Annette Mülberger | University of Groningen (original) (raw)

Papers by Annette Mülberger

Revista de Historia de la Psicología, 2023

This contribution carries out a diagnosis of the current state of historiography through an analy... more This contribution carries out a diagnosis of the current state of historiography through an analysis of some recent debates and current thematic and methodological approaches. On the one hand, the
diagnosis deals with an attempt of a group of historians to establish a poorly defined “new” and “critical” history as the only correct historiography, rejecting other ways of doing history. The notorious
historiographic debates that took place between 2013 and 2017 show underlying tensions and an intolerant work climate. On the other hand, a great variety of approaches, themes and methodologies can be found in recent publications, a trend that is, in part, due to the “spatial turn”. Rather than deciding who is right or advocating for a particular direction, the aim of this text is to trigger a more constructive dialogue about historiography and a reflection on how to address diversity.
[The article is written in Spanish]

Oxford Research Encyclopedia for History of Psychology , 2020

Note: this version represents a pre-print version and differs from the published version. Abstrac... more Note: this version represents a pre-print version and differs from the published version.
Abstract: The intelligence test consists of a series of exercises designed to measure intelligence. Intelligence is generally understood as mental capacity enabling a person to learn at school or, more generally, to reason, to solve problems and to adapt to new (challenging) situations. There are many types of intelligence tests depending on the kind of person (age, profession, culture, etc.) and the way intelligence is understood. Some tests are general, others are focused on evaluating language skills, others on memory, abstract and logical thinking or abilities in a wide variety of areas such as, for example, recognizing and matching implicit, visual patterns. Scores may be presented as an IQ (intelligence quotient), as a mental age, or simply as a point on a scale. Intelligence tests are instrumental in ordering, ranking and comparing individuals. The testing of intelligence started in the nineteenth century and became a common practice in schools and universities, psychotechnical institutions, courts, asylums, and private companies on an international level during the twentieth century. It is generally assumed that the first test was designed by the French scholars A. Binet and T. Simon in 1905. But, the historical link between testing and experimenting allows to speak of previous tests, such as the word association test. Testing was practiced and understood in different ways, depending not only on the time, but also on the concrete local (cultural and institutional) conditions. For example, in the United States and Brazil it would get immediately linked to race differences and eugenic programs, while in other places, such as Spain, it would be part of an attempt to detect "feebleness" and to grade students at certain schools. Since the very beginnings, the intelligence test received harsh criticisms and triggered massive protests. The debate went through the mass media leading to the infamous IQ test wars. Thus, now-a-days psychologists are careful in the promotion of intelligence testing, aware of the inherent danger of cultural discrimination and social marginalization. In order to understand the role, the intelligence test plays in today's society, it is necessary to explore its history with the help of well documented case studies. Such studies show how the testing practice was employed in national contexts and how it was received, used or rejected by different social groups or professionals. The central role of testing played in North-America is bit by bit removed by current historical research with the help of a more inclusive perspective; a perspective that explores how testing was taking place in different national and cultural environments such as Russia (or the former Soviet Union), India, Italy, Netherland, Sweden, Argentina, Chile, and many other places.

Dynamis, 2020

The article is published in Spanish. It provides new historical information about when and how th... more The article is published in Spanish. It provides new historical information about when and how the interest in identifying and selecting gifted children arrived in Spain during the first decades of the 20th century. We explore the motivations that prompted professionals to take an interest in the advantaged child and point to the moments when the initiatives resulted in some type of regulated social action for the awarding of scholarships. The period of our study includes times of monarchy, dictatorship, and republic. Thus, in our historical account, we highlight three key moments that correspond to each of the three political contexts. In the first place, we study an opinion poll launched by an educational magazine in 1911. The episode shows how a pedagogue (Bardina) started the debate and the way in which the group of teachers often perceived the gifted child as a hindrance for the social dynamics in classes. Despite this, not all teachers were in favor of the selection of gifted children because the fact that they would then receive a different kind of education was not considered by them as being just. Second, we deal with a political campaign launched in 1927 to rescue the intelligent child of poor families in times of the Primo de Rivera dictatorship and the enthusiastic reactions this campaign received among the conservative sector of Spanish society. Thirdly, we review the selection of gifted children carried out during the 1920s and 1930s in the Psychotechnical Institutes exposing the argument used to justify the need for a psychological selection based on tests and the conceptual and practical implications of the psychologists’ (Germain and Rodrigo’s) point of view.

