Emotions and Feelings in Psychology Textbooks Published in Poland until 1914. Description, Classifications, Interpretations

Abstract

Textbooks form one of the most important sources of knowledge on issues that construct the area of research of the respective scientific discipline. The knowledge contained in them relates to the current state of cognition, reflcts scientifi terminology, explains how various phenomena are defined, and their mechanisms understood and what meaning are they given in the system of the respective science. Therefore, their role in the school and academic teaching is a fundamental one. Furthermore, they also inspire research directions and topics, at least to some extent. The article outlines the place of emotions and feelings in the most significant psychology textbooks published in Polish from 1863 to 1914. These include both the works of Polish psychologists as well as works translated from foreign languages. The author demonstrates, how the knowledge of feelings and emotions, their classification, and also the basic views concerning their origins and links to other phenomena of consciousness were all presented. We may consider this state of knowledge the starting point for all further development of psychology of emotions in Poland.