The Triumph of the Therapeutic Summary (8.3/10)

“Triumph of the Therapeutic: Uses of Faith After Freud,” written by sociologist Philip Rieff in 1966, is a seminal work that scrutinizes the shift in societal values and the rise of psychological man in the aftermath of Freudian thought.

Rieff posits that Western society, having detached from traditional religious and moral commitments, is witnessing the ascendancy of therapeutic culture. He argues that society is transitioning from a community that focuses on principles and shared moral order, to one where individual psychological well-being takes precedence.

The author asserts that Freud’s influence has paved the way for the ‘triumph’ of therapeutic thinking, prioritizing personal fulfillment and happiness above collective ideals and shared moral principles. In this new world, therapy, rather than faith, becomes the principal means of achieving personal salvation, offering a sense of meaning and purpose.

Rieff explores the consequences of this transition, arguing that it leads to the creation of the ‘psychological man.’ The psychological man is primarily driven by a desire for personal happiness, satisfaction, and inner peace, rather than adherence to traditional religious or moral codes. This shift, Rieff contends, has profound implications for society, affecting not just individual identity, but also cultural and societal structures.

Rieff describes modern society (the book was written in 1966) as completely different from the past. Previously, society was marked by “religious man” – and then, many centuries later, by “economic man”, and now, in the current stage, by “psychological man.”

And this new type of individual differs from ancestors in the way he creates meaning in his life. Whereas the older generations sought meaning from without, by burdening themselves with cultural traditions and economic aspirations, the psychological man is mainly interested in maintaining a balanced mindset, he seeks meaning from within. A principal feature of psychological man is his indifference.

No longer the Saint, but the instinctual Everyman, twisting his neck uncomfortably inside the starched collar of culture, is the communal ideal, to whom men offer tacit prayers for deliverance from their inherited renunciations. Freud sought only to soften the collar; others, using bits and pieces of his genius, would like to take it off.Rieff,The Triumph of the Therapeutic

**This article is a stub. The rest of it can be found in my book, The Dichotomy of the Self. **

YARPP List

Related posts:

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Summary (7/10)
2. Law 9: Confront Your Dark Side (The Laws of Human Nature)
3. Law 17: Seize the Historical Moment (The Laws of Human Nature)
4. Part 1: The Natural (The Art of Seduction)