Théodore Flournoy

Théodore Flournoy (1854-1920) was a pioneer of
experimental psychology, contributing extensively to work on parapsychology and
Spiritism. Born in Switzerland, Flournoy obtained a *baccalauréat ès lettres* degree in 1872, then entered the faculty of
sciences of Geneva, where he obtained further degrees in mathematics and
physical sciences. He went to Freiburg to study anatomy, later resuming
training in France at the faculty of medicine in Strasbourg.[1]
Flournoy was a Christian, and felt that religious belief should never prevent a
man from being a good scientist.[2]

He became increasingly interested in cases of mental
pathology (from a biological perspective) over those of physical impairments. He
went on to study philosophy in Leipzig, where he developed an interest in
physiological psychology, a new-born discipline. One of his teachers Wilhelm
Wundt was the most famous representative of this discipline.[3]

He was awarded a teaching post at the University of
Geneva, a position from which he achieved the creation of the first chair of
psychology in a Faculty of Science in 1891.[4]
This was the first time that psychology was accepted as an independent, pure
science, as Flournoy encouraged a break with metaphysical questions within the
discipline, focusing instead on the scientific and experimental elements. It
had formally been regarded generally as a branch of philosophy. In 1892 he
founded one of the first official laboratories of experimental psychology in
the world, and the first one in Switzerland.[5]
With his cousin, Edouard Claparède, he edited in 1901 one of the oldest
journals of psychology, *Archives de*
Psychologiede la Suisse Romande*.*

In 1894 Flournoy began a six yearlong study of a trance
medium, Hélène Smith, which resulted in his publication *From India to the Planet Mars* (1900). In this book, Flournoy
described the psychopathological mechanism of this unusual phenomenon. Flournoy
considered her outpourings as the products of cryptamnesia and as 'romances of
the subliminal imagination,' - as evidence of the unconscious mind. His book *Spiritism*
and Psychology*(1911) translated by Hereward Carrington claimed*
more broadly that mediumship could be explained by suggestion and
telepathy from the medium's subconscious mind and that there was no evidence
for the spirit hypothesis. He wrote many papers on topics connected with Spiritism,
establishing himself as one of the world’s leading authorities on the
psychopathology of spiritist practices.

In 1909 Flournoy presided over the Sixth International
Congress of Psychology. He was also a close friend to American philosopher
William James, and supported his psychology and philosophical ideas. Flournoy
became interested in Freudian psychology, and became a close friend of Carl
Jung, in some ways aiding him in his break with Freud. He was integral to the
introduction of psychoanalysis in Switzerland and in France.

[1]Serge
Nicholas & Agnes Charvillat, ‘Théodore Flournoy (1854-1920) and
Experimental Psychology: Historical Note’ (*The*
American Journal of Psychology*, Vol.111, No.2, 1998), 280.*

[2]Bio.

[3]Serge
Nicholas & Agnes Charvillat, ‘Théodore Flournoy (1854-1920) and
Experimental Psychology: Historical Note’ (*The*
American Journal of Psychology*, Vol.111, No.2, 1998), 281.*

[4]James
H. Leuba, ‘Obituary: Theodore Flournoy (1854-1920)’ (*Psychological Bulletin*, Vol.18, No.4, 1921) 232-233.

[5]Serge
Nicholas & Agnes Charvillat, ‘Théodore Flournoy (1854-1920) and
Experimental Psychology: Historical Note’ (*The*
American Journal of Psychology*, Vol.111, No.2, 1998), 279.*