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Hugo Münsterberg's The Photoplay (1916) is one of the first and most important early works of film theory. Münsterberg's work on the emerging art of cinema remains a key document for film scholars, but it has long been out of print. In this new edition, Allan Langdale provides a critical introduction to the seminal text and collects numerous hard-to-find writings on film by Münsterberg.

The chief aim of this book is twofold. It is a negative one: I want to counteract the misunderstandings which overflood the whole field, especially by the careless mixing of mental and moral influence. And a positive one: I want to strengthen the public feeling that the time has come when every physician should systematically study psychology, the normal in the college years and the abnormal in the medical school.-from the PrefaceWhether or not you approve of the culture of mass psychology that resulted from the work of Hugo M nsterberg, his continuing impact on American society is inestimable. From the reliance on standardized testing in public schools to the corporate perspective on employees as "human resources," the practical applications of psychology to industry, medicine, education, the arts, criminal investigation, and the social order that he pioneered still exert a dramatic influence on how we, a century later, continue to think about the mind and how it shapes human behavior.In this seminal 1909 volume, M nsterberg explores: . the psychological basis of psychotherapy. the general methods of psychotherapy. mental and bodily symptoms psychotherapy can address. psychotherapy and its relationship to church and community.Also available from Cosimo Classics: M nsterberg's Psychology and Social Sanity, The Eternal Life, The War and America, and American TraitsOF INTEREST TO: medical students, readers of popular psychologyGerman-American psychologist and philosopher HUGO M NSTERBERG (1863-1916) was professor of psychology at Harvard University from 1892 until his death. He was elected president of the American Psychological Association in 1898.

In Hugo Münsterberg's seminal work, 'Psychology and Social Sanity', he delves into the intricate relationship between psychological principles and societal behaviors. Written in a scholarly and detailed manner, Münsterberg explores how individual psychological processes can influence and shape collective social structures. Drawing upon his background as a renowned psychologist, he provides insightful analyses of various social phenomena and offers practical solutions for maintaining social harmony. This book, which was originally published in 1909, remains a cornerstone in the field of social psychology, showcasing Münsterberg's brilliance as both a researcher and a writer. By intertwining psychological theories with real-world applications, Münsterberg bridges the gap between academia and everyday life, making this book a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of human behavior and social interactions. 'Psychology and Social Sanity' is a must-read for students, scholars, and professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the psychological underpinnings of societal wellbeing.

The Americans by Hugo Mnsterberg stands alongside Alexis de Tocqueville's American Democracy as one of the great works on the New World written by a scholar deeply familiar with the Old World. When originally published, it gave the German public a sense of American life, and was described as "a book which deals in a detailed way with the political, economic, intellectual, and social aspects of American culture." Mnsterberg, a world-renowned psychologist at the turn of the twentieth century, noted that "its purpose is to interpret systematically the democratic ideals of America." The primary aim of The Americans is to study the people and America's inner tendencies. It offers a "philosophy of Americanism," the ideology of a people writ whole. Mnsterberg's sense of the "spirit" of a people, rather than facts about the people, is revealed in his four cardinal chapters: Self-Direction, Self-Realization, Self-Perfection, and Self-Assertion. While he covers the economic premises of the free market and the politics of party affairs, he considers these the least important. Instead it is the lasting forces and tendencies of American life, rather than problems of the day, that occupy the author. This focus was shared by German readers, for whom the book was conceived, and for those in the United States who read the book in English. The dynamic of strong basic tendencies of democratic forces and lesser, but significant, aristocratic tendencies underwrites the strains and tensions in American society. It also defines the special nature of a book, written more than one hundred years ago, that retains its lively sense of purpose and deep insight into American life. One could well say that this book is required reading in this day and age for Americans and Europeans alike. This is a neglected masterpiece. Hugo Mnsterberg (1863-1916) was a professor of psychology at Harvard University. He was widely known for his work in the fields of the applications of psychology to law, business, industry, medicine, teaching, and sociology. He was also a leader in the field of behaviorism for his work, which defines attention in terms of the openness of the nerve paths to the muscles of adjustment. In 1898 he was elected president of the American Psychological Association. Among his works are Psychology and Industrial Efficiency, Psychotherapy, On the Witness Stand, Psychology and Crime, and The Eternal Values.

