The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-21
Modern Psychology
By H. ADDINGTON BRUCE

The essential difference between the psy- chology of today and earlier psychology is that the latter was merely philosophical account of mental phenomena, while the former studies these phenomena through observation of be- havior. Thus psychology has shifted from a metaphysical to a scientific basis and as consequence has become more exact and more practically helpful.
 The shifting began in the seventies of last century with the opening of Wundts psy- chological laboratory in Leipzig, and was ac- centuated when Pierre Janet, a few years later, applied the observational method to the study of the mental states of hysterical per sons. Janet's maxim was, We can better understand normal mental processes by study ing their congregations in the abnormal" On these experimental and clinical founda- tions has been built the superstructure of twentieth century psychology.
 Investigators in all civilized lands-but chiefly the United States France and Ger many-have contributed to it's building. And a marvellous structure it is, set off in various compartments, to each of which new treas ures are continually being added by devoted groups of workers.
 In the space at my disposal it is i'm possible to do more than outline sketchily the subdivisions of modern psychology. The mind, it soon became apparent to the experi- mental and clinical observers, functions some what differently at different periods of life. There is a mental evolution, so to speak. through childhood and adolescence to matur- ity. This led to the developing of the special subdivision of child psychology and adolescent psychology.
 Also it led to a subdivision of genetic psy- chology, devoted to the study of mental growth through the successive life stages It being likewise seen that mentality varied, not only according to the age of the indi- yidual, but also according to the contact of individuals with individuals, the subdivision of social psychology was formed. to include study of the mental phenomena of races na- tions, 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 pos session 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 Baldwin remarks &
 "The study of animals is of extreme i'm portance for our science; for animals show striking evidence of the phenomena of con- sc1ousness, both in its lower and in many of its higher forms ,ssase,
 Tt 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 psychology"
 Finally, out of the findings of experimental psychology and clinical psychology, there have developed sundry subdivisions of applied psy- chology. The most important of these up to the, present are medical psychology, educa- tional psychology and business psychology As their names suggest. they are devoted to indicating the ways in which psychology can help physicians, parents teachers and busi- ness men.
 Bearing in mind the youthfulness of modern psychology, it's progress must indeed be ac. counted astonishingly rapid. And bearing in mind the many contributions it has already made to human welfare. there is reason for regarding it's future most optimistically.