Overview:
I had the opportunity to visit the experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, founded by Joseph Jastrow. It was a chaotic place, housed in a cluttered building alongside various scientific exhibits. While the laboratory itself was difficult to find, the experience was well worth it. I spent an afternoon with Jastrow, observing his ingenious methods and impressive collection of instruments. The laboratory was open to the public for a small fee, offering visitors a chance to undergo various psychological tests, providing valuable data for research.
Main Parts:
- The setting: The laboratory was located in a crowded and chaotic building filled with various scientific exhibits. It was a less than ideal location for a research facility.
- The instruments and methods: The laboratory possessed a diverse range of instruments, including those for studying tactile sensitivity, muscular consciousness, reaction time, memory, and visual perception. Each instrument was used to conduct a specific experiment, aiming to measure different aspects of human psychology.
- The tests: The laboratory conducted a comprehensive set of psychological tests on visitors for a fee. These tests were designed to collect data on various psychological processes, including perception, memory, reaction time, and motor skills.
- The automatograph: Jastrow’s automatograph was a remarkable instrument used to study unconscious movements of the hand. It recorded the subject’s involuntary hand movements, which were influenced by external stimuli, such as a metronome.
- The study of children: The laboratory also collected data on children by asking them to define common objects and beings. The results were interesting, with children showing a tendency to define things based on their functionality rather than their philosophical essence.
- The development of psychology in the U.S.: The article discusses the growth of experimental psychology in the U.S. It notes the presence of laboratories at numerous universities and the rise of specialized journals devoted to psychology research.
View on Life:
- The article portrays a belief in the scientific study of human psychology. The author is impressed by the laboratory’s instruments and methods, emphasizing the importance of empirical data and objective analysis in understanding human behavior and cognitive processes.
Scenarios:
- The chaotic building: The article describes the messy and cluttered building where the laboratory was located, a humorous and ironic scenario given the laboratory’s aim of studying human cognition.
- The laboratory tests: The article details the various psychological tests conducted on visitors, providing a vivid picture of how these experiments were carried out and what aspects of psychology they aimed to assess.
- The automatograph experiment: The author describes the automatograph experiment, illustrating how external stimuli could influence involuntary hand movements, providing a unique glimpse into the interplay of thought and action.
- The study of children: The article shares the results of an observation of children’s definitions of common objects and beings, revealing a fascinating insight into the development of understanding and language.
Challenges:
- Working in a noisy and distracting environment: The laboratory faced the challenge of collecting accurate data despite the constant movement and noise of people visiting the nearby exhibits.
- Gaining valuable data from paying visitors: Convincing visitors to participate in the tests and collect meaningful data from them presented a challenge for the researchers.
Conflict:
- The conflict between the scientific study of human psychology and the public’s desire for practical results: The author notes the U.S.’s general emphasis on practical applications and the rarity of pure scientific research. This creates a conflict for psychologists seeking to understand the intricacies of human psychology through rigorous experiments.
Plot:
- The narrative follows the author’s journey to the laboratory, his exploration of its instruments and methods, and his observations of the tests being conducted on visitors. The article culminates with a discussion of the development of experimental psychology in the U.S.
Point of View:
- The article is written from the perspective of a French scientist who is visiting the laboratory and observing the research firsthand. This outsider perspective provides a fresh and insightful look at the U.S. approach to experimental psychology.
How It’s Written:
- The text is written in a descriptive and narrative style, using vivid language to paint a picture of the laboratory’s setting and the experiments conducted.
- The author employs examples from the laboratory tests to illustrate his points and engage the reader. For instance, he describes the automatograph experiment with the metronome, demonstrating how it is used to study unconscious movements.
- The author’s tone is curious and inquisitive, demonstrating a genuine interest in the scientific study of human psychology.
Tone:
- The tone is descriptive, informative, and mildly humorous, reflecting the author’s fascination with the laboratory’s unique setting and the scientific methods employed.
