Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery

Name: Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery
Author: Robert Means Lawrence

By Robert Means Lawrence

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Health & Medicine History - Other Psychiatry/Psychology

About This Book

The volume surveys traditional healing methods and popular remedies, examining amulets, talismans, phylacteries, spells, the laying-on of hands, the royal touch, colored-glass remedies, temples of healing, runic and inscribed prescriptions, metallo-therapy, and animal magnetism. It analyzes the role of words, music, relics, and the imagination as suggestive forces that can produce perceived cures, distinguishes ritual and material bases of efficacy, and traces connections between ancient practices and later approaches to suggestion-based therapy. An appendix profiles notable irregular practitioners and chapters critique quackery while exploring the psychological mechanisms behind medical superstition.

About the Author

Robert Means Lawrence

Robert Means Lawrence was an American author known for his contributions to the fields of psychology and folklore. His notable works include "Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery," which explores the historical practices and beliefs surrounding mental health treatment, and "The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes," which delves into the rich tapestry of folk traditions and superstitions. Through his writings, Lawrence aimed to shed light on the intersection of cultural beliefs and psychological practices, making significant contributions to the understanding of both disciplines.