Janet, Pierre (Marie Félix) (1859-1947)
Janet, Pierre (Marie Félix) (1859-1947)
French psychologist and neurologist noted for his research on hysteria and neuroses. Janet was born on May 30, 1859, in Paris. He studied at the École Normale and the École de Medecine, Paris. He became a lecturer on philosophy at the lycées of Chateauroux and The Hague, at the College Rollin, and at the lycées Louis-le-Grand and Condorcet. From 1889 to 1898 he was director of the psychological laboratory of the Saltpêtrière in Paris. He also lectured on psychology at the Sorbonne and became professor of psychology at the Collège de France in 1902. He published many important works on psychology and hysteria. His work with French neurologist J. M. Charcot includes a serious medical and scientific study of the phenomena of hypnotism.
The scope of Janet's influence in the world of psychology is often compared to that of Freud. Janet remained active and continued to lecture until his death on February 23, 1947.
Sources:
Berger, Arthur S., and Joyce Berger. The Encyclopedia of Parapsychology and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House, 1991.
Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2d ed. 18 vols. Detroit: Gale Research, 1999.