Psychologie im Nationasozialismus, 2020

This book-chapter is published in German. The original title is: Die Psychologie im Nationalsozia... more This book-chapter is published in German. The original title is: Die Psychologie im Nationalsozialismus aus spanischer Sicht: Rassenideologie, Typologie und Psychotechnic. Abstract: Historians of psychology have several times addressed the question of how and to what extend the political events of 1933 in Germany affected the development of psychology during the Nazi era. To this day, however, the question about the effects the political and the scientific changes had on the contacts and the reputation of German psychology abroad, has rarely been asked. In my paper I try to explore how German psychology working in the 1930ies and 1940ies were viewed and valued by their colleagues in Spain. In order to answer the question, I concentrate on the reception in the field of applied psychology, more precisely psychotechnics and typology.
I selected texts from influential Spanish psychologists and psychotechnicians who were very interested in German work, knew German and maintained personal contact with academics in Germany. Hence, their opinions were authoritative for colleagues and the wider public in Spain. I show that the political and scientific realignment of the German Reich aroused recognition as well as criticism and aversion within psychological circles in Spain.

Revista de Historia de la Psicología, 2019

The present study explores the pioneering application of the intelligence test by physicians in B... more The present study explores the pioneering application of the intelligence test by physicians in Barcelona, soon after the publication of Binet and Simon’s scale in France. It was conducted in 1908 under the
leadership of the physician Luis Comenge, within the framework of a general anthropometric health census of young citizens. A total of 5,800 schoolchildren were examined to select those who would take
part in the subsidized summer camps (colonias escolares). We study the report of the anthropometric and psychometric measurements, which provides information on how the techniques were employed and
why, e.g., the aims and social functions of the undertaking. Our work shows that, in this case, a diagnosis of feebleness or abnormality led to social privilege. Moreover, this mental and physical examination of
children was part of a broader strategy adopted by physicians and local authorities to bring welfare and peace to those enduring the hard and strained life of the city.

Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 2017

This paper is published open access. It challenges the historiographical discontinuity establishe... more This paper is published open access. It challenges the historiographical discontinuity established between earlier " an-thropometric testing " and the arrival of " psychological testing " with Binet and Simon's intelligence test in 1905. After some conceptual clarifications, it deals with " word association " : a kind of psychological experimentation and testing which became popular over the last two decades of the 19th century. First Galton's exploration are presented, followed by experiments performed at the Leipzig laboratory by Trautscholdt, and then Cattell and Bryant's collective testing. Additionally, I document the use of this method for the study of mental difference through the works of Münsterberg, Bourdon, Jastrow, Nevers and Calkins. The cases I present show how the method gave rise to various measurements and classifications. I conclude that the word association technique triggered reflection on mental " uniqueness " , gender traits and the influence of education, among other topics. Moreover, it prepared the terrain and anticipated some basic attractions and problems intelligence testing would later encounter.

So What's New About Scholasticism? How Neo-Thomism Helped Shape the Twentieth Century, 2018

Note: this version represents a pre-print version of the book chapter published in "So What's New... more Note: this version represents a pre-print version of the book chapter published in "So What's New About Scholasticism? How Neo-Thomism Helped Shape the Twentieth Century", edited by Rajesh Heynickx & Stéphane Symons.

It differs from the published version in formatting, pagination, and small grammatical corrections. This material is intended for purposes of education, research, scholarly communication, or critical commentary, all in conformity with " fair use " and the established practice of authors' providing single preprints and offprints for noncommercial use. Any other use is unauthorized and may violate copyright.

Centaurus, 2017

Historically, promises, or expectations, gained especial relevance in the legitimisation process... more Historically, promises, or expectations, gained especial relevance in
the legitimisation process of new scientific disciplines and largescale
research projects. We often find influential discourses voiced
by scientists and natural philosophers using language in the future
tense and one may legitimately wonder the extent to which the
rhetoric of promise became intrinsic to the modern notion of science.
The aim of this special issue is to consider some ways in
which ‘promise’, understood as statement(s) aiming at creating
expectations about some benefit(s) gained in the future with the
help of science, may be a potential historiographical category in
the history of science.
(Please contact annette.mulberger@uab.cat if you wish to receive a copy of the article )

Centaurus, 2017

Note: the attached PDF is a pre-print version of the article. It does not contain the images and ... more Note: the attached PDF is a pre-print version of the article. It does not contain the images and it differs from the published version in formatting, pagination, and small grammatical corrections. This material is intended for purposes of education, research, scholarly communication, or critical commentary, all in conformity with " fair use " and the established practice of authors' providing single preprints and offprints for noncommercial use. Any other use is unauthorized and may violate copyright.
Abstract:
In this article I point to several ways in which rhetoric strategies such as voicing a promise or metaphors have been used in psychology’s past. Thereby, I examine the positivist tradition within the history of psychology to which Théodule Ribot (1839-1916) made a substantial contribution. His early writings (Ribot, 1870, 1879) were widely read by his contemporaries. In these texts he used rhetorical strategies to promote the institutionalization of (experimental) psychology, as well as to demarcate such strand from rivaling approaches.
The basic research questions the article addresses are: a) what did the rhetoric of future promise do for Ribot’s project? b) how are the rhetoric strategies used by him in his two programmatic texts (Ribot, 1870 and 1879)? c) how did he define the professional role of the “experimental” psychologist? d) how did other psychologists react to his provocative statements? My analysis shows Ribot’s use of a biological evolutionary metaphor when explaining the origin and development of science. Moreover, I argue that his out-sider role turned out to be an advantage for the task as popularizer and promoter of psychology in France.

Mülberger, A. (2016). Los límites de la ciencia: Espiritismo, hipnotismo y el estudio de los fenómenos paranormales (1850-1930) (Madrid: CSIC)., 2016

This text deals with a current which is called in French “le spiritisme” and in Spanish “espiriti... more This text deals with a current which is called in French “le spiritisme” and in Spanish “espiritismo”. It is a translation (containing the complete text and part of the pictures) of the second chapter of the book: Mülberger, A. (2016). Los límites de la ciencia: Espiritismo, hipnotismo y el estudio de los fenómenos paranormales (1850-1930) (Madrid: CSIC).

European Yearbook of the History of Psychology, 2017

The abstract can be found in the pdf attached. The article is written in English. Please contact ... more The abstract can be found in the pdf attached. The article is written in English. Please contact the European Yearbook of History of Psychology or the author (annette.mulberger@uab.cat) if you are interested in receiving the article. Thank you.

The effort to locate the origin and follow the historical development of mental tests comes as no... more The effort to locate the origin and follow the historical development of mental tests comes as no surprise, given the success the technique enjoyed throughout the 20th century. It is a controversial, yet also essential, professional tool that characterizes the work of the psychologist in contemporary society. Why write more on this subject? In this introductory article, Mülberger will argue that although we have a great number of publications at our disposal, new contributions are needed to reinterpret this crucial episode in the history of psychology from different angles. Although unable to cover the huge number of publications, she will first comment briefly on some contributions that marked historical research in the second half of the 20th century. In doing so, she will focus on works that aim to explain the origin and historical development of mental testing. Mülberger will thereby leave aside the debate regarding the reliability of some empirical data gathered by certain psychologists and the social consequences of intelligence testing. She will then move on to evaluate the status quo by considering Carson’s (2007) ambitious research and the historiographical idea guiding this monographic issue.

History of Psychology, 2014

After World War I, members of the teaching profession in Spain were interested in appropriating ... more After World War I, members of the teaching profession in Spain were interested in appropriating psychological measurement and bringing it within the expertise of their occupational field, with the intention of up-grading their profession. As professionals devoted to the child, educators attempted to explore the infantile psyche using intelligence tests, with the intention of making scientific contributions to the field of psychology.
In the present paper we take as a key event one particular application enacted by a Catalan teacher, and insert that case study into the complex local scientific and educational context. It was a context in which the professional interests of teachers competed with those of school physicians, psychologists and pedologists, at a time when important changes in pedagogical methods and school systems were under way. In the hand of teachers, intelligence testing was mainly seen as a malleable method on which to base daily educational practice on a more individualized and scientific basis. The historical analysis of the case turned out to be instrumental in the identification of common features and particularities due to specific local needs. In a society where public schooling competed with private schools, the results of mental testing were used to demonstrate publicly the excellent intellectual level of children attending a public graded primary school in Barcelona.

"When reflecting on the history and the present situation of their field, psychologists have ofte... more "When reflecting on the history and the present situation of their field, psychologists have often seen their discipline as being in a critical state. The first author to warn of a crisis was, in 1897, the now scarcely known philosopher Rudolf Willy. He saw a crisis in psychology resulting, firstly, from a profuse branching out of psychology. Adopting a radical empiriocriticist point of view, he, secondly, made the metaphysical stance of scholars like Wilhelm Wundt responsible for the crisis. Meanwhile, the priest Constantin Gutberlet responded to the claim of crisis arguing, on the contrary, that the crisis resulted from research that was empirical only.

Throughout the discipline psychologists felt troubled by a widespread sense of fragmentation in the field. I will argue that this is due to psychology’s early social success and popularization in modern society. Moreover the paper shows that the first declaration of crisis emerged at a time when a discussion of fundamentals was already underway between Wundt and the empiriocriticist Richard Avenarius. The present historical research reveals the depth of the confrontation between Wundt and Willy, entailing a clash of two worldviews that embrace psychological, epistemological, and political aspects
"

We provide a historical and philosophical framework for studying crisis discussions in psychology... more We provide a historical and philosophical framework for studying crisis discussions in psychology. We first trace the various meanings of crisis talk outside and inside of the sciences. We then turn to Kuhn’s concept of crisis, which is mainly an analyst’s category referring to severe clashes between theory and data. His view has also dominated many discussions on the status of psychology: Can it be considered a “mature” science, or are we dealing here with a pre- or multi-paradigmatic discipline? Against these Kuhnian perspectives, we point out that especially, but not only in psychology distinctive crisis declarations and debates have taken place since at least the late 19th century. In these, quite different usages of crisis talk have emerged, which can be determined by looking at (a) the content and (b) the dimensions of the declarations, as well as (c) the functions these declarations had for their authors. Thus, in psychology at least, ‘crisis’ has been a vigorous actor’s category, occasionally having actual effects on the future course of research. While such crisis declarations need not be taken at face value, they nevertheless help to break the spell of Kuhnian analyses of psychology’s history. They should inform ways in which the history and philosophy of psychology is studied further.

In this chapter, I comment on the ten aspects listed by Roger Smith to show the usefulness of his... more In this chapter, I comment on the ten aspects listed by Roger Smith to show the usefulness of historical research in psychology. Thereby, I characterize and evaluate different historiographic trends. History should be seen as a way of acquiring perspective, and it should offer a conceptual tool for comparison between different epistemological approaches. It is also instrumental in analysis of the social dynamics involved in knowledge construction. In general, therefore, a connection between the history of psychology and the broader field of the history of science seems fruitful.

Dynamis, 2007

Aunque la postura socialista de Emilio Mira y Lopez (1896-1964) resulta bastante conocida, no se ... more Aunque la postura socialista de Emilio Mira y Lopez (1896-1964) resulta bastante conocida, no se ha prestado hasta ahora atencion a la aportacion psicologico-politica de este autor. El objetivo del presente trabajo es doble. En primer lugar queremos situar el analisis psicologico de la revolucion social llevado a cabo por el psiquiatra catalan en el marco historico, tanto biografico y politico como cientifico y cultural, de la epoca anterior al Franquismo. En segundo lugar examinamos como Mira relaciona su psicologia con un tema politico y, concretamente, en que medida su trabajo cientifico sobre la revolucion refleja una postura socialista.

Universitas Psychologica, 2014

A B S TR AC T During the Second World War, physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, and psych... more A B S TR AC T
During the Second World War, physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, and
psychologists developed a growing interest in studying the effect war had on
the bodies and minds of children. Many of the observations were carried out
in the 1940s in France, Great Britain, and the United States. With respect to
the Spanish youth, no such interest related to the Civil War is known. The
present article deals with a psychological study undertaken towards the end
of the 1940s in France by a Spanish physician (named A. Piñar) with exiled
children and teenagers, a study ignored up to now. The physician aimed at
knowing what memories the children had from their experiences of the Civil
War and the World War II, as well as evaluating the psychological consequences
of these experiences. The study constitutes one of the few examples of
a research exposing in a synthetic and clear way the emotional state of the
Spanish youth at that time. It is important to situate the study in its scientific
and historical context, with a particular focus on the political interests of
the author. The physician called for medical and humanitarian attention to
young immigrants. However, the historical moment was rather inconvenient
for this, due to the new political situation marked by the Cold War.

