How history made room for neuroscience and the psychology of beliefs

Since the beginning of psychiatry and psychology, in the early 20th century, religious experience, spirituality and beliefs began to figure in the thinking of great names of the field. From Sigmund Freud, who connected religion to obsessive neurosis, to manuals and practices that take a broader look at the relationship between spirituality and health, the field gained supporters and developed – and, today, the place of beliefs in society is studied, as well as how they impact decision-making processes in various areas of human life.

In this infographic, we show a timeline with some of the main milestones that helped establish research in the area and led to the Neuroscience and Psychology of Beliefs project, developed at IDOR, which studies the impact of beliefs and spirituality on neurophysiological processes and psychology.

Read more about the pioneering research project in Neuroscience and Psychology of Beliefs in the interview with Everton Maraldi.