conflict & communication online, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2018
www.cco.regener-online.de
ISSN 1618-0747

Ralph Sichler
Hugo Münsterberg in America and his unnoticed contribution to a comparative cultural psychology

Due to his contribution to experimental applied psychology, Hugo Münsterberg enjoys an excellent reputation in academic psychology to this day. Less noted are several comparative cultural-psychological studies on the way the Americans of his time viewed themselves. These studies should be placed in the context of his philosophy of value. This article is devoted to this hitherto neglected part of Münsterberg's writings, which can be understood primarily as a reflection of migration experiences in the academic milieu. It is shown that Münsterberg draws up a typifying and idealizing characterization of basic values, which have a strong effect on the American way of life in political, economic, educational, scientific and other public areas. Finally, problems of an idealistic cultural psychology will be discussed, especially if it is accompanied by strong evaluations regarding the notion of any given subjects.

The author:
Ralph Sichler, Dr. phil., Univ. Doz., Dipl. Psych., is head of the Institute for Management und Leadership Development at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, and teaches applied psychology at the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna, Austria. His main fields of research include organisational psychology, cultural psychology, history of psychology, and the philosophical foundation of psychology.

Address: Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt, Institut für Management und Leadership Development, Johannes Gutenberg Straße 3, A-2400 Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
eMail: ralph.sichler@fhwn.ac.at