Utilizing Jerome Frank's sociocultural definition of psychotherapy, it is argued that, more than four centuries ago, the supposedly "barbaric" Aztecs of Mexico were practising a genuine form of psychotherapy. Furthermore, it is suggested that structural and "process" components of Aztec psychotherapy seemed to be highly effective in restoring the hope of demoralized individuals.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ardila, A. and Finley, G. (1975) Psychology in Latin America: A bibliography. Revista Interamericana de Psicologia, 2, 1-171.
2.
Bergin, A.E. (1971) in A.E. Bergin and S.L. Garfield (Eds), Handbook ofpsychotherapy and behavioural change: An empirical analysis. New York : Wiley.
3.
Del Pozo, E.C. (1967) in D.H. Efron, B. Holmstedt, and N.S. Kline (Eds.), Ethnopharmacologic search forpsychoactive drugs . Washington, D.C.: Public Health Service Publication No. 1645.
4.
Frank, J.D. (1973) Persuasion and healing: A comparative study of psychotherapy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
5.
La Barre, W. (1964) in A. Kiev (Ed.), Magic, faith, and healing. New York, Free Press.
6.
Leon-Portilla, M. (1963) Aztec thought and culture. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press.
7.
Lichtenstein, E. (1980) Psychotherapy: Approaches and applications. Monterey, California: Brooks-Cole.
8.
Luborsky, L., Singer, B., and Luborsky, L. (1975) 'Comparative studies of psychotherapy: Is it true that everyone has won and all must have prizes?' Archives of General Psychiatry.
9.
Sahagun, B. (1932) A history of ancient Mexico. F. Bandalier (Trans.)Nashville, Tennessee: Fisk University Press.
10.
Sahagun, B. (1952) in C.E. Dibble and A.J. Anderson (Trans.), Florentine Codex: General history of the things of New Spain (Book 3). Santa Fe, New Mexico: The School of American Research and the University of Utah.
11.
Sahagun, B. (1961) in C.E. Dibble and A.J. Anderson (Trans.), Florentine Codex: General history of the things of New Spain (Book 10). Santa Fe, New Mexico, The School of American Research and the University of Utah.
12.
Sahagun, B. (1969) in C.E. Dibble and A.J. Anderson (Trans.), Florentine Codex: General history of the things of New Spain (Book 6). Santa Fe, New Mexico, The School of American Research and the University of Utah.
13.
Sahagun, B. (1970) in C.E. Dibble and A.J. Anderson (Trans.), Florentine Codex: General history of the things of New Spain (Book 1). Santa Fe, New Mexico, The School of American Research and the University of Utah.
14.
Schofield, W. (1964) Psychotherapy: The purchase of friendship. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall .
15.
Smith, M.L., and Glass, G.V. (1977) 'Meta-analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies' . American Psychologist.32, 752-760.