Promoting psychobiography: models and perspectives from multiple countries

Int Rev Psychiatry. 2024 Feb-Mar;36(1-2):153-164. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2023.2277824. Epub 2023 Nov 6.

Abstract

This article promotes and advocates for the integration of psychobiography into academic training in psychology. While psychobiography has been foundational to the discipline of psychology since Freud's study of Leonardo da Vinci, its procedures and methods have been sorely neglected in academic psychology. Following a brief introduction to psychobiography, the authors provide a historical review of the specialty area, review the current scope of psychobiographical training in psychology, and summarize the benefits of psychobiography to both the training of students and the broader psychology field. Next, models and examples of psychobiography integration across three continents and five countries are provided. The article concludes with specific recommendations for advancing psychobiography in academic psychology.

Keywords: Psychobiography; academic psychology; academic training; country studies; teaching psychobiography.