Jan Hendrik van den Berg (11 June 1914 – 22 September 2012) was a Dutch psychiatrist notable for his work in phenomenological psychotherapy (cf.

phenomenology Phenomenology may refer to: Art * Phenomenology (architecture), based on the experience of building materials and their sensory properties Philosophy * Phenomenology (philosophy), a branch of philosophy which studies subjective experiences and a ...

) and metabletics, or "psychology of historical change." He is the author of numerous articles and books, including ''A different existence'' and ''The changing nature of man''.

Biography

Jan Hendrik (J.H.) van den Berg was born on 11 June 1914 in

Deventer Deventer (; Sallands: ) is a city and municipality in the Salland historical region of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands. In 2020, Deventer had a population of 100,913. The city is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, bu ...

, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. Between 1933 and 1936, he earned diplomas in primary school and high school education, the latter with a focus on mathematics. He also published papers on

entomology Entomology () is the science, scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such ...

. He then entered medical school at

Utrecht University Utrecht University (UU; nl, Universiteit Utrecht, formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrollme ...

specializing in

psychiatry Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry. Initial psych ...

and

neurology Neurology (from el, wikt:νεῦρον, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix wikt:-logia, -logia, "study of") is the branch of specialty (medicine), medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of co ...

. He completed his doctoral dissertation in 1946. One year later, after studying in both France and Switzerland, Dr. Van den Berg was appointed to Head of Department at the psychiatry clinic at Utrecht. At Utrecht, he lectured in psychopathology in the medical school and was also appointed to Professor of Pastoral Psychology in the

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

department. In 1954, Dr. van den Berg took a position of Professor of Psychology at

Leiden University Leiden University (abbreviated as ''LEI''; nl, Universiteit Leiden) is a Public university, public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. The university was founded as a Protestant university in 1575 by William the Silent, William, Prince o ...

. Since 1967, he has been a visiting professor at many universities and conducted lecture tours internationally.. Kruger, D. (Ed.). (1985). ''The changing reality of modern man: Essays in honour of J.H. van den Berg''. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press, pp. 251-252. Having lived most of his later life in a monumental house at the market in the historical center of

Woudrichem Woudrichem (; Brabantian: ''Woerkum'') is a city and former municipality in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands. History The city of Woudrichem was granted city rights in 1356. Geography The municipality is located at in th ...

, he died in nearby

Gorinchem Gorinchem ( or ), also spelled Gorkum, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of Oc ...

Select bibliography

* ''A phenomenological approach to psychiatry: An introduction to recent phenomenological psychopathology'' (w/ M. Farber) (1955) *''The changing nature of man: Introduction to an historical psychology'' (1956) *''Things: Four metabletic reflections'' (1970) *''A different existence: Principles of phenomenological psychopathology'' (1972)() *''The psychology of the sickbed'' (1972) *''Divided existence and complex society: An historical approach'' (1974) *''The two principle laws of thermodynamics: A cultural and historical exploration'' (2004)

Works Influenced by van den Berg

*Kruger, D. (Ed.). (1985). ''The changing reality of modern man: Essays in honour of J.H. van den Berg''. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press. *Romanyshyn, R. (1989). ''Technology as symptom and dream''. New York: Routledge. *Romanyshyn, R. (2001). ''Mirror and Metaphor''. Pittsburgh, PA: Trivium. * Simms, E.M. (2008). ''The Child in the World: Embodiment, Time, and Language in Early Childhood.'' Detroit: Wayne State University Press. *Stivers, R. (2004). ''Shades of loneliness: Pathologies of a technological society''. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.

References

External links

Brent Dean Robbins' J.H. van den Berg page

Dutch page on Metabletics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Jan Hendrik Van Den 1914 births 2012 deaths Dutch psychiatrists Dutch psychologists Phenomenologists People from Deventer People from Woudrichem Utrecht University alumni Academic staff of Utrecht University Academic staff of Leiden University

Biography

Select bibliography

Works Influenced by van den Berg

See also

References

External links