Henry Murray
Henry Alexander Murray (born May 13, 1893 in New York City , † June 23, 1988 in Cambridge , Massachusetts ) was an American psychologist who taught at Harvard University for over thirty years . In 1935 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences .
Act
Murray's personality theory , published in 1938, marked the beginning of research into achievement motivation . He differentiates between primary (“viscerogenic”) and secondary (“psychogenic”) needs of humans: Primary needs are based on organic processes and occur cyclically or in a regulatory manner. The primary needs include hunger and thirst. The “higher” secondary needs include achievement (need achievement), belonging (need affiliation), independence (need autonomy), etc., which are acquired in the course of individual development.
Another contribution to motivational research that Murray made was the development of the TAT ( Thematic Apperception Test ), which was later developed by David McClelland .
In 1943, Murray, in collaboration with two other scientists, prepared a report on the personality of Adolf Hitler for the then US secret service OSS . Walter C. Langer acted as the project manager . This personality study was primarily intended to analyze Hitler's possible future behavior with regard to Germany's impending defeat.
Secondary needs according to Murray
(needs; n = need); in alphabetical order
| English | German translation |
|---|---|
| Abasement (n Aba) | Humiliation |
| Achievement (n ach) | power |
| Affiliation (n Aff) | social connection |
| Aggression (n agg) | aggression |
| Autonomy (n car) | independence |
| Counteraction (n Cnt) | Resistance |
| Deference (n Def) | Submissiveness |
| Defendance (n Dfd) | Self righteousness |
| Dominance (n Dom) | Exercise of power |
| Exhibition (n Exh) | Self-presentation |
| Harmavoidance (n Harm) | Avoidance of suffering |
| Infavoidance (n Inf) | Avoidance of failure |
| Nurturance (n only) | Caring |
| Order (n Ord) | order |
| Play (n play) | game |
| Rejection (n Rej) | Rejection |
| Sentience (n Sen) | Meaningfulness |
| Sex (sex) | sexuality |
| Succorance (n suc) | Seeking help (dependency) |
| Understanding (n And) | Understanding (insight) |
See H Heckhausen: Motivation and Action . Springer Verlag, Berlin 1989.
Fonts
- Explorations in Personality . New York, Oxford University Press, 1938
- What should psychologists do about psychoanalysis? In: Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology , 35, 1940, pp. 150-175
- Analysis of the Personality of Adolph Hitler: With Predictions of His Future Behavior and Suggestions for Dealing with Him Now and After Germany's Surrender . 1943 (report for the US secret service OSS) archive.org
- Assessment of Men: Selection of Personnel for the Office of Strategic Service . OSS Assessment Staff (Ed.). Rinehart, New York 1948
literature
- William McKinley Runyan: Murray, Henry Alexander . (PDF; 860 kB) In: New dictionary of scientific biography . Gale, 2007, ISBN 978-0-684-31320-7 , pp. 214–219 (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Murray, Henry |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Murray, Henry Alexander |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American psychologist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 13, 1893 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New York City |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 23, 1988 |
| Place of death | Cambridge |