Consideration of Changes in the Handling of Psychology in Shinrigaku Gairon

Abstract 　This paper examines how the teaching of psychology has changed with the changing times, especially after it came to be studied in universities in Japan during the Meiji period. Within this examination, this paper reveals changes over time in the way psychology has been handled in Shinrigaku Gairon (Outline of Psychology), a textbook for teaching psychology to beginners. 　Psychology, which was established as an independent discipline separate from and independent of philosophy, initially emphasized the importance of positive science aspects but did not entirely dismiss interest in speculative and philosophical content, such as the influence of Kantian philosophy. However, this paper examines the fact that a range of positions other than constructivism, such as behaviorism, gestalt psychology, and cognitive psychology, began to form within the field of psychology with the passage of time. It came to be regarded not for its view of humanity or the like, but as a scholarship that conducts demonstrative research on behavior in the broad sense, including thought, as expressed by the term “psychology from behavior.” While each of these positions may have different views of humanity behind them, it was thought that teaching an outline of psychology more commonly explains these through their common points, such as demonstrative methodologies, rather than mentioning their differences. This is considered to be because it enables psychology to be regarded as a single discipline that includes diverse areas, but conversely weakens the perspective that questions the view of humanity that lies behind it. 　Psychology includes diverse areas, and although they all take the mind as their subject, they appear to treat and regard it in different ways. It is thought that being conscious of the view of humanity and the philosophy behind psychology may be useful in handling these differences more consciously.