1. 1 Edward Titchner and Munsterberg

2. 2 1880 American psychology Very philosophical – not a truly separate science Most important “psychologists” was William James who saw himself as more a philosopher This changed when two of Wundt’s students came to the U. S. –Edward Titchner –Hugo Munsterberg

3. 3 History, Titchner, and Munsterberg Titchner regarded as a major foundation of psychology Most people have never heard of Munsterberg or know little about him Why? –Titchner was British; Munsterberg was German –Titchner a more flashier person –The most read history of psychology promoted Titchner’s importance –Many of Munsterberg’s ideas and papers angered certain groups in society

4. 4 American psychology and Titchner Titchner credited with bringing the true scientific perspective to American psychology He brought his interpretation of Wundt’s psychology to the U.S. He appeared to be a follower of Wundt and it was assumed their psychology was the same – it wasn’t Founder of structuralism

5. 5 American psychology and Titchner Early part of the 20 th century, Titchner was the most important psychologist in the U.S. Highly authoritarian - ruled his students education, research, and private lives His program had a large drop out rate due to his absolute control and demand for absolute loyalty –But also because of his emphasis on independent learning

6. 6 Titchner’s psychology - Structuralism Psychology should be studied like other sciences and all science study begins with experience The subject of psychology is our experience and is dependent upon the experiencing person

7. 7 Questions to be answered by psychology What are the basic elements of experience? How do these basic elements combine into mental processes? Why do these processes occur the way they do? Look for and identify causal relationships

8. 8 Psychological method of study Introspection – highly trained inner observation of mental activity Exclude all possible topics that cannot be studied using introspection Study of psychology according to Titchner was very rigid and narrow

9. 9 Basis of Structuralism Everything that occurs in consciousness can be reduced to sensation, images and feelings –Sensations – humans could experience thousands of different sensations (32,820 visual sensations. –Images – psychologically the same as sensations –Feelings – emotional reactions that accompany certain mental experiences

10. 10 Example – What is attention? Common belief – attention is something that allows us to perceive certain things more clearly, to focus our attention. Titchner – rejected this idea because his system of introspection didn’t give description of attention –Attention does bring sensations or ideas to the foreground and dims others, but it is not a part of consciousness

11. 11 Problems with Titchner’s structuralism His rigidity of what was to be studied and how it was to be studied excluded much of what other psychologists wanted to study. Problems with introspection – reporting changes in consciousness while changes are occurring interferes with consciousness He tried to answer this issue through replication

12. 12 Other problems Rejected most of what other psychologist felt was an important part of psychology –Mental testing –Educational psychology –Individual differences –Mental health His personality –Overbearing –Arrogant While he graduated many students, most abandoned introspection after recognizing problems with it –Example

13. 13 Titchner and Munsterberg Very unusual that two individuals who studied under the same person would have such different theoretical perspective Wundt had the all the power to accept or reject dissertations Titchner no problem because it was in line with Wundt’s positions Munsterberg had his 1 st rejected – didn’t agree with Wundt

14. 14 Munsterberg as the antithesis of Titchner Advocated a broad science of psychology that studied many aspects of human behavior Munsterberg much more flexible and personable Interested in mental health, forensic psychology, and industrial psychology –Did not see himself as a clinical psychologist

15. 15 Contributions Psychotherapy (1909) – defined the role of psychiatry and psychotherapy –directly challenged the ideas of Freud –Opposed a general approach to mental illness On the Witness Stand (1908) – application of psychology to the courts –Problems with eye witness testimony and questioning techniques –Women should be excluded from juries because they are incapable of rational discussion Psychology and Industrial Efficiency (1913)

16. 16 Munsterberg’s original success Part intelligence part being in the right place Came to Harvard when William James wanted to get out of experimental work U.S. wanted practical contributions from science

17. 17 Munsterberg’s decline in importance He was German and attempted to promote Germany and Germans as good just prior to WWI when most Americans pro-British Reported that women were incapable of rational discussion when the women’s suffrage movement was gaining strength. Trashed the legal system and their handling of witnesses He became very unpopular for not being “politically correct”