Psychology uses English literature in a variety of ways. Some psychologists use literature to help patients with problems or issues that they may be encountering. Some psychologists even use literature to benefit themselves. They feel that reading fiction can help them through a difficult time. Other psychologists are actually writers of fiction themselves. By being a psychologist, they feel that they have the life experience needed to become a good writer. Literature is also very helpful to educational psychologists. These psychologists use fiction to help children through a difficult time in their lives. Literature is a valuable tool in the field of psychology. .
Jonathan Kellerman is a well-respected psychologist. He is also a writer of fiction. The journal article, "Boosting Psychology Through Fiction," explains how Kellerman was presented with a presidential citation at the 1998 American Psychological Association for his contributions to science through literature. He writes from the perspective of what he is, a psychologist. Kellerman believes that a writer needs life experience before he or she can write well. He feels that by being a psychologist for many years he has been exposed to many different people, which has lead him to become a successful writer. He gets some of the ideas for his books from patients of his. In his book, The Clinic, one of the characters is a psychologist much like himself. He based this particular character on himself to give the reader an exact portrayal of a real psychologist. This character sits with patients and tries to get them to communicate as much as possible, which is exactly what Kellerman does during therapy. .
Kellerman's use of psychology in his writing has helped many people deal with psychological problems. He incorporates psychology in literature in a way that would help people with an illness or a disorder. Of course, Kellerman's writing cannot completely cure a person suffering from a mental illness, but it can help them along the road to recovery.
