Jan Hendrik van den Berg
Encyclopedia
Jan Hendrik van den Berg (June 11, 1914 –) is a Dutch psychiatrist notable for his work in phenomenological psychotherapy (cf. phenomenology
) and metabletics, or "psychology of historical change." He is the author of numerous articles and books, including A different existence and The changing nature of man.
. Between 1933 and 1936, he earned diplomas in primary school and high school education, the latter with a focus on mathematics. He also published papers on entomology
. He then entered medical school at Utrecht University
specializing in psychiatry
and neurology
. He completed his doctoral dissertation in 1946. One year later, after studying in both France and Switzerland, Dr. van den Berg was appointed to Head of Department at the psychiatry clinic at Utrecht. At Utrecht, he lectured in psychopathology in the medical school and was also appointed to Professor of Pastoral Psychology in the theology
department. In 1954, Dr, van den Berg took a position of Professor of Psychology at Leiden University
. Since 1967, he has been a visiting professor at many universities and conducted lecture tours internationally.
Phenomenology (psychology)
Phenomenology is an approach to psychological subject matter that has its roots in the philosophical work of Edmund Husserl. Early phenomenologists such as Husserl, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty conducted their own psychological investigations in the early 20th century...
) and metabletics, or "psychology of historical change." He is the author of numerous articles and books, including A different existence and The changing nature of man.
Biography
Jan Hendrik (J.H.) van den Berg was born June 11, 1914 in Deventer, the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Between 1933 and 1936, he earned diplomas in primary school and high school education, the latter with a focus on mathematics. He also published papers on entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
. He then entered medical school at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
specializing in psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
. He completed his doctoral dissertation in 1946. One year later, after studying in both France and Switzerland, Dr. van den Berg was appointed to Head of Department at the psychiatry clinic at Utrecht. At Utrecht, he lectured in psychopathology in the medical school and was also appointed to Professor of Pastoral Psychology in the theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
department. In 1954, Dr, van den Berg took a position of Professor of Psychology at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
. Since 1967, he has been a visiting professor at many universities and conducted lecture tours internationally.
See also
- Ludwig BinswangerLudwig BinswangerLudwig Binswanger was a Swiss psychiatrist and pioneer in the field of existential psychology...
- Edmund HusserlEdmund HusserlEdmund Gustav Albrecht Husserl was a philosopher and mathematician and the founder of the 20th century philosophical school of phenomenology. He broke with the positivist orientation of the science and philosophy of his day, yet he elaborated critiques of historicism and of psychologism in logic...
- Existential Psychology
- Karl JaspersKarl JaspersKarl Theodor Jaspers was a German psychiatrist and philosopher who had a strong influence on modern theology, psychiatry and philosophy. After being trained in and practicing psychiatry, Jaspers turned to philosophical inquiry and attempted to discover an innovative philosophical system...
Select bibliography
- A phenomenological approach to psychiatry: An introduction to recent phenomenological psychopathology (w/ M. Farber) (1955)
- The changing nature of man: Introduction to an historical psychology (1956)
- Things: Four metabletic reflections (1970)
- A different existence: Principles of phenomenological psychopathology (1972)(ISBN 0-8207-0244-7)
- The psychology of the sickbed (1972)
- Divided existence and complex society: An historical approach (1974)
- The two principle laws of thermodynamics: A cultural and historical exploration (2004)
Works Influenced by van den Berg
- Kruger, D. (Ed.). (1985). The changing reality of modern man: Essays in honour of J.H. van den Berg. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press.
- Romanyshyn, R. (1989). Technology as symptom and dream. New York: Routledge.
- Romanyshyn, R. (2001). Mirror and Metaphor. Pittsburgh, PA: Trivium.
- Simms, E.M. (2008). The Child in the World: Embodiment, Time, and Language in Early Childhood. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.
- Stivers, R. (2004). Shades of loneliness: Pathologies of a technological society. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.