1. 1 Early German Psychologists

2. 2 Early Anticipation of Wundt Johann Kruger – 1756 Johann Kruger – 1756 An Attempt at an Experimental Psychology An Attempt at an Experimental Psychology An anticipation because it was lost or ignored until 1950’s An anticipation because it was lost or ignored until 1950’s Appears to be more similar to modern psychology that Wundt’s psychology Appears to be more similar to modern psychology that Wundt’s psychology

3. 3 Psychophysics An attempt to understand the relationship between the physical world and the psychological world An attempt to understand the relationship between the physical world and the psychological world Measured mental events and compared them to the measurement of physical events – show that they covary Measured mental events and compared them to the measurement of physical events – show that they covary Changing the value of a physical event in some way will systematically change the value of the psychological event Changing the value of a physical event in some way will systematically change the value of the psychological event Two important contributors to psychology Two important contributors to psychology Ernst Weber Ernst Weber Gustav Fechner Gustav Fechner

4. 4 Ernst Weber Two-point threshold Two-point threshold Weight discrimination – just noticeable difference (JND) Weight discrimination – just noticeable difference (JND) Weber’s Law – 1 st quantitative law in psychology and 1 st statement of a systematic relationship between physical stimulus and psychological experience Weber’s Law – 1 st quantitative law in psychology and 1 st statement of a systematic relationship between physical stimulus and psychological experience

5. 5 Gustav Fechner Built upon the ideas of Weber Built upon the ideas of Weber Developed 3 important research methods Developed 3 important research methods Method of limits Method of limits Method of constant stimuli Method of constant stimuli Method of adjustment Method of adjustment

6. 6 Fechner (cont.) Developed the term psychophysics Developed the term psychophysics Monism – the mental and physical are simply 2 aspects of the same reality; not separate entities Monism – the mental and physical are simply 2 aspects of the same reality; not separate entities Elementes (1860) – identified as the beginning of experimental psychology by some historians Elementes (1860) – identified as the beginning of experimental psychology by some historians Mental processes could be quantified (measured) Mental processes could be quantified (measured) Mental events could be examined using the precision of scientific methods Mental events could be examined using the precision of scientific methods

7. 7 Hermann Ebbinghaus Philosopher who spent time teaching and traveling Philosopher who spent time teaching and traveling Read Fechner’s Elemente and converted to the study of psychology Read Fechner’s Elemente and converted to the study of psychology His goal was to study higher mental processes using methods similar to psychophysics His goal was to study higher mental processes using methods similar to psychophysics 1 st person to systematically study memory 1 st person to systematically study memory

8. 8 Ebbinghaus’ Methods Highly original – he had no one to learn from Highly original – he had no one to learn from Best known for his use and invention of nonsense syllables to study memory unaffected by previous learning Best known for his use and invention of nonsense syllables to study memory unaffected by previous learning

9. 9 Areas of Research 1.What is the relationship between amount of material to be remembered and time needed to learn it 1.What is the relationship between amount of material to be remembered and time needed to learn it Measured increases in number of repetitions to master list of nonsense syllables of different lengths Measured increases in number of repetitions to master list of nonsense syllables of different lengths 2.What is the relationship to the amount of learning and the amount remembered? 2.What is the relationship to the amount of learning and the amount remembered? Used a relearning paradigm Used a relearning paradigm Formed 7 lists of 16 nonsense syllables, repeated them 0, 8,16... 64 times. 24 hours later measured # of repetitions to relearn each list discovered over learning Formed 7 lists of 16 nonsense syllables, repeated them 0, 8,16... 64 times. 24 hours later measured # of repetitions to relearn each list discovered over learning

10. 10 Other Areas of Interest What is the relationship between the passage of time and loss from memory? What is the relationship between the passage of time and loss from memory? Relearned lists 0, 20, 60 minutes... 31 days after learning. Amount of savings measured – comparison of repetitions to learn and to relearn lists Relearned lists 0, 20, 60 minutes... 31 days after learning. Amount of savings measured – comparison of repetitions to learn and to relearn lists Less known but verified by much later research Less known but verified by much later research Distributed learning better than mass learning Distributed learning better than mass learning Active learning better than passive learning Active learning better than passive learning Meaningful material easier to learn that meaningless Meaningful material easier to learn that meaningless Information learned before sleeping better remembered than material learned at other times Information learned before sleeping better remembered than material learned at other times

11. 11 Later Criticisms of Ebbinghaus Experiments lacked ecological validity – use of nonsense syllables instead of real words Experiments lacked ecological validity – use of nonsense syllables instead of real words Use of a single subject; himself Use of a single subject; himself However, most of his findings are still accurate today However, most of his findings are still accurate today

