description William McDougall Overview
William McDougall (1871-1938) was a British-American psychologist whose work emphasized instincts, motivation, and the purposive character of behavior. He developed hormic psychology, which interpreted behavior as organized around goal-directed striving, and presented a systematic theory of instincts in his 1908 book An Introduction to Social Psychology. His approach influenced debates in social and comparative psychology, although later behaviorist theories challenged the central role he assigned to innate dispositions.
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What was William McDougall's main psychological theory?
William McDougall developed hormic psychology, which treated behavior as organized around goal-directed striving. His approach emphasized instincts, motivation, and the purposive character of behavior.
Was William McDougall British or American?
McDougall was born British and later became British-American through his academic career and citizenship. He lived from 1871 to 1938.
How did William McDougall explain human behavior?
He argued that instincts and innate drives help organize behavior toward goals. This differed from theories that treated behavior as only a chain of mechanical responses.
Why is William McDougall discussed in the history of psychology?
He helped establish instinct and motivation as major topics in early twentieth-century psychology. His work is often studied alongside debates involving behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and emerging social psychology.
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