Morton Prince
Encyclopedia
Morton Henry Prince was an American physician
who specialized in neurology
and abnormal psychology
, and was a leading force in establishing psychology
as a clinical and academic discipline. He was part of a handful of men who disseminated European ideas about psychopathology
, especially in understanding dissociative phenomenon. He was one of the founders of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology
in 1906, which he edited until his death in 1929. He also established the Harvard Psychological Clinic in 1927.
Morton Prince came from a wealthy Boston
family and was involved in the social and intellectual life of that city. He went to private schools and then to Harvard College. He obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School
in 1879. After Harvard, he took a "Grand Tour" of Europe, a near requirement for upper-class Americans at that time. It was in Paris that he visited Jean Martin Charcot at the Salpêtrière. He was quite impressed with Charcot's theories but returned to Boston to set up an otolaryngology
practice. However, the spell of the charismatic Charcot was strong and he quickly switched his practice to neurology
, and even adopted Charcot’s showmanship for teaching his classes.
He married Fannie Lithgow Payson, daughter of Arthur Lithgow Payson and Claire Endicott Peabody. They had at least two children, Claire Morton Prince, born about 1885, and Morton Peabody Prince, born 6 AUG 1888.
He became a devotee and avid proponent in the use of suggestion
in treating mental illnesses in the United States and drew around him all the important practitioners in the burgeoning field of abnormal psychology
of that time: Boris Sidis
, James Jackson Putnam
, William James
, G. Stanley Hall
, to name but a few. He became the American expert in dissociative disorders, which he also called multiple personality disorder. (Many of his patients today would probably be diagnosed as borderline personality disorder
). He published numerous accounts of cases, both in the academic press and the popular press. His most famous case was that of Sally Beauchamp, detailed in The Dissociation of a Personality (1906), which caused some consternation, due both to the sensational nature of the cases presented and to the convoluted prose style.
Prince maintained an active professional life, not only with his psychopathologic studies but as practicing physician as well. He was a prolific writer, publishing some 14 books and numerous essays. He wrote mostly on dissociation and abnormal psychology
but also applied his understanding of the unconscious
to the politics of his day. Though his psychological ideas never took hold, he remained an eminent figure, founding the Harvard Psychological Clinic in 1927, only two years before his death. That clinic established a major American strong hold for wide-ranging psychological researches into personality that included a number of the luminaries of that field (Henry Murray
, Gordon Allport
, and Robert W. White), who all became famous extending the ideas that Prince first taught them.
Prince was like many prominent men of psychological science at the turn of the 20th century who have become obscure. They were captivated by the new science of mental life that attempted to wrestle psychopathology from the clutches of moralism that deemed it a degeneracy or from medicine that saw a heredity degeneracy, but had not yet developed an overarching theory. Prince stressed the importance of the subconscious to hysterical symptoms at the same time as Freud, but he was critical of psychoanalysis
and preferred to outline his idiosyncratic position that never became popular. His groundbreaking work on personality became famous via Henry Murray
, who took over as director of the Clinic and worked on elaborating it into a more systematic and approachable manner.
(in public domain) courtesy of John Singer Sargent Virtual Gallery
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who specialized in neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
and abnormal psychology
Abnormal psychology
Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder...
, and was a leading force in establishing psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
as a clinical and academic discipline. He was part of a handful of men who disseminated European ideas about psychopathology
Psychopathology
Psychopathology is the study of mental illness, mental distress, and abnormal/maladaptive behavior. The term is most commonly used within psychiatry where pathology refers to disease processes...
, especially in understanding dissociative phenomenon. He was one of the founders of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
The Journal of Abnormal Psychology is a scientific journal published by the American Psychological Association.It was previously titled Journal of Abnormal & Social Psychology. It publishes basic research as well as theoretical articles in the general field of abnormal behavior, its determinants,...
in 1906, which he edited until his death in 1929. He also established the Harvard Psychological Clinic in 1927.
Morton Prince came from a wealthy Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
family and was involved in the social and intellectual life of that city. He went to private schools and then to Harvard College. He obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in 1879. After Harvard, he took a "Grand Tour" of Europe, a near requirement for upper-class Americans at that time. It was in Paris that he visited Jean Martin Charcot at the Salpêtrière. He was quite impressed with Charcot's theories but returned to Boston to set up an otolaryngology
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....
practice. However, the spell of the charismatic Charcot was strong and he quickly switched his practice to neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
, and even adopted Charcot’s showmanship for teaching his classes.
