Culture, Politics and Society in the History of Psychology in Argentina

Abstract

This chapter provides a historical review of psychology in Argentina from its early development at the end of the nineteenth century to the present. For this purpose, five periods of analysis are established, namely: the early development of psychology in Argentina (1895-1916); psychology in the interwar years (1916-1941); the development of psychotechnics and professional guidance (1941-1962), the democratic transition and the institutional normalization of psychology in the context of the crises and changes of Argentinian higher education (1984-2009); and the challenges faced during the New Millennium in regards to the accreditation of psychology programs, and contemporary issues related to the mental health field (2009-2020). This study presents a definition of what could be understood as a cultural history of psychology in Argentina: a definition that comes closer to the widespread use of psychology in the large social populations and in the different areas of our vast geography. Except for some isolated studies, such a cultural history is yet to be written and this study contributes to this end.