However, his work is not as well-known as that of his contemporaries.
Still, Munsterberg made important contributions to applied psychology, particularly industrial and forensic psychology.
Hugo Munsterberg is known as a pioneer of applied psychology, including industrial-organizational, clinical, and forensic psychology.
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His father was a merchant, and his mother was an artist.
His family loved the arts, and Munsterberg was encouraged to explore music, literature, and art.
He played the cello and wrote poetry.
His father died a few years later, in 1880.
After graduating from the Gymnasium of Danzig in 1882, Munsterberg enrolled at the University of Leipzig.
While he began studyingsocial psychology, Munsterberg later turned his focus to medicine.
Under Wundt’s tutelage, Munsterberg earned his Ph.D. in psychology in 1885.
He went on to get a medical degree at the University of Heidelberg in 1887.
Not all the responses to Munsterberg’s book were negative, though.
American psychologistWilliam Jameswas greatly impressed by his ideas, especially because they supported James’s own theory of emotion.
In 1891, Munsterberg became an assistant professor at the University of Leipzig.
The two continued to meet and correspond frequently.
James McKeen Cattellsuggested that Munsterberg’s lab was “the most important in America.”
After three years, Munsterberg was offered a permanent position in the lab.
He declined and instead went back to Europe.
However, he returned to Harvard two years later and worked there for the rest of his life.
He had many professional achievements, such as being elected president of theAmerican Psychological Associationand the American Philosophical Association.
Throughout his career, Munsterberg was subject to praise but also disapproval.
Munsterberg was survived by his wife, Selma Oppler, and their two daughters.
In fact, some consider Munsterberg the father of industrial psychology.
He also developed many questionnaires to test the skills and abilities of employees.
Munsterbergs research was summarized in Psychology and Industrial Efficiency(1913).
Hugo Munsterberg is also well-known for his contributions to forensic psychology.
While his influence on psychology is without question, Munsterbergs views on women are frequently criticized.
There were also many who disapproved of Munsterberg as the self-appointed spokesman for Germany during the First World War.
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