He married Fannie Lithgow Payson, daughter of Arthur Lithgow Payson and Claire Endicott Peabody. They had at least two children, Claire Morton Prince, born about 1885, and Morton Peabody Prince, born 6 AUG 1888.
He became a devotee and avid proponent in the use of suggestion
Suggestion
Suggestion is the psychological process by which one person guides the thoughts, feelings, or behaviour of another. Nineteenth century writers on psychology such as William James used the words "suggest" and "suggestion" in senses close to those they have in common speech—one idea was said to...
in treating mental illnesses in the United States and drew around him all the important practitioners in the burgeoning field of abnormal psychology
Abnormal psychology
Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder...
of that time: Boris Sidis
Boris Sidis
Boris Sidis, Ph.D., M.D. was a Ukrainian Jewish psychologist, physician, psychiatrist, and philosopher of education. Sidis founded the New York State Psychopathic Institute and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. He was the father of the child prodigy William James Sidis...
, James Jackson Putnam
James Jackson Putnam
James Jackson Putnam was a United States neurologist. Born in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard University in 1866. He went to Europe to study in the company of Baron Carl von Rokitansky , Theodor Herman Meynert and John Hughlings Jackson...
, William James
William James
William James was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher who was trained as a physician. He wrote influential books on the young science of psychology, educational psychology, psychology of religious experience and mysticism, and on the philosophy of pragmatism...
, G. Stanley Hall
G. Stanley Hall
Granville Stanley Hall was a pioneering American psychologist and educator. His interests focused on childhood development and evolutionary theory...
, to name but a few. He became the American expert in dissociative disorders, which he also called multiple personality disorder. (Many of his patients today would probably be diagnosed as borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person , characterized by depth and variability of moods.The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; the...
). He published numerous accounts of cases, both in the academic press and the popular press. His most famous case was that of Sally Beauchamp, detailed in The Dissociation of a Personality (1906), which caused some consternation, due both to the sensational nature of the cases presented and to the convoluted prose style.
Prince maintained an active professional life, not only with his psychopathologic studies but as practicing physician as well. He was a prolific writer, publishing some 14 books and numerous essays. He wrote mostly on dissociation and abnormal psychology
Abnormal psychology
Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder...
but also applied his understanding of the unconscious
Unconscious mind
The unconscious mind is a term coined by the 18th century German romantic philosopher Friedrich Schelling and later introduced into English by the poet and essayist Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
to the politics of his day. Though his psychological ideas never took hold, he remained an eminent figure, founding the Harvard Psychological Clinic in 1927, only two years before his death. That clinic established a major American strong hold for wide-ranging psychological researches into personality that included a number of the luminaries of that field (Henry Murray
Henry Murray
Henry Alexander Murray was an American psychologist who taught for over 30 years at Harvard University. He was Director of the Harvard Psychological Clinic in the School of Arts and Sciences after 1930 and colluded with Stanley Cobb, Bullard Professor of Neuropathology at the Medical School to...
, Gordon Allport
Gordon Allport
Gordon Willard Allport was an American psychologist. Allport was one of the first psychologists to focus on the study of the personality, and is often referred to as one of the founding figures of personality psychology...
, and Robert W. White), who all became famous extending the ideas that Prince first taught them.
Prince was like many prominent men of psychological science at the turn of the 20th century who have become obscure. They were captivated by the new science of mental life that attempted to wrestle psychopathology from the clutches of moralism that deemed it a degeneracy or from medicine that saw a heredity degeneracy, but had not yet developed an overarching theory. Prince stressed the importance of the subconscious to hysterical symptoms at the same time as Freud, but he was critical of psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and preferred to outline his idiosyncratic position that never became popular. His groundbreaking work on personality became famous via Henry Murray
Henry Murray
Henry Alexander Murray was an American psychologist who taught for over 30 years at Harvard University. He was Director of the Harvard Psychological Clinic in the School of Arts and Sciences after 1930 and colluded with Stanley Cobb, Bullard Professor of Neuropathology at the Medical School to...
, who took over as director of the Clinic and worked on elaborating it into a more systematic and approachable manner.
Sources
- Hale, Jr., N. G. (1971). Freud and the Americans: The beginnings of psychoanalysis in the United States, 1876-1917. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-501427-8
- Murray, H. A. (1956). Morton Prince: sketch of his life and work. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 52, 291-295.
- Oltmanns, T. F. