and in affiliated ‘helping’ and health profession courses. - Ian Law, General Manager Client Services, Relationships Australia "Its exposure of psychology to political scrutiny makes it significant reading for trainee and practising counselling and clinical psychologists, and for counsellors and psychotherapists interested in considering the limitations and distortions of the profession." Colin Feltham, Therapy Today

• 1: Introduction 2: The consumer self 3: Crisis of authority: Philip Rieff’s critique of Freud’s worldview 4: Psychology and religion Interlude: Psychology in crisis? 5: The self-help culture 6: Psychology and sports 7: Psychology and neoliberalism 8: The psychology profession’s ethos 9: Conclusion