Munsterberg

MUNSTERBERG Hugo (Hugo Munsterberg, 1863-1916), German psychologist, student of Wundt and James; his academic work took place partly in America (professor at Harvard University in Boston) and partly in Germany (professor at Berlin University). He is known as one of the major theorists of applied psychology and one of the founders of scientific psychotechnology. His main work is "Grundzuge der Psychotechnik" (Lpz., 1st ed., 1914; 3rd ed., 1928; Russian ed. "Osnovy psikhotekhniki", Moscow, 1923-25). Psychotechnology aims to make psychology a necessary need in practical life in various fields; in economic life, in medicine, in pedagogy and others. At present, psychotechnology has become widespread: it is tasked with studying the conditions under which an increase in labor productivity is achieved. For M., psychotechnology is "neutral" in a social sense; he merely laid the foundation for modern psychotechnology as an instrument of class struggle. In his book "Psychologie u. Wirtschaftsleben" (Leipzig, 1st ed., 1912; 5th ed., 1922; Russian ed.-"Psikhologiya i ekonomich. zhizn", M., 1924), another task of psychotechnology is clarified: the study of professional aptitude, i.e., determining what psychological properties are necessary for various professions. In this way, psychotechnology enters the field of individual psychology, responding to the tendency of "psychology of behavior" to study the "whole" person. The most important sphere in man, according to M., is the volitional. He is a supporter of voluntarism. While paving the way for solving social problems with the help of psychology, M. remained true to the traditions of classical German psychology. Works by M., besides those named, published in Russian: "Osnovy psikhologii" (M., 1900); "Amerikantsy" (M., 1905); "Psikhologiya i uchitel" (M., 1915).