Is psychology in the position to contribute to shape "healthy and joyful imaginaries"?

Irina A. Mironenko

pp. 358-365

in: Human Arenas 1 (4), 2018.

Abstract

This article is a comment on Maria Lapoujade paper "Life Imaginaries in Gaseous Societies." Maria Lapoujade argues that due to the increase of pace of human, social life since modernity humanity finds itself in a deeply morally degraded and culturally diseased state. Thus, Lapoujade calls for efforts which need to be undertaken from all possible areas—the humanities, arts, sciences, religions, education, and politics—to the healing of the diseased aspects of contemporary humanity, efforts, aimed at curing our species from overall blind irrational cruelty by promoting positive, joyful "imaginaries." Viewing psychological science as a powerful creator of "imaginaries," I address the point whether psychology can and should contribute to that endeavor.