Jan Hendrik van den Berg facts for kids
Jan Hendrik van den Berg (born June 11, 1914 – died September 22, 2012) was a Dutch psychiatrist. He was well-known for his unique ways of understanding people's thoughts and feelings, called phenomenological psychotherapy. He also studied how human nature and ideas change over time, a field he named metabletics, or "psychology of historical change." He wrote many books and articles, including A different existence and The changing nature of man.
Life Story
Jan Hendrik van den Berg, often called J.H. van den Berg, was born on June 11, 1914, in Deventer, a city in the Netherlands.
Early Education and Interests
Between 1933 and 1936, he earned diplomas for teaching in primary and high schools. His high school studies focused on mathematics. Interestingly, he also published scientific papers about entomology, which is the study of insects.
University Studies and Career
After his early studies, he went to medical school at Utrecht University. There, he chose to specialize in two areas: psychiatry, which deals with mental health, and neurology, which focuses on the brain and nervous system. He finished his main medical degree in 1946.
Just one year later, after spending time studying in France and Switzerland, Dr. Van den Berg became the Head of Department at the psychiatry clinic in Utrecht. At Utrecht, he taught about mental health problems to medical students. He also became a professor in the theology department, teaching about psychology related to faith.
In 1954, Dr. van den Berg moved to Leiden University to become a Professor of Psychology. From 1967 onwards, he traveled a lot. He was a visiting professor at many universities and gave lectures around the world.
He spent most of his later life in a historic house in the center of Woudrichem. He passed away in Gorinchem, a nearby town.
Related Topics
- Ludwig Binswanger
- Edmund Husserl
- Existential Psychology
- Karl Jaspers
