William James and British thought: then and now
David E. Leary
BJPsych Bulletin April 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2019.56 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
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| Key points | The text argues that William James's insight into the relation between attention and will arose from his personal experience of panic anxiety, which he resolved through reading several British authors, and proposes that this episode and his later theoretical conclusion may offer something to contemporary therapeutic practice. |
Abstract
The American psychologist and philosopher William James drew inspiration from British evolutionary theory, neurology, psychiatry, psychology and philosophy. Trained in anatomy, physiology and medicine, he developed a physiological psychology that offered acute analyses of consciousness and of the relations between mind and brain, habit and thought, cognition and emotion and other aspects of psychology. One of his insights, regarding the relation between attention and will, was based upon his own experience of panic anxiety, which was resolved through his reading of several British authors. The story of his psychiatric experience, practical response and later theoretical conclusion offers a potential contribution to contemporary therapeutic practice.