Toward a science of the heart - Romanticism and the revival of psychology

In recent years, American psychology has conspicuously distanced itself from its romantic roots. Although affective, intuitive, and holistic bases for understanding human behavior have never occupied a mainstream position in the discipline as a whole, in recent years, their very existence has been threatened. This article, which focuses primarily on clinical psychology but also spells out implications for the entire discipline, elaborates the reasons for the threat to romanticism, the consequences that are associated with it, and the rich and practical advantages for reclaiming romanticism's legacy. The role that romanticism can play in psychology's future is also addressed. It is argued that romanticism can and should play a significantly greater role in our profession than it currently does. Finally, romanticism is discussed in light of another major alternative to mainstream psychology-postmodernism. Although romanticism is seen as compatible with postmodernism in certain respects, the limitations of this compatibility are also acknowledged.