Life Choices:
- The author doesn’t explicitly discuss any life choices made in the text, but it can be inferred that the choice to conduct rigorous scientific research on human psychology was made by the laboratory’s founder, Joseph Jastrow, and its staff.
Lessons:
- The value of curiosity and exploration: The article highlights the importance of exploring new ideas and discovering new knowledge, even if it might not have immediate practical applications.
- The importance of observation and data collection: The article underscores the value of collecting empirical data and observing human behavior to gain a deeper understanding of psychological processes.
- The need for patience and persistence: The article emphasizes the importance of patience in scientific research, particularly in overcoming challenges and achieving meaningful results.
Characters:
- Joseph Jastrow: The founder and director of the laboratory. Jastrow is portrayed as a dedicated and passionate researcher with a deep interest in experimental psychology and a knack for designing innovative instruments and methods.
- The author: An unnamed French scientist who is visiting the laboratory and observing the research firsthand. He is a curious and observant individual, impressed by the laboratory’s work.
- Robert Houdin: A famous 19th-century magician, mentioned in connection to experiments on the speed of perception.
Themes:
- The scientific study of human psychology: The article explores the development and impact of experimental psychology, emphasizing the importance of objective data and empirical research in understanding human behavior and cognitive processes.
- The pursuit of knowledge: The article celebrates the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, regardless of immediate practical applications.
- The clash between science and practical applications: The article touches on the tension between scientific inquiry and the public’s desire for practical results, highlighting the challenges faced by those who seek to explore and understand the complexities of human psychology.
Principles:
- Empirical observation and data collection are essential to understanding human psychology.
- Scientific inquiry is valuable even if it doesn’t have immediate practical applications.
Intentions:
- Joseph Jastrow’s intention: To establish and develop a world-class experimental psychology laboratory, contributing to the scientific understanding of human psychology.
- The author’s intention: To share his observations and experiences from visiting Jastrow’s laboratory, offering a glimpse into the early days of experimental psychology and its development in the United States.
- The reader’s intention: To gain an understanding of the early history of experimental psychology and learn about the innovative methods used in research.
Unique Vocabulary:
- “vilaine bâtisse” (ugly building): This term captures the author’s humorous and ironic perspective on the laboratory’s setting.
- “baraque” (hut): The author uses this word to describe the building in a more colloquial and playful manner, highlighting its perceived lack of refinement.
- “cabinets d’aisances perfectionnés” (perfected rooms of affluence): This phrase creates a contrast between the scientific pursuit of knowledge and the mundane aspects of the surrounding exhibits.
Anecdotes:
- The automatograph experiment with the metronome: This anecdote illustrates how the instrument was used to study unconscious movements, demonstrating the influence of external stimuli on involuntary actions.
- The observation of children’s definitions: This anecdote provides a fascinating insight into the development of language and understanding, highlighting the differences in how children and adults define objects and beings.
Ideas:
- The human mind can be studied scientifically, using instruments and methods to collect objective data.
- The study of psychology can contribute to a deeper understanding of human behavior and cognitive processes.
Facts and Findings:
- The laboratory collected data on visitors’ reaction times to different stimuli.
- The laboratory conducted tests on the accuracy and speed of visual perception, tactile sensitivity, and muscular consciousness.
- The study of children revealed a tendency to define things based on their functionality rather than their philosophical essence.
Statistics:
- The laboratory’s automatograph measured unconscious movements with a degree of accuracy that allowed for detailed analysis of their direction and patterns.
- The average reaction time for a tactile stimulus was 15 hundredths of a second.
- The average reaction time for a sound stimulus was 14 hundredths of a second.
- The average reaction time for a visual stimulus was 18.5 hundredths of a second.
Points of View:
- The text is written from the perspective of a French scientist, providing an outsider’s view on the development of experimental psychology in the United States. This perspective highlights the differences in cultural attitudes towards science and its applications.
Perspective:
- The article offers a historical perspective on the development of experimental psychology in the United States, highlighting the innovative methods and instruments used in early research. The article also provides a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities facing the field during this era.