Normalizing the Supernormal: The Formation of the “Gesellschaft Für Psychologische Forschung” (“Society for Psychological Research”), c. 1886–1890
Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences November 20, 2012 Andreas Sommer 36 citations
The paper traces the formation of the German 'Society for Psychological Research,' whose branches in Munich and Berlin were originally founded to introduce alternatives to Wundtian experimental psychology from France and England—specifically, experimental research into hypnotism and alleged supernormal phenomena. By examining the career trajectories of founding members Max Dessoir and Albert von Schrenck-Notzing, the paper opens up novel perspectives on extra-scientific factors that historically determined the epistemological and methodological boundaries of nascent psychology in Germany.