L'Homme et la société, 2008

Revista de Historia de la Psicología, 2023

This contribution carries out a diagnosis of the current state of historiography through an analy... more This contribution carries out a diagnosis of the current state of historiography through an analysis of some recent debates and current thematic and methodological approaches. On the one hand, the
diagnosis deals with an attempt of a group of historians to establish a poorly defined “new” and “critical” history as the only correct historiography, rejecting other ways of doing history. The notorious
historiographic debates that took place between 2013 and 2017 show underlying tensions and an intolerant work climate. On the other hand, a great variety of approaches, themes and methodologies can be found in recent publications, a trend that is, in part, due to the “spatial turn”. Rather than deciding who is right or advocating for a particular direction, the aim of this text is to trigger a more constructive dialogue about historiography and a reflection on how to address diversity.
[The article is written in Spanish]

Oxford Research Encyclopedia for History of Psychology , 2020

Note: this version represents a pre-print version and differs from the published version. Abstrac... more Note: this version represents a pre-print version and differs from the published version.
Abstract: The intelligence test consists of a series of exercises designed to measure intelligence. Intelligence is generally understood as mental capacity enabling a person to learn at school or, more generally, to reason, to solve problems and to adapt to new (challenging) situations. There are many types of intelligence tests depending on the kind of person (age, profession, culture, etc.) and the way intelligence is understood. Some tests are general, others are focused on evaluating language skills, others on memory, abstract and logical thinking or abilities in a wide variety of areas such as, for example, recognizing and matching implicit, visual patterns. Scores may be presented as an IQ (intelligence quotient), as a mental age, or simply as a point on a scale. Intelligence tests are instrumental in ordering, ranking and comparing individuals. The testing of intelligence started in the nineteenth century and became a common practice in schools and universities, psychotechnical institutions, courts, asylums, and private companies on an international level during the twentieth century. It is generally assumed that the first test was designed by the French scholars A. Binet and T. Simon in 1905. But, the historical link between testing and experimenting allows to speak of previous tests, such as the word association test. Testing was practiced and understood in different ways, depending not only on the time, but also on the concrete local (cultural and institutional) conditions. For example, in the United States and Brazil it would get immediately linked to race differences and eugenic programs, while in other places, such as Spain, it would be part of an attempt to detect "feebleness" and to grade students at certain schools. Since the very beginnings, the intelligence test received harsh criticisms and triggered massive protests. The debate went through the mass media leading to the infamous IQ test wars. Thus, now-a-days psychologists are careful in the promotion of intelligence testing, aware of the inherent danger of cultural discrimination and social marginalization. In order to understand the role, the intelligence test plays in today's society, it is necessary to explore its history with the help of well documented case studies. Such studies show how the testing practice was employed in national contexts and how it was received, used or rejected by different social groups or professionals. The central role of testing played in North-America is bit by bit removed by current historical research with the help of a more inclusive perspective; a perspective that explores how testing was taking place in different national and cultural environments such as Russia (or the former Soviet Union), India, Italy, Netherland, Sweden, Argentina, Chile, and many other places.

Dynamis, 2020

The article is published in Spanish. It provides new historical information about when and how th... more The article is published in Spanish. It provides new historical information about when and how the interest in identifying and selecting gifted children arrived in Spain during the first decades of the 20th century. We explore the motivations that prompted professionals to take an interest in the advantaged child and point to the moments when the initiatives resulted in some type of regulated social action for the awarding of scholarships. The period of our study includes times of monarchy, dictatorship, and republic. Thus, in our historical account, we highlight three key moments that correspond to each of the three political contexts. In the first place, we study an opinion poll launched by an educational magazine in 1911. The episode shows how a pedagogue (Bardina) started the debate and the way in which the group of teachers often perceived the gifted child as a hindrance for the social dynamics in classes. Despite this, not all teachers were in favor of the selection of gifted children because the fact that they would then receive a different kind of education was not considered by them as being just. Second, we deal with a political campaign launched in 1927 to rescue the intelligent child of poor families in times of the Primo de Rivera dictatorship and the enthusiastic reactions this campaign received among the conservative sector of Spanish society. Thirdly, we review the selection of gifted children carried out during the 1920s and 1930s in the Psychotechnical Institutes exposing the argument used to justify the need for a psychological selection based on tests and the conceptual and practical implications of the psychologists’ (Germain and Rodrigo’s) point of view.

Psychologie im Nationasozialismus, 2020

This book-chapter is published in German. The original title is: Die Psychologie im Nationalsozia... more This book-chapter is published in German. The original title is: Die Psychologie im Nationalsozialismus aus spanischer Sicht: Rassenideologie, Typologie und Psychotechnic. Abstract: Historians of psychology have several times addressed the question of how and to what extend the political events of 1933 in Germany affected the development of psychology during the Nazi era. To this day, however, the question about the effects the political and the scientific changes had on the contacts and the reputation of German psychology abroad, has rarely been asked. In my paper I try to explore how German psychology working in the 1930ies and 1940ies were viewed and valued by their colleagues in Spain. In order to answer the question, I concentrate on the reception in the field of applied psychology, more precisely psychotechnics and typology.
I selected texts from influential Spanish psychologists and psychotechnicians who were very interested in German work, knew German and maintained personal contact with academics in Germany. Hence, their opinions were authoritative for colleagues and the wider public in Spain. I show that the political and scientific realignment of the German Reich aroused recognition as well as criticism and aversion within psychological circles in Spain.

