A history of psychology in Cuba

Abstract

The history of psychology in Cuba and some of the sociohistorical and political forces impacting on the development of psychology are discussed. Three periods are identified: the colonial (1492‐1898), the prerevolutionary (1898‐1958), and the revolutionary (1959‐present). Each period represents a major shift in the socioeconomic and political context shaping the development of psychology. Key figures are described in their historical context. Emphasis is given to foci and organizational growth of psychology during the revolutionary period.

8 de octubre, día del Psicólogo Latinoamericano: Consideraciones sobre la pertinencia de la fecha

“…Lo que no es muy frecuente es que esas personas sean recordadas como parte de la psicología de un país por el sólo hecho de haber favorecido la creación o expansión de tales servicios, o por estar presentes como parte de la estructura o el organigrama de una institución en el momento que los mismos fueron iniciados. Hay estudios muy detallados sobre la evolución histórica de la psicología en Cuba, y en muchos de ellos no se hace mención alguna al Che Guevara como protagonista resaltante para la psicología (Bernal, 1985;Ortiz Torres, 2017). El artículo de Morales Calatayud (2011) constituye una interesante excepción, pues lo recuerda en su estudio sobre la psicología de la salud en Cuba y en un contexto similar al que corresponde el escrito de Hernández (s/f).…”

Toward a Caribbean psychology: Context, imperatives, and future directions.

“…Despite the paucity of information on the history of psychology and the accomplishments of regional psychology pioneers, a similar indigenizing philosophy is evident in contributions of select pioneering psychologists in other Caribbean contexts: Eldra Shulterbrandt in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Todman, 2000) and Peter Weller, Audrey Pottinger, and Rosemarie Johnson (Ward & Hickling, 2005), who fostered psychology's growth to meet the sociopsychological needs of the Jamaican society (Frey & Black, 2011). Bernal (1985) outlined the work of philosophers/psychologists in Cuba whose work was critical to the emergence of scientific contemporary psychology, highlighted the social consciousness of psychologists during the colonial period, and described the priority they placed on developing a solutions-based approach to psychology that met the needs of the community. Alphonso Bernal del Reisgo, a key figure in Cuban psychology, wrote textbooks in psychology (rather than translate English language books) and sought to address tertiary educational reform and child rearing as critical components in developing an approach to psychology that reflected the sociocultural and economic realities of Cuban society (Bernal, 1985).…”

“…Bernal (1985) outlined the work of philosophers/psychologists in Cuba whose work was critical to the emergence of scientific contemporary psychology, highlighted the social consciousness of psychologists during the colonial period, and described the priority they placed on developing a solutions-based approach to psychology that met the needs of the community. Alphonso Bernal del Reisgo, a key figure in Cuban psychology, wrote textbooks in psychology (rather than translate English language books) and sought to address tertiary educational reform and child rearing as critical components in developing an approach to psychology that reflected the sociocultural and economic realities of Cuban society (Bernal, 1985).…”

Factors Influencing the Development of Psychology in Latin America

“…A general history of the development of psychology in Latin America (Ardila, 1986), and interesting accounts of its historical development in different countries can be found in several books and articles; e.g. Argentina (Gottheid, 1969), Brazil (Filho, 1970), Colombia (Ardila, 1973), Cuba (Bernal, 1985), Mexico (Valderrama, Colotla, Gallegos, &Jurado, 1994), andPeru (Alarch, 1980). These texts make excellent reading for those interested in the subject.…”