Four Decades of Sophrology and its Scientific Status

Full text

Indian Journal Social Science Researches
Vol. 6, No. 1, March, 2009, pp. 1-3
ISSN 0974-9837
The problem of neologism in the psychology is
neither new nor surprising, as it has been
observed from time to time in the existing
scientific as well as popular psychological
literature. Among a number of new terms that
have found a place in the field of psychology,
sophorology is one that probably does not
adequately satisfy the criteria required for its
inclusion in the field of scientific inquiry.
The introduction of the term sophorology can
be traced back to 1960s when a Spanish
neuropsychiatrist Dr. Alfonso Caycedo coined
it by synthesizing three Greek words SOS
(harmony, serenity), PHREN (consciousness)
and LOGOS (science, study) which literally
means science or study of the harmony of the
consciousness. Since then, it has occupied
sufficient space and attention on the internet
literature as a mean to address a wide variety of
problems including problems of stress,
i n so m n ia , e m o ti o n m a na g em e n t,
inte r p e rsonal relatio n s h ip e t c. S u ch
information are available on several web sites
including the following: y.
l o g i c .c o . u k / so p h r o l o gy . h t m l a n d
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophrolog
Despite its popularity on the internet
literature, it is less represented in the scientific
literature such as standard journals, textbooks
or reference books even after more than 40
years of its introduction. Moreover, the
literature available on the internet has also not
http://www.body-
Editorial
Four Decades of Sophrology and its Scientific Status
Rakesh Pandey
Editor-in-Chief
Reader
Department of psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
been authenticated by providing proper
references. Probably this may be a reason
behind the reluctance of the researchers to
include it in the mainstream literature. The
problem of scientific validation of this
construct becomes further complicated as
some researchers have included this term in
scientific literature based on less authenticated
definitions available on internet. For example,
Doung and Zulian, (2007) have cited a
definition of sophrology based on information
available at http://gb.sophrologie-info.com.
Th e cite d defi niti on is qu oted h ere
“Sophrology is the science which studies the
human conscience, its modifications and the
means of varying it, with a therapeutic,
prophylactic, and teaching aim, to make it
possible to be in harmony with itself and its
environment” ( p. 141). Such attempt may
encourage the acceptance of the term with the
assumption that the term has some validity. In
fact this is reflected in the application of
sophrology as a technique to deal with a
variety of psychological problems. It has
become a recognized medical therapy in
Western Europe (Doung & Zulian, 2007) and
has been successfully used to decrease stress
among health professionals and anxiety in
patients (Cycedo, Carsi, & Van Rangelrooy,
2005).
Besides the issue of authentication, defining
the boundary of the construct of sophrology is

another problem. It has been defined as both a
science as well as a technique. As a science, it
refers to the systematic study of the various
states and levels of consciousness irrespective
of the mode or agent of its induction
(Godefroy, 2001). However, as a set of mind
controlling or regulating technique it is defined
as “a series of easy physical and mental
exercises, created specifically to provide a
holistic method to manage the speed and
st res s of mo der n lif e.” (Int ernational
s o p h r o l o g y F e d e r a t i o n :
http://www.sophrologycentre.com/page/page
/4204826.htm). The Body Logic Health web
site defines it as a technique based on
relaxation and concentration to help an
individual to become more aware of one's
body and mind and the way they both
f u n c t i o n . h t t p : / / w w w . b o d y -
logic.co.uk/sophrology.html). Similarly, as a
technique, Cycedo (1964) defined sophrology
as the combination of relaxation, yoga, and
meditation to increase health awareness and
harmonious living.
An overview of these definitions clearly
demonstrates that the term has been very
loosely defined and includes so many
techniques from both Eastern and Western
perspectives that it becomes difficult to define
the boundaries of this construct. This becomes
evident in such statements given in the
literature as – “……sophrology is a science,
concerned not only with hypnosis, but with all
related phenomena- relaxation, yoga, Zen
meditation-in fact, all techniques aim to
induce changes in our ordinary states of
consciousness. So as you can see, sophrology
covers a much broader range of phenomenon
than hypnosis alone” (p.44).
To gain the status of a scientific construct, the
sophrology must have a clearly defined
boundary along with its goals, assumptions
and its own methodology. However, the
survey of scientific literature suggest that
without making such efforts researchers have
started evaluating its application for dealing
with various types of mental health problems.
For example, the search of the term sophrology
(in the title of various articles abstracted) on
PubMed yielded 82 published research papers
of which almost all dealt with the application
of sophrology for various types of medical and
psychosomatic ailments. Attempt to search
this term in various journals published by Sage
yielded 5 results (research articles) in which
the sophrology appeared in text but not in title.
The review of the content of these articles
(published by Sage) revealed that all the
authors have either used sophrology as a tool
of healing or therapy or have reviewed and
compared the therapeutic value of sophrology
with other techniques.
The preceding discussion, thus, brings to fore
the fact that despite the increasing popularity
of sophrology as a technique of healing various
types of psychological and health problems, it
has not captured the attention of researchers of
the mainstream psychology. Further, it is also
evident that without making any serious effort
to clearly define and develop the field itself,
researchers have made premature attempt to
apply it. Moreover, as the available literature
defines sophrology as an amalgam of several
Eastern and Western techniques; it is difficult
to evaluate which particular technique
brought the reported changes in the clients. Is it
the sophrology or the constituent techniques
such as relaxation, concentration, meditation
etc. that brought the change? Is it a new science
or a new label to the amalgam of the various
techniques collected from well-established
Indi a n yo g i c tr a d i t ion a n d W e s t ern
2 Pandey

psychological tradition? Such questions are
difficult to answer until the clear boundaries
and subject matter of the science of sophrology
are established.
The sophrology is here being used just as an
example to highlight the increasing trend of
neologism in the field of social science in
general and psychology in particular. Owing
our responsibility as researchers, rather than
being trapped into neologism we have to be
very careful while including such new terms in
the field of mainstream psychology. Such
watchfulness becomes necessary in the light of
the increasing trend of hiring or importing
psychological constructs from popular
literatu r e in cluding u n a u t h enticated
information from internet. Such literature
often presents constructs and facts that lack
adequate empirical support or database
backing. Introduction of new constructs, just to
make an impression of introducing something
new or merely to catch the attraction of the
re a d er s , w i t ho u t c a r in g ab o u t t he
contemporary standards of the construct
explication appears to be a dangerous trend in
the co ntemporary social s cience and
psychological literature. Such attempt will do
less good and more harm to the field of
psychology unless the researchers would care
for the scientific rigor for introducing new
constructs, techniques or theories. Further,
rather than being fascinated by the wide claims
made about such new constructs and going
into its mindless application, it is our prime
responsibility as social scientists to verify the
validity of such construct and their claims
before including them into the mainstream.
Refrences
B o d y - L o g i c : h t t p : / / w w w . b o d y -
logic.co.uk/sophrology.html
Caycedo, A. (1964). Sophrology and psychosomatic
medicine. Americal Journal of Clinical Hypnsis.
14:103-106.
Caycedo, N., Carsi Costas, N., Van Rangelrooy K.
(2005). Sofrology. Rev Enferm.28, 30-38.
Doung, P. H., & Zulian, G. B. (2007). Disappearance of a
Stutter Shortly Before Death. American Journal of
Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 24, 141-143.
Godefroy, C. H. (2001). How to use and control your
unlimited potential. France: Mind Powers.
I I n t e r n a t i o n a l s o p h r o l o g y F e d e r a t i o n
http://www.sophrologycentre.com/page/page/4204
826.htm
PubMed:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophrology
The Scientific Status of Sophrology 3