Bishop Fulton J. Sheen: America's public critic of psychoanalysis, 1947-1957.
This paper examines the role of Bishop Fulton Sheen in the popularization of Freudian psychoanalysis in the United States during the 1940s and 50s. Social historians argue that Freudian ideas were pervasive in American culture during this period. While their claim speaks mainly to the impact of psychoanalysis on the cultural elite and college educated, they also suggest that Freudian ideas affected ordinary men and women. In the former case, the group impacted is small and not representative of the population as a whole; in the latter, the evidence is sparse and impressionistic. Neglected in their consideration is the influence of Fulton Sheen whose opinions on Freud reached an audience of 30,000,000 during the height of the popularity of his TV show, Life is Worth Living. Sheen's audience was more inclusive and representative of mainstream America. The negative and highly cautionary view of psychoanalysis he presented to many Americans was contrary to that which was promoted to and embraced by many of the college educated and likely shaped both their views of Freud and psychoanalytic therapy.
['Dennis|Paul M|PM|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4108-973X']
D002410:Catholicism D005260:Female D005619:Freudian Theory D049673:History, 20th Century D006801:Humans D008297:Male D011572:Psychoanalysis D012068:Religion and Medicine D013690:Television D014481:United States
Fulton Sheen popularization of psychology