Harmonization of mental states: psychology and cultural paradigms of the XX century

The article deals with the leading paradigms of psychotherapy in the culture of the twentieth century. The article records the fact that there is no clear definition of psychotherapy as a cultural phenomenon, as well as the lack of agreement of specialists on the issue of its main functions, but it emphasizes the very real nature of the functioning of psychotherapeutic directions both in the culture of the twentieth century and today. For the author, psychotherapy is a professional work with the mental state of the client, the desire to harmonize his inner world. Based on this understanding, the author identifies three of the most significant areas and schools of psychotherapy that have had a significant impact on spiritual and humanitarian culture: psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy (behaviorism) and Gestalt therapy. They are the main psychotherapeutic paradigms. Psychoanalysis is considered by the author as an appeal to the “pre-cultural” component of the inner world and, as shown in the article, was widely expressed by the Surrealists, in the films of L. Bunuel, F. Fellini, P. Pasolini, M. Forman, etc. Behaviorism, which appeals to external behavior, has influenced, first of all, education, management, and some areas of science fiction. F. Perls’ Gestalt therapy, focused on the individual and the state of “here and now”, gave rise to a variety of cultural practices of “awareness”. At the end of the article, the author notes the multiplicity of psychotherapy directions and their avalanche-like growth in modern culture.