Psychology and literature
Author: Abdel Hamid, S.
Source:
Psychology in the Arab countries. Ahmed, Ramadan A.; Gielen, Uwe P.; Menoufia, Egypt: Menoufia University Press, 1998: 225-235
The psychological interpretation of literature in the Arab world is not new; what is new is the methodologies and approaches employed by modern psychologists. Most Arab literary critics' efforts reflect the psychoanalytic perspective, while most psychologists have employed more objective methodologies. Various authors have focused on the nature of creative products, the creative process, the background and personality characteristics of the creator and the literary text itself. The present chapter reviews writings concerning these 4 problem areas.