Henry J. Watt
Encyclopedia
Henry Jackson Watt was a Scottish experimental psychologist. He was student of Oswald Külpe
and a member of the Würzburg School. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering work on mental set in problem solving, what he referred to as "einstellung" or "task mental set".
Watt was born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland. He entered the University of Aberdeen
in 1896, graduating wth a Master's degree in philosophy in 1900. He attended the University of Berlin under the supervision of Carl Stumpf
in 1901–1902, but then moved on to Külpe and Würzburg
, where he completed his doctorate in 1906. Watt's dissertation was on thought processes and problem solving (Experimentelle Beitrage zu einer Theorie des Denkens). An English abstract of his dissertation appeared in the journal article "Experimental Contribution to a Theory of Thinking" (1906).
In 1907 Watt returned to Britain, taking up lectureships in psychophysiology at the University of Liverpool
and, in 1908, in psychology at University of Glasgow
. In 1909 he published The Economy and Training of Memory, a book for teachers. He was visiting Würzburg in 1914 when World War I broke out, and was interned in a civilian prisoner. He was released and returned to Glasgow in 1915, his health permanently damaged. (American philosopher-psychologist George Stuart Fullerton
suffered a similar fate.) In 1917, Watt published The Psychology of Sound, and, in 1919, The Psychology of Music, topics that he had studied under Stumpf more than 15 years earlier.
Watt died in 1925 at the age of 46. Two additional books were published posthumously: The Sensory Basis and Structure of Knowledge (1925) and The Common Sense of Dreams (1929). In the latter, Watt proposed an alternative to Sigmund Freud
's method of dream interpretation
.
Oswald Külpe
Oswald Külpe was one of the structural psychologists of the late 19th and early 20th century.-Biography:...
and a member of the Würzburg School. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering work on mental set in problem solving, what he referred to as "einstellung" or "task mental set".
Watt was born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland. He entered the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
in 1896, graduating wth a Master's degree in philosophy in 1900. He attended the University of Berlin under the supervision of Carl Stumpf
Carl Stumpf
Carl Stumpf was a German philosopher and psychologist.Born in Wiesentheid, he studied with Franz Brentano and Hermann Lotze...
in 1901–1902, but then moved on to Külpe and Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, where he completed his doctorate in 1906. Watt's dissertation was on thought processes and problem solving (Experimentelle Beitrage zu einer Theorie des Denkens). An English abstract of his dissertation appeared in the journal article "Experimental Contribution to a Theory of Thinking" (1906).
In 1907 Watt returned to Britain, taking up lectureships in psychophysiology at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and, in 1908, in psychology at University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. In 1909 he published The Economy and Training of Memory, a book for teachers. He was visiting Würzburg in 1914 when World War I broke out, and was interned in a civilian prisoner. He was released and returned to Glasgow in 1915, his health permanently damaged. (American philosopher-psychologist George Stuart Fullerton
George Stuart Fullerton
George Stuart Fullerton was an American philosopher and psychologist. He was the host of the first annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in 1892 at the University of Pennsylvania, and the APA's fifth president, in 1896....
suffered a similar fate.) In 1917, Watt published The Psychology of Sound, and, in 1919, The Psychology of Music, topics that he had studied under Stumpf more than 15 years earlier.
Watt died in 1925 at the age of 46. Two additional books were published posthumously: The Sensory Basis and Structure of Knowledge (1925) and The Common Sense of Dreams (1929). In the latter, Watt proposed an alternative to Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
's method of dream interpretation
Dream interpretation
Dream interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to dreams. In many ancient societies, such as those of Egypt and Greece, dreaming was considered a supernatural communication or a means of divine intervention, whose message could be unravelled by people with certain powers...
.