"The Americans" by Hugo Munsterberg stands alongside Alexis de Tocqueville's American Democracy as one of the great works on the New World written by a scholar deeply familiar with the Old World. When originally published, it gave the German public a sense of American life, and was described as "a book which deals in a detailed way with the political, economic, intellectual, and social aspects of American culture." Munsterberg, a world-renowned psychologist at the turn of the twentieth century, noted that "its purpose is to interpret systematically the democratic ideals of America." The primary aim of The Americans is to study the people and America's inner tendencies. It offers a "philosophy of Americanism," the ideology of a people writ whole. Munsterberg's sense of the "spirit" of a people, rather than facts about the people, is revealed in his four cardinal chapters: Self-Direction, Self-Realization, Self-Perfection, and Self-Assertion. While he covers the economic premises of the free market and the politics of party affairs, he considers these the least important. Instead it is the lasting forces and tendencies of American life, rather than problems of the day, that occupy the author. This focus was shared by German readers, for whom the book was conceived, and for those in the United States who read the book in English.The dynamic of strong basic tendencies of democratic forces and lesser, but significant, aristocratic tendencies underwrites the strains and tensions in American society. It also defines the special nature of a book, written more than one hundred years ago, that retains its lively sense of purpose and deep insight into American life. One could well say that this book is required reading in this day and age for Americans and Europeans alike: "This is a neglected masterpiece.."

In 1916, an eminent psychologist recorded his impressions of the fledgling film industry. His penetrating and prescient observations foretold the most modern developments of the cinematic art, and his classic survey, The Film: A Psychological Study, remains a text of enduring relevance to movie historians as well as students of film and psychology. Ranging from considerations of the viewer's perception of on-screen depth and motion to examinations of the cinema's distinguishing and unique characteristics as an art form, this study arrives at strikingly modern conclusions about movies and their psychological values.

E.K. Cressey's biography, “Pine to Potomac: Life of James G. Blaine,” paints a vivid picture of a man who rose from humble beginnings to become a prominent figure in American politics. The book delves into the various stages of Blaine's life, from his childhood in a mountain home to his career as a journalist, legislator, congressman, and senator. Cressey emphasizes Blaine's intellectual prowess, his strong moral compass, and his remarkable ability to connect with people. The narrative style offers a comprehensive look into the making of a statesman, highlighting the key influences and experiences that shaped Blaine's character and political career.

Ten fields in which America shows signs of popular insanity. "Whenever a great movement sweeps through the civilized world, it generally starts from the recognition of a great social wrong and from the enthusiasm for a thorough change." -Hugo Munsterberg, Psychology and Social Sanity "It has always seemed to me a particular duty of the psychologist from time to time to leave his laboratory and with his little contribution to serve the outside interests of the community. Our practical life is filled with psychological problems which have to be solved somehow, and if everything is left to commonsense and to unscientific fancies about the mind, confusion must result, and the psychologist who stands aloof will be to blame. "The field which I have approached this time demanded a different kind of treatment from that in the earlier books. There I had aimed at a certain systematic completeness. When we come to the social questions, such a method would be misleading, as any systematic study of these psychological factors is still a hope for the future. Many parts of the field have never yet been touched by the plow of the psychologist. The only method which seems possible to-day is to select a few characteristic topics of social discussion and to outline for each of them in what sense a psychologist might contribute to the solution or might at least further the analysis of the problem. The aim is to show that our social difficulties are ultimately dependent upon mental conditions which ought to be cleared up with the methods of modern psychology. "I selected as illustrations those social questions which seemed to me most significant for our period. A few of them admitted an approach with experimental methods, others merely a dissection of the psychological and psychophysiological roots. The problems of sex, of socialism, and of superstition seemed to me especially important, and if some may blame me for overlooking the problem of suffrage, I can at least refer to the chapter on the jury, which comes quite near to this militant question." -Hugo Münsterberg. Preface I. Sex Education II. Socialism III. The Intellectual Underworld IV. Thought Transference V. The Mind of the Juryman VI. Efficiency on the Farm VII. Social Sins in Advertising VIII. The Mind of the Investor IX. Society and the Dance X. Naïve Psychology