The Psychology of Family History: Exploring Our Genealogy

by Susan Moore, Doreen Rosenthal, Rebecca Robinson

This important book examines the motives that drive family historians and explores whether those who research their ancestral pedigrees have distinct personalities, demographics or family characteristics. It describes genealogists' experiences as they chart their family trees including their insights, dilemmas and the fascinating, sometimes disturbing and often surprising, outcomes of their searches.

Drawing on theory and research from psychology and other humanities disciplines, as well as from the authors' extensive survey data collected from over 800 amateur genealogists, the authors present the experiences of family historians, including personal insights, relationship changes, mental health benefits and ethical dilemmas. The book emphasises the motivation behind this exploration, including the need to acknowledge and tell ancestral stories, the spiritual and health-related aspects of genealogical research, the addictiveness of the detective work, the lifelong learning opportunities and the passionate desire to find lost relatives.

With its focus on the role of family history in shaping personal identity and contemporary culture, this is fascinating reading for anyone studying genealogy and family history, professional genealogists and those researching their own history.

Genres: Nonfiction

126 pages, ebook

Published October 11, 2020

Reviews

[Gwen Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably only people doing family history will read this and will do so as an attempt to understand their compulsion. The authors present chapters to explore such reasons as altruism, intergenerational, legacy, therapy, detective, health, maybe spiritual.

I've been working on a family history for a friend who has wanted to honour her grandfather, remember the Scottish ancestors, leave a legacy for her children and other descendants, and a history for the community. My interest has been in history and solving puzzles.

The chapters of most practical use to me were: Ethical dilemmas - the reason to buy the book, and Conclusion - what will be the future for genealogical studies - families have changed. Sprinkled throughout are many thoughtful considerations, insights, and practical advice.

[Shokai Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Psychology of Family History is one of the few books to explore the psychological benefits of genealogy without relying on spiritual belief or superstition or vague notions of the collective unconscious. My copy is full of notes in the margins!

[Susan Moore]

I loved it but then I wrote it. It’s too expensive unfortunately.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating study of why people research their family history, and what the psychological benefits of such research are. Recommended.