Revista de Historia de la Psicología, 2019

The present study explores the pioneering application of the intelligence test by physicians in B... more The present study explores the pioneering application of the intelligence test by physicians in Barcelona, soon after the publication of Binet and Simon’s scale in France. It was conducted in 1908 under the
leadership of the physician Luis Comenge, within the framework of a general anthropometric health census of young citizens. A total of 5,800 schoolchildren were examined to select those who would take
part in the subsidized summer camps (colonias escolares). We study the report of the anthropometric and psychometric measurements, which provides information on how the techniques were employed and
why, e.g., the aims and social functions of the undertaking. Our work shows that, in this case, a diagnosis of feebleness or abnormality led to social privilege. Moreover, this mental and physical examination of
children was part of a broader strategy adopted by physicians and local authorities to bring welfare and peace to those enduring the hard and strained life of the city.

Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 2017

This paper is published open access. It challenges the historiographical discontinuity establishe... more This paper is published open access. It challenges the historiographical discontinuity established between earlier " an-thropometric testing " and the arrival of " psychological testing " with Binet and Simon's intelligence test in 1905. After some conceptual clarifications, it deals with " word association " : a kind of psychological experimentation and testing which became popular over the last two decades of the 19th century. First Galton's exploration are presented, followed by experiments performed at the Leipzig laboratory by Trautscholdt, and then Cattell and Bryant's collective testing. Additionally, I document the use of this method for the study of mental difference through the works of Münsterberg, Bourdon, Jastrow, Nevers and Calkins. The cases I present show how the method gave rise to various measurements and classifications. I conclude that the word association technique triggered reflection on mental " uniqueness " , gender traits and the influence of education, among other topics. Moreover, it prepared the terrain and anticipated some basic attractions and problems intelligence testing would later encounter.

So What's New About Scholasticism? How Neo-Thomism Helped Shape the Twentieth Century, 2018

Note: this version represents a pre-print version of the book chapter published in "So What's New... more Note: this version represents a pre-print version of the book chapter published in "So What's New About Scholasticism? How Neo-Thomism Helped Shape the Twentieth Century", edited by Rajesh Heynickx & Stéphane Symons.

It differs from the published version in formatting, pagination, and small grammatical corrections. This material is intended for purposes of education, research, scholarly communication, or critical commentary, all in conformity with " fair use " and the established practice of authors' providing single preprints and offprints for noncommercial use. Any other use is unauthorized and may violate copyright.

Centaurus, 2017

Historically, promises, or expectations, gained especial relevance in the legitimisation process... more Historically, promises, or expectations, gained especial relevance in
the legitimisation process of new scientific disciplines and largescale
research projects. We often find influential discourses voiced
by scientists and natural philosophers using language in the future
tense and one may legitimately wonder the extent to which the
rhetoric of promise became intrinsic to the modern notion of science.
The aim of this special issue is to consider some ways in
which ‘promise’, understood as statement(s) aiming at creating
expectations about some benefit(s) gained in the future with the
help of science, may be a potential historiographical category in
the history of science.
(Please contact annette.mulberger@uab.cat if you wish to receive a copy of the article )

Centaurus, 2017

Note: the attached PDF is a pre-print version of the article. It does not contain the images and ... more Note: the attached PDF is a pre-print version of the article. It does not contain the images and it differs from the published version in formatting, pagination, and small grammatical corrections. This material is intended for purposes of education, research, scholarly communication, or critical commentary, all in conformity with " fair use " and the established practice of authors' providing single preprints and offprints for noncommercial use. Any other use is unauthorized and may violate copyright.
Abstract:
In this article I point to several ways in which rhetoric strategies such as voicing a promise or metaphors have been used in psychology’s past. Thereby, I examine the positivist tradition within the history of psychology to which Théodule Ribot (1839-1916) made a substantial contribution. His early writings (Ribot, 1870, 1879) were widely read by his contemporaries. In these texts he used rhetorical strategies to promote the institutionalization of (experimental) psychology, as well as to demarcate such strand from rivaling approaches.
The basic research questions the article addresses are: a) what did the rhetoric of future promise do for Ribot’s project? b) how are the rhetoric strategies used by him in his two programmatic texts (Ribot, 1870 and 1879)? c) how did he define the professional role of the “experimental” psychologist? d) how did other psychologists react to his provocative statements? My analysis shows Ribot’s use of a biological evolutionary metaphor when explaining the origin and development of science. Moreover, I argue that his out-sider role turned out to be an advantage for the task as popularizer and promoter of psychology in France.

