Alfonso Bernal del Riesgo


Alfonso Bernal del Riesgo was a Cuban psychologist, known for his contribution to the origin and development of psychology as science and profession. He was a psychologist, lawyer, professor, writer, and researcher.
Bernal del Riesgo had a long and successful career at the University of Havana. Through his writings he developed the notion of "Cubanosofía" that defined the study of the Cuban psychological identity. The writings of Enrique José Varona and Alfredo Aguayo influenced his early work.

Biography

Alfonso Bernal del Riesgo was born in 1902 in a complicated birth where his twin brother died. His mother died a few days later. Alfonso was raised by his father and other family members. He was the son of Alfonso Bernal y Tovar and Caridad del Riesgo y Calero. His father was Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Havana.
Bernal del Riesgo's secondary studies were conducted at Belén College. He completed a Bachelor of Science and Arts at the Institute of Secondary Education of Havana in 1919. He obtained a doctorate on Civil Law in 1923 and a second doctorate on Philosophy and Arts in 1928, both at the University of Havana. Alfonso Bernal del Riesgo had a distinguished career at the University. He organized, and was a prominent speaker at, the First Revolutionary Student Congress in 1923. He also led the student group "Renovación", responsible for promoting the University Reform of 1924. He was a comrade of Julio Antonio Mella and with him participated in the founding of the Communist Party of Cuba in 1925. Bernal del Riesgo and Mella also founded the "Instituto Ariel" centers of secondary education where both were teachers. His political activism as a lawyer and educator led him to exile in Vienna, where he studied psychology. Upon his return to Cuba, he worked as a professor and as a psychologist
He wrote a number of texts in the field of psychology. His scholarly contributions and published writings were recognized by the national and international scientific community. Some of his articles and books are available on the web
The last years of his life were devoted to research at the Center of Scientific Information of the University of Havana. He died at the age 73.

Legacy

His scientific productivity reflects the development of his political, social, and scientific thought.
Among his major contributions are:
Bernal del Riesgo actively participated in processes that led to the University Reform. Among the achievements of this Reform was the institutionalization of training on psychology in Cuba. His interest in education for the people is evidenced by his sustained participation throughout his life in the mass media, explaining psychological phenomena in lay terms, and offering guidance and education to parents, as well as in adult education.

Chronology

Major publications