The foundation of the degree in psychology in Italy during the Cold War

The foundation of the degree in psychology in Italy during the Cold War Renato Foschi & Andrea Romano (Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy) Until 1971, there was no degree program in psychology in Italian universities. After World War II, there were only two chairs of psychology in Italy. However, in the Post WWII period the demand for psycholo - gical skills increased, so students began to manifest some interest both towards psychological issues and psychoanalysis. When the academic world was in flux due to an imminent reform law within the Faculties of Magistero (Faculty for the training of school teachers), the need to establish a degree program in psychology emerged. So, in 1964, the Faculty of Magistero of the University of Rome endorsed a transformation project in the Faculty of Human Sciences, resulting in three different degree programs: in pedagogy, sociology and in psychology. In this context, the figure of Ernesto Valentini (1907–1987) emerges. He was a Jesuit priest who, after gradu - ating in Philosophy, began his academic career as assistant professor to Mario Ponzo. From 1953, Valentini was psychology professor in the Faculty of Magistero in the University of Rome. He wrote a document in which he promoted a range of innovations in the field of social sciences in the university area (Valentini, 1964). The goal was to adapt the training of new professionals able to respond to the needs of a country in the middle of a rapid social transformation. In fact, during the Cold War the need for psychological interven - tion and models increased exponentially (Cimino & Foschi, 2017). A few years later, thanks to his contacts with Fabio Metelli (1907–1987), a pupil of Cesare Musatti (1897– 1989), Valentini was able to involve the University of Padua which contributed to the proposal regarding the degree course in psychology. After some attempts, in 1971, the Ministry of Public Education approved the institution of the degree course in psychology. But the figure of Father Valentini assumes an even more interesting role. From 1943, he wrote some im - portant papers in the Jesuits journal “La Civiltà Cattolica” (Catholic Civilization), dealing with philosophical, psychological and social-pedagogical topics (e.g. Valentini, 1946, 1948). Based on his writings, it can be hypothesized that Valentini’s interest in promoting the degree course in psychology was also an attempt to disciplinize the contents and subjects of the degree course, contrasting a progressive secularization of Italian society. This program of disciplinization of Italian society was in particular promoted in a moment of collaboration between different cultural positions. In fact, in Italy, Catholics, “Euro-communists,” democratic socialists and liberal-republicans collaborated first as forces of resistance to Fascism and subsequently as cultures that founded the Italian Republic during the Cold War.