Morita therapy is known as a psychotherapy grounded in the culture of Japan, particularly its Buddhist culture. Its popularity in Japan and other East Asian countries is cited as an example of the relevance and importance of culture and religion in psychotherapy. To complement such interpretations, this study adopts a socio-historical approach to examine the role and significance of work in Morita’s theory and practice within the broader work environment and culture of the 1920s and 1930s in Japan. Morita conceptualized shinkeishitsu as a personality disease and a social illness caused by an alienating work environment. He proposed a remedy that emphasized the subjective emotional experience of work. To his primarily middle-class clients and readers, Morita’s reconciliation between the self and society and that between autonomy and compliance was persuasive and useful, providing a philosophy whereby they could integrate into the work environment without loss of self-worth. The socio-historical character of Morita therapy is vital to understanding its power and appeal during Morita’s time. Moreover, it sheds light on the complex interrelationships between work, mental health, and society.

森田疗法被认为是一种植根于日本文化，特别是佛教文化的心理疗法。它在日本和其他东亚国家的流行被认为是文化和宗教在心理治疗中的相关性和重要性的一个例子。为了补充这些解释，本研究采用社会历史方法来考察工作在 20 世纪 20 年代和 1930 年代日本更广泛的工作环境和文化中在森田理论和实践中的作用和意义。森田将新经济状况概念化为一种人格疾病和一种由疏远的工作环境引起的社会疾病。他提出了一种强调工作的主观情感体验的补救措施。对于他的主要是中产阶级的客户和读者来说，森田在自我与社会之间以及自主与服从之间的调和是有说服力和有用的，提供了一种哲学，使他们能够融入工作环境而不丧失自我价值。森田疗法的社会历史特征对于理解其在森田时代的力量和吸引力至关重要。此外，它揭示了工作、心理健康和社会之间复杂的相互关系。