Psychology's Brief Flirtation with Crime Solving

In the early 1900s, a bold idea emerged in the world of crime solving.

The Pioneers

Two psychologists, Max Wertheimer and Julius Klein, suggested using word association tests to figure out if someone was guilty of a crime.

The Method

This method, called Tatbestandsdiagnostik, quickly became a hot topic in psychology and criminal law circles.

"People were excited, calling it the future of criminal investigations."

The Decline

But, as often happens with new ideas, the hype didn't last. By the time World War I started, most experts had decided that this method wasn't useful in real-life legal and police work.

The Reasons

So, what happened?

• Subjectivity: The idea was based on the belief that these psychological tests were objective. But, as we now know, human psychology is anything but objective.
• Psychoanalysis: The method had a complicated relationship with psychoanalysis, which didn't help its credibility.
• Real-world Application: While it was easy to demonstrate this method to students and colleagues, that didn't mean it worked in real-life situations.

The Lesson

This story shows us how new ideas can spread quickly, especially when they promise something revolutionary. But it also reminds us that just because something is popular or seems scientific, doesn't mean it's effective.

It's a classic case of how new knowledge circulates, is evaluated, and ultimately, impacts (or doesn't impact) the world.