Mülberger, A. (2016). Los límites de la ciencia: Espiritismo, hipnotismo y el estudio de los fenómenos paranormales (1850-1930) (Madrid: CSIC)., 2016

This text deals with a current which is called in French “le spiritisme” and in Spanish “espiriti... more This text deals with a current which is called in French “le spiritisme” and in Spanish “espiritismo”. It is a translation (containing the complete text and part of the pictures) of the second chapter of the book: Mülberger, A. (2016). Los límites de la ciencia: Espiritismo, hipnotismo y el estudio de los fenómenos paranormales (1850-1930) (Madrid: CSIC).

European Yearbook of the History of Psychology, 2017

The abstract can be found in the pdf attached. The article is written in English. Please contact ... more The abstract can be found in the pdf attached. The article is written in English. Please contact the European Yearbook of History of Psychology or the author (annette.mulberger@uab.cat) if you are interested in receiving the article. Thank you.

The effort to locate the origin and follow the historical development of mental tests comes as no... more The effort to locate the origin and follow the historical development of mental tests comes as no surprise, given the success the technique enjoyed throughout the 20th century. It is a controversial, yet also essential, professional tool that characterizes the work of the psychologist in contemporary society. Why write more on this subject? In this introductory article, Mülberger will argue that although we have a great number of publications at our disposal, new contributions are needed to reinterpret this crucial episode in the history of psychology from different angles. Although unable to cover the huge number of publications, she will first comment briefly on some contributions that marked historical research in the second half of the 20th century. In doing so, she will focus on works that aim to explain the origin and historical development of mental testing. Mülberger will thereby leave aside the debate regarding the reliability of some empirical data gathered by certain psychologists and the social consequences of intelligence testing. She will then move on to evaluate the status quo by considering Carson’s (2007) ambitious research and the historiographical idea guiding this monographic issue.

History of Psychology, 2014

After World War I, members of the teaching profession in Spain were interested in appropriating ... more After World War I, members of the teaching profession in Spain were interested in appropriating psychological measurement and bringing it within the expertise of their occupational field, with the intention of up-grading their profession. As professionals devoted to the child, educators attempted to explore the infantile psyche using intelligence tests, with the intention of making scientific contributions to the field of psychology.
In the present paper we take as a key event one particular application enacted by a Catalan teacher, and insert that case study into the complex local scientific and educational context. It was a context in which the professional interests of teachers competed with those of school physicians, psychologists and pedologists, at a time when important changes in pedagogical methods and school systems were under way. In the hand of teachers, intelligence testing was mainly seen as a malleable method on which to base daily educational practice on a more individualized and scientific basis. The historical analysis of the case turned out to be instrumental in the identification of common features and particularities due to specific local needs. In a society where public schooling competed with private schools, the results of mental testing were used to demonstrate publicly the excellent intellectual level of children attending a public graded primary school in Barcelona.

"When reflecting on the history and the present situation of their field, psychologists have ofte... more "When reflecting on the history and the present situation of their field, psychologists have often seen their discipline as being in a critical state. The first author to warn of a crisis was, in 1897, the now scarcely known philosopher Rudolf Willy. He saw a crisis in psychology resulting, firstly, from a profuse branching out of psychology. Adopting a radical empiriocriticist point of view, he, secondly, made the metaphysical stance of scholars like Wilhelm Wundt responsible for the crisis. Meanwhile, the priest Constantin Gutberlet responded to the claim of crisis arguing, on the contrary, that the crisis resulted from research that was empirical only.

