Onder invloed van Coué. Psychotherapie en opvoeding door (auto)suggestie tijdens de eerste helft van de twintigste eeuw, vooral in Nederland

Abstract

During the first half of the past century suggestion was a significant feature of psychotherapeutic endeavours. Emile Coué (1857-1926), an apothecary, who was interested in psychological healing, maintained that autosuggestion was at the basis of many suggestive effects. He concluded that the imagination, rather than the will, was the crucial force in autosuggestion. In his private clinic in Nancy, he succesfully applied his insights to all kinds of patients. After World War I, 'Couéism' became very popular in France, Britain, the United States, and in the German-speaking countries. In the Netherlands, Coué's views were promoted by his devoted disciple Mia Kloek-Pirée, who taught autosuggestion both as a remedy for those who suffered and as a means for self-improvement. This essay addresses the background, character, and influence of induced autosuggestion, particularly in the Netherlands. Special attention will be paid to its application in therapy and children's education.