He often criticized the legal system & was attacked.
He advocated use of psychological methods in interrogation instead of brutal 3rd degree methods. He advocated use of psychological methods in interrogation instead of brutal 3rd degree methods.Munsterberg used his methods to question Harry Orchard, a self-confessed murderer testifying against Mineworker’s union leaders.- He accidentally told the press his “verdict,” which resulted in ridicule and negative publicity.
Munsterberg described false confessions and the conditions under which they are more likely to occur.
He studied jury decision-making using students making decision alone or in groups: He studied jury decision-making using students making decision alone or in groups:- 52% correct when alone, 78% correct in groups.
- He concluded that the jury system is psychologically sound.
When he repeated the experiment using women as subjects, there was no increase in accuracy.- He concluded that women are not capable of rational discussion in groups and women should not serve.
- This attracted renewed controversy.
Munsterberg is often considered America’s first industrial psychologist. Munsterberg is often considered America’s first industrial psychologist.His book “Psychology and Industrial Efficiency,” has three sections:
Munsterberg recommended self-report measures of vocational interest used with job-related mini-tasks. Munsterberg recommended self-report measures of vocational interest used with job-related mini-tasks.He pioneered breaking a job down into tasks and identifying relevant performance abilities.- He used street-car simulations to test employees in a job context, finding differences not present in lab-based tests.
- He developed tests for telephone operators and found that his tests identified the highly proficient operators (although not perfectly).
He studied workers in tedious, monotonous jobs and found that they didn’t experiment them that way. He studied workers in tedious, monotonous jobs and found that they didn’t experiment them that way.- Judgments of outsiders about how boring tasks are don’t agree with worker’s own judgments.
- Many so-called higher professions also involve boring tasks.
- Many factors affect worker morale and satisfaction and need to be studied.
He studied how to increase consumer demand and increase advertising effectiveness. He studied how to increase consumer demand and increase advertising effectiveness.He tested the impact of repetition of ads on memory.He wrote controversial articles on the placement of ads in magazines (all in one section vs scattered throughout).
He wrote extensively on teaching, education and social issues.He opposed Prohibition (making alcohol illegal).- He compared male drinking to women’s intemperance for candy and fashion, provoking outrage.
- This increased when it was discovered he had taken money from a beer manufacturer (Adolphus Busch).
He opposed sex education in schools.He fought against parapsychology and the occult and challenged claims of pseudopsychologists.
Why is Munsterberg not among the well-known pioneers of American psychology? Why is Munsterberg not among the well-known pioneers of American psychology?- He won many honors and recognition in his own time.
- He was famous himself and knew famous people.
One reason is his support for Germany and his writing in German during his lifetime.- The outbreak of WWI in 1914 led to anti-German feeling – he received hate mail and was accused of being a spy.
McDougall took over for Munsterberg at Harvard when he died in 1917 – he too was vilified later. McDougall took over for Munsterberg at Harvard when he died in 1917 – he too was vilified later.His book “Intro to Social Psychology” was foundational in social psychology.His book “Body and Mind” emphasized purposive behaviorism, describing motives and goals.He proposed an ever-increasing list of instincts to explain human behavior, studied parapsychology and supported Lamarckian evolution.
Munsterberg has had a huge influence on contemporary psychology, but Titchener has had very little. Munsterberg has had a huge influence on contemporary psychology, but Titchener has had very little.Nevertheless, current histories emphasize Titchener but not Munsterberg. Why?- Titchener continues to influence how history is written but not how psychology is done.
- Boring (Titchener’s student) is a major source for most histories of psychology.
Dostları ilə paylaş: |
