Clark L. Hull

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Clark Leonhard Hull (born May 24, 1884 in Akron , New York , † May 10, 1952 in New Haven , Connecticut ) was an American psychologist . He is known for his experimental studies of learning and attempts to mathematically express psychological theory. He was one of the main exponents of American neo-behaviorism and made contributions to learning and motivation theory .

Life

Hull comes from a rather poorer background. He also got polio . His school career stalled several times for lack of money.

Originally he wanted to become a mining engineer and among other things, he was involved in the construction of automatic machines and robots. He later used this education in mechanics for his research on motivation. Hull took an interest in psychology while studying at Michigan University . In this subject he put in 1918 his dissertation at the University of Wisconsin . Shortly thereafter, he began working at the University of Wisconsin.

In 1929 he moved to the Institute of Human Relations at Yale University .

plant

He made significant contributions to the behavioristic learning theory and is therefore assigned to so-called neo - behaviorism today . The term Zielgradient (Goal gradient effect) was first used in 1932 by Hull. This concept was later developed by Neal E. Miller .

Hull observed in experiments that rats ran increasingly faster the closer they got to their target (food) at the end of a maze. This effect was also named by David McClelland as the anticipatory target reaction .

Concept and reception

Hull's concept of a unitary drive that energizes all human actions greatly influenced psychological research on motivation . In addition, Hull founded experimental hypnosis research .

The later generation of psychologists judged that the specific quantitative and mathematical details of Hull's theories, despite their frequent presence, were the least relevant. Criticisms are u. a. the use of an excessive number of detailed parameters despite deficiencies in the recording by a suitable measurement theory. The details of its mathematical derivations are also not always exact. Nevertheless, his ambitions and arguments paved the way for the development of mathematical learning theory.

From the point of view of knowledge gain, Hull's ideas and terms were nevertheless of great importance in behavioral psychology.

During his time at Yale, Hull was considered a very important person with a great influence on his and neighboring fields. The psychologists influenced by his ideas are also known as Neo-Hullians . The literature mentions, for example, Neal E. Miller , Orval Hobart Mowrer .

In 1935, Hull was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences , in 1936 to the National Academy of Sciences .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Entry by Clark L. Hull in the Encyclopaedia Britannica , Retrieved June 25, 2017
  2. ^ Entry Hull, Clark Leonhard in the Brockhaus Encyclopedia, Volume 6, ISBN 3-7653-2861-8 , 1998, p. 329
  3. ↑ a b c Clark Hull ( Memento of 30 June 2017 Internet Archive ) on the side Psychology History of Muskingum University , Accessed on 25 June 2017
  4. ↑ Udo Rudolph : Motivationalpsychologie , Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim, 2003, p. 43
  5. ↑ Peter R. Hofstätter (Ed.): Psychology . The Fischer Lexicon, Fischer-Taschenbuch, Frankfurt a. M. 1972, ISBN 3-436-01159-2 ; P. 212 to chap. “Learning from success”.
  6. ^ Wilhelm Karl Arnold et al. (Ed.): Lexicon of Psychology . Bechtermünz, Augsburg 1996, ISBN 3-86047-508-8 ; Sp. 130 to Lex.-Lemma: "Antizipation".
  7. ↑ No receipt!
  8. ↑ a b c Theories of Learning I , Gordon H. Bower, Ernest R. Hilgard, 5th edition, Klett-Cotta, ISBN 3-608-93026-4 , pp. 160ff
personal data
SURNAME Hull, Clark L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hull, Clark Leonhard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American psychologist
DATE OF BIRTH May 24, 1884
PLACE OF BIRTH Akron , New York (State)
DATE OF DEATH May 10, 1952
Place of death New Haven , Connecticut