Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-26
MODERN PSYCHOLOGY
By H. Arlington Bruce

TIME essential difference between the
psychology OF today and earlier psy-
chology is that the latter was merely
philosophical account of mental phenom-
ena, while the former studies these phe-
nomena through observation of behavior.
Thus psychology has shifted from meta
physical to a scientific basis, and as con-
sequence has become more exact and more
practically helpful.
The shifting began in the seventies Of
the last century with the opening of Wundts
psychological laboratory in Leipzig, and was
accentuated when Pierre Janet, few years
later, applied the observatonal method to
the study of the mental states Of hysterical
persons. Janets maxim was, eve can bet
ter understand normal mental processes
by studying their exaggerations in the abr
normal" On these experimental and climb
cal foundations has been built the super
structure of twentieth century psychology.
Investigators in all civilized lands but
chiefly the United States, France and Ger
many-haye contributed to it's building.
And a marvellous structure it is, set off in
various compartments to each of which
new treasures are continually being added
by devoted groups of workers.
In the space at my disposal it is impossi-
Bile to do more than outline sketchily the
subdivisions of modern psychology. The
mind, it soon became apparent to the ex-
perimental and clinical observers, functions
somewhat differently at different periods
of life. There is mental evolution, so to
speak, through childhood and adolescence
to maturity. This led to the developing Of
the special subdivision of child psychology
and adolescent psychology.
Also it led to subdivision Of genetfc
psychology, devoted to the study of mental
growth through. the successive life stages.
1t being likewise seen that mentality varied,
not~>only according to the age of the indi-
Vldual, but also according to the contact
OF individuals with individuals, the subd-
vision of social psychology formed, to
include study of the mental phenomena of
races, nations communities, classes, sects,
crowds mobs-in fine, any collection of
individuals acting as a whole.
Then, again, since it was perceived that
mental phenomena are not the exclusive
possession of human beings, the subdivision
of animal or comparative psychology came
into being. Many people do not appreciate
the value of this subdivision. Yet as Bald
win remarks
1.-The study of animals is of extreme i'm
portance for our science; for animals show
striking evidence of the phenomena of con-
seriousness both in it's lower and in many
Of its higher forms
cit is perhaps destined Judging from the
contributions it has already made to some
departments of research, to throw as much
light on human psychology as comparative
anatomy has upon human physiology
Finally, out of the findings of expert
mental psychology and clinical psychology,
there have developed sundry subdivisions
Of applied psychology. The most important
of these up to the present are medical psy-
choogy educational psychology and bust
ness psychology. AS their names suggest,
they are devoted to indicating the ways iii
which psychology can help physicians par
ents teachers and business men.
~ Y f,,In 81 nod
ern psychology, its progress must indeed
be accounted astonishingly rapid. And bear
ing in mind the many contributions it has
already made to human welfare, there is
reason for regarding its future most OBJ
timistcally.
(Conyripht 1924