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 DOI: 10.1002/jhbs.21577 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | German Psychological science Psychological research Epistemology Psychoanalysis |
| Citations | 36 |
| Key points | Argues that extra-scientific factors, as illustrated by the careers of Dessoir and Schrenck-Notzing, helped determine the epistemological and methodological boundaries of early German psychology. |
Abstract
This paper traces the formation of the German "Gesellschaft für psychologische Forschung" ("Society for Psychological Research"), whose constitutive branches in Munich and Berlin were originally founded as inlets for alternatives to Wundtian experimental psychology from France and England, that is, experimental researches into hypnotism and alleged supernormal phenomena. By utilizing the career trajectories of Max Dessoir and Albert von Schrenck-Notzing as founding members of the "Gesellschaft," this paper aims to open up novel perspectives regarding extra-scientific factors involved in historically determining the epistemological and methodological boundaries of nascent psychology in Germany.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
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