A radio series on the history of psychology

A new BBC Radio 4 series featuring the author and broadcaster Martin Sixsmith starts on Monday at 1.45pm.

In Episode 1 of In Search of Ourselves, A History of Psychology and the Mind, Sixsmith examines the government's plan for a national 'happiness index' and traces our search for ourselves back to the ancients.

This series will taps into a defining aspect of modern existence and addresses the widespread desire to know more, charting the path from today's democratisation of psychological care back to early beliefs, the birth of modern experimental psychology, the related 'psy professions' - psychiatry and psychotherapy - and the splits and controversies of the 20th century.

Martin Sixsmith retrained as a psychologist in the last decade, following careers as a BBC correspondent and government adviser. Martin's experience both studying applied psychology and as a recipient of therapy reflects the growing acceptance of psychological counselling in Britain and the lessening of the stigma attached to mental illness. There has been a growth of interest in the therapeutic aspects of psychology, but many of us still have a frustratingly incomplete knowledge of its history, techniques and broader applications.

Leave a Reply