12. 12 Ebbinghaus as a Foundation for Binet He developed analogy tests and completion tests to test children He developed analogy tests and completion tests to test children Analogy example Analogy example July is to May as Saturday is to July is to May as Saturday is to. Completion example Completion example Big things are heavier than. Big things are heavier than. Child’s answer timed and evaluated for appropriateness Child’s answer timed and evaluated for appropriateness Similar items used by Binet in his intelligence tests Similar items used by Binet in his intelligence tests

13. 13 Franz Brentano Important but not well known Important but not well known Dominican priest who left the church because of his inability to accept the infallibility of the pope Dominican priest who left the church because of his inability to accept the infallibility of the pope

14. 14 Franz Brentano’s Psychology 1.Placed more importance on logic than experimentation 1.Placed more importance on logic than experimentation 2.Believed that once important observation were completed psychology would change very little 2.Believed that once important observation were completed psychology would change very little 3.Psychology should be the study of mental acts – not the products of mental processes 3.Psychology should be the study of mental acts – not the products of mental processes 4.He rejected introspection – proposed the use of imagination 4.He rejected introspection – proposed the use of imagination

15. 15 Brentano’s Legacy Not very well know primarily due to a lack of writing Not very well know primarily due to a lack of writing Greatest contribution was his impact on his students such as Carl Stumpf and Christian von Ehrenfels Greatest contribution was his impact on his students such as Carl Stumpf and Christian von Ehrenfels

16. 16 Carl Stumpf Greatest contributions were to the study of auditory perception Greatest contributions were to the study of auditory perception Most famous for his role in the case of “Clever Hans” Most famous for his role in the case of “Clever Hans” Founded the psychology laboratory at the University of Berlin that competed with Wundt’s for prestige Founded the psychology laboratory at the University of Berlin that competed with Wundt’s for prestige

17. 17 Influences on Stumpf Ernst Mache – studies showing that a perception is more than the individual elements or sensations Ernst Mache – studies showing that a perception is more than the individual elements or sensations Mache bands Mache bands Christian von Ehrenfels – coined the term “Gestalt” to describe the organization of an experience Christian von Ehrenfels – coined the term “Gestalt” to describe the organization of an experience Musician and composer who showed that melody played on a piano in one key, and then played in a second key or on a trumpet sounded different but were perceived as the same melody Musician and composer who showed that melody played on a piano in one key, and then played in a second key or on a trumpet sounded different but were perceived as the same melody

18. 18 Stumpf’s Psychology Mental phenomena not consciousness should be studied by psychology – study the whole not the parts Mental phenomena not consciousness should be studied by psychology – study the whole not the parts Studied tha combination of pure tones into complex tones Studied tha combination of pure tones into complex tones Two pure tones presented together produce an experience distinctively different from the separate tones Two pure tones presented together produce an experience distinctively different from the separate tones Attacked by Wundt who said as Titchner would have said “these findings occurred as the result of using “improperly trained” observers” Attacked by Wundt who said as Titchner would have said “these findings occurred as the result of using “improperly trained” observers”

19. 19 Oswald Kulpe Oswald Kuple, a student of Wundt founded the Wurzburg School of psychology Oswald Kuple, a student of Wundt founded the Wurzburg School of psychology He gradually moved away from a Wundtian perspective to one more similar to Stumpf He gradually moved away from a Wundtian perspective to one more similar to Stumpf

20. 20 Kulpe’s Psychology Refuted much of Wundt’s psychology, but without the vicious attacks Refuted much of Wundt’s psychology, but without the vicious attacks Important findings Important findings Imageless thought – some thoughts required no images or sensations – doubting, searching, etc. Imageless thought – some thoughts required no images or sensations – doubting, searching, etc. Complex mental processes can be studied Complex mental processes can be studied Phenomena of mental sets Phenomena of mental sets Stressed the importance of motivation in problem solving Stressed the importance of motivation in problem solving

21. 21 Decline of the Wurzburg School The clash of scientific ideas between Wurzburg – Stumpf and wundt – Titchner eventually led to the decline of both The clash of scientific ideas between Wurzburg – Stumpf and wundt – Titchner eventually led to the decline of both The Wurzburg school died when Kulpe died in 1915; as structuralism died when Titchner died The Wurzburg school died when Kulpe died in 1915; as structuralism died when Titchner died

22. 22 Obscurity of Many Early German Psychologists WWI – many went into the armed forces or their students left for the war WWI – many went into the armed forces or their students left for the war Loss of students meant their was no one to continue their work Loss of students meant their was no one to continue their work American focus on functionalism and behaviorism gave less importance to these German’s cognitive perspectives American focus on functionalism and behaviorism gave less importance to these German’s cognitive perspectives