History of the Department of Psychology

The first experimental psychology laboratory in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was established in Graz in 1894. As early as the winter semester of 1886/87, the philosopher and psychologist Alexius Meinong began to hold experimental psychology courses at the Karl-Franzens University of Graz using his own funds. Stephan Witasek (1870 - 1915) soon took over the de facto management of the laboratory and was appointed associate professor in 1913. After Witasek's early death, the laboratory work was continued by Vittorio Benussi (1878 - 1927); he habilitated in 1905 with a post-doctoral thesis entitled "On the Psychology of Gestalt Comprehension". With his "object theory", Meinong provided the conceptual framework for Gestalt psychological research. Meinong's last doctoral student was Fritz Heider (1896 - 1988), who became a pioneer of modern social psychology with his work in the field of attribution and balance theory conducted in the USA.

After Meinong's death, the laboratory work was continued on a part-time basis by Othmar Sterzinger, who completed his habilitation in experimental psychology with Meinong in 1920.

Other lecturers working in the field of psychology were Ernst Mally and Otto Tumlirz. The philosopher Ernst Mally initially took over the provisional management of the laboratory in 1922; in 1925 he was appointed full professor as Meinong's successor. In 1942, the laboratory management was transferred to Tumlirz. In November 1944, Ferdinand Weinhandel (1896 - 1973) was appointed to the professorship that had been vacant after Mally. He taught from 1945 to 1946 and 1950 to 1965 and was appointed full professor of psychology and education in 1958. In March 1968, Erich Mittenecker took over the professorship for psychology that had become vacant after Weinhandl. With his appointment, the requirements of modern psychology could be met.

Author: Helmuth P. Huber