A Historiographical Review of Psychological Theories of Law

The article explores historiographical issues related to psychological theories of law, which have influenced political and legal thought for over two centuries. The growing interest in this subject stems from a significant lack of historiographic literature addressing the origins, development, and key trends of psychological theories of law within the broader context of political and legal ideas over the past two hundred years. Existing reviews and specialized studies on psychological theories of law in the history of political and legal thought have, with few exceptions, only occasionally considered psychological approaches to law. Moreover, there has been a lack of independent development in the historiography of this psychological direction within the evolution of contemporary political and legal thought. Addressing this gap requires a revision of our approach to the principles of historical research, as well as a heightened emphasis on original literature, including relevant historical, philosophical, and problem-theoretical reconstructions. Such an approach would facilitate a deeper understanding of the psychological trends in the development of legal thought. Additionally, it is crucial to investigate the genre and thematic characteristics of psychological interpretations of law. The history of political and legal doctrines could greatly benefit from the insights gained through this research, potentially leading to significant refinement and generalization in our comprehension of psychological theories of law. 

Keywords: psychological theories of law; history of political and legal thought; legal historiography; legal sense; general literature; psychoanalysis; mutual recognition; psychology of law; historical psychology