Throughout the discipline psychologists felt troubled by a widespread sense of fragmentation in the field. I will argue that this is due to psychology’s early social success and popularization in modern society. Moreover the paper shows that the first declaration of crisis emerged at a time when a discussion of fundamentals was already underway between Wundt and the empiriocriticist Richard Avenarius. The present historical research reveals the depth of the confrontation between Wundt and Willy, entailing a clash of two worldviews that embrace psychological, epistemological, and political aspects
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We provide a historical and philosophical framework for studying crisis discussions in psychology... more We provide a historical and philosophical framework for studying crisis discussions in psychology. We first trace the various meanings of crisis talk outside and inside of the sciences. We then turn to Kuhn’s concept of crisis, which is mainly an analyst’s category referring to severe clashes between theory and data. His view has also dominated many discussions on the status of psychology: Can it be considered a “mature” science, or are we dealing here with a pre- or multi-paradigmatic discipline? Against these Kuhnian perspectives, we point out that especially, but not only in psychology distinctive crisis declarations and debates have taken place since at least the late 19th century. In these, quite different usages of crisis talk have emerged, which can be determined by looking at (a) the content and (b) the dimensions of the declarations, as well as (c) the functions these declarations had for their authors. Thus, in psychology at least, ‘crisis’ has been a vigorous actor’s category, occasionally having actual effects on the future course of research. While such crisis declarations need not be taken at face value, they nevertheless help to break the spell of Kuhnian analyses of psychology’s history. They should inform ways in which the history and philosophy of psychology is studied further.

In this chapter, I comment on the ten aspects listed by Roger Smith to show the usefulness of his... more In this chapter, I comment on the ten aspects listed by Roger Smith to show the usefulness of historical research in psychology. Thereby, I characterize and evaluate different historiographic trends. History should be seen as a way of acquiring perspective, and it should offer a conceptual tool for comparison between different epistemological approaches. It is also instrumental in analysis of the social dynamics involved in knowledge construction. In general, therefore, a connection between the history of psychology and the broader field of the history of science seems fruitful.

Dynamis, 2007

Aunque la postura socialista de Emilio Mira y Lopez (1896-1964) resulta bastante conocida, no se ... more Aunque la postura socialista de Emilio Mira y Lopez (1896-1964) resulta bastante conocida, no se ha prestado hasta ahora atencion a la aportacion psicologico-politica de este autor. El objetivo del presente trabajo es doble. En primer lugar queremos situar el analisis psicologico de la revolucion social llevado a cabo por el psiquiatra catalan en el marco historico, tanto biografico y politico como cientifico y cultural, de la epoca anterior al Franquismo. En segundo lugar examinamos como Mira relaciona su psicologia con un tema politico y, concretamente, en que medida su trabajo cientifico sobre la revolucion refleja una postura socialista.

Universitas Psychologica, 2014

A B S TR AC T During the Second World War, physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, and psych... more A B S TR AC T
During the Second World War, physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, and
psychologists developed a growing interest in studying the effect war had on
the bodies and minds of children. Many of the observations were carried out
in the 1940s in France, Great Britain, and the United States. With respect to
the Spanish youth, no such interest related to the Civil War is known. The
present article deals with a psychological study undertaken towards the end
of the 1940s in France by a Spanish physician (named A. Piñar) with exiled
children and teenagers, a study ignored up to now. The physician aimed at
knowing what memories the children had from their experiences of the Civil
War and the World War II, as well as evaluating the psychological consequences
of these experiences. The study constitutes one of the few examples of
a research exposing in a synthetic and clear way the emotional state of the
Spanish youth at that time. It is important to situate the study in its scientific
and historical context, with a particular focus on the political interests of
the author. The physician called for medical and humanitarian attention to
young immigrants. However, the historical moment was rather inconvenient
for this, due to the new political situation marked by the Cold War.

L'Homme et la société, 2008

This book is about the spiritist practices that emerged in the United States and Europe from the ... more This book is about the spiritist practices that emerged in the United States and Europe from the middle of the nineteenth century. Motivated by curiosity and a desire to be entertained, many people gathered together at night to watch tables shake or hear strange knocking sounds that seemed to contain intelligible messages. Once these practices reached European countries, they were to take on a more specific significance. They were established as a form of rational philosophy, based on mediumship, with religious and scientific aspirations. As a social movement, they acquired a certain popularity; although the movement was always of a highly disjointed nature. Some scientists soon found themselves involved in putting the paranormal phenomena exhibited during the night-time sessions to the test. That was the start of the creation of a space for both conflict and negotiation between the two camps, as well as within science itself; following a dynamic of the defining of competencies and the demarcation of professions.
The work is structured in ten chapters. The first four deal, from a general perspective, with the evolution of spiritism and how this led to the emergence of parapsychology (in the form of “psychical research” and metapsychics. The next three chapters are about mediumship, hypnotism and clairvoyance, showing how these practices were first introduced into Spain and then spread. Next there is a chapter on different forms of clairvoyance and their relationship with psychoanalysis, art and the popular press in Europe. Finally, the last chapter examines in detail the research into spiritist phenomena undertaken in Saint Petersburg by a commission set up by the famous Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev.