Psychologists Should Watch Other Scientific Fields, Declares Scientist

Psychologists should work in close touch with men in the other fields of science rather than conduct their own experiments without regard for the unity of the whole scientific field, according to Wolfgang Koehler, professor of Philosophy and Director of the Psychological Institute at the University of Berlin who is here this year as the William James Lecturer in Psychology and Philosophy.

"I don't think that psychology should be treated as a science by itself," the world-famous psychologist declared, "Almost no other science is in natural touch with so many other neighboring fields. This contact is rather to be sought for than avoided, because the field of psychology would naturally receive so much aid from other sciences by such contact."

Professor Koehler explained that co-operation of psychologists with scientists of other fields, would prove valuable to men in fields outside of psychology. "Probably all psychologists are aware of the need of cooperating with other scientists. But since all major problems of psychologists extend naturally into the fields of neighboring sciences, any new insight or discovery in the field of psychology will have essential consequences beyond the limits of our field.

"As a psychologist, therefore, one had best keep his field of vision as broad as possible and I hope that the William James Lectures may be regarded as an application of this belief.

Professor Koehler is the leading exponent of the Gestalt Schol of psychology and is world-famous for his investigation of the intelligence of anthropoids. His work "The Mentality of Apes", is the standard reference for men interested in this subject. He was born in Esthonia in 1887 and received his education at the Universities of Tubingen, Bonn, and Berlin.

When asked of the influence of Hitler's regime on German universities, Professor Koehler indicated a preference to talk on psychology rather than on political subjects.