Outstanding Russian medical scientists and academicians I.P. Pavlov and V.M. Bekhterev and their contribution to academic and practical advances in hypnosis, hypnotherapy, and psychotherapy in Russia

Relevance. The paper is a brief historical and analytical overview of works of I.P. Pavlov and V.M. Bekhterev regarding theory, methods, and practice of hypnosis, hypnotherapy, and psychotherapy; the authors evaluate the prospective influence of these scientists on further developments in the theory, methods and practice of hypnosis, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy and behaviorism in the 20th century Russia.

The objective is to retrospectively analyze works by I.P. Pavlov and V.M. Bekhterev and evaluate their impact on theory, methods, and practice of hypnosis, hypnotherapy, and psychotherapy.

Methodology. The paper analyzes lifetime editions of works by I.P. Pavlov and V.M. Bekhterev, as well as publications evaluating their contribution to the history of Russian hypnology and psychotherapy in the late 19th early–20th centuries.

Results and Discussion. The paper outlines the contribution made by I.P. Pavlov and his school to advance theories and practices of suggestion, hypnosis and hypnotherapy in shaping the concept of higher nervous activity. The finding consider the Pavlovian logic of suggestive and hypnotic phenomena based on reflexology, combined inhibition and excitation cortical processes; efficiency of linking hypnotic and extra-hypnotic suggestions according to (Pavlovian) typology of higher nervous activity; a consistent transition from animal models and therapy frameworks in experimental studies and hypnosis, to clinical and therapeutic studies of hypnotherapy and suggestive psychotherapy in the treatment of human neuroses. The review highlights the impact of Pavlov’s doctrine on understanding higher nervous activity, theories of hypnosis and suggestion in the development of Russian hypnotherapy, and – more broadly – the medical model of the Soviet psychotherapy. I.P. Pavlov’s contribution to the development of behaviorism is also emphasized. Analysis of theoretical, methodological, and clinical heritage by V.M. Bekhterev and its influence on hypnotherapy and psychotherapy was carried out in line with his milestone multifaceted scientific contribution to neuromorphology, neurophysiology, neurology, psychiatry, psychology (including developmental psychology), pedagogy, and sociology. V.M. Bekhterev’s contribution to the theory of hypnosis, methods and practices of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy relies on comprehensive advances in an array of human sciences (neuromorphology, neurophysiology, psychiatry, objective (psychology), collective reflexology (sociology)), driven by his own extensive research, as well as creative transformations and contemporary achievements in national reflexology, global hypnology, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, psychiatry, psychology, sociology. Bechterev’s unique research, methods, and practical activities have become a profound foundation for subsequent developments in Russian hypnology and psychotherapy of the 20th century, and became an incentive for the development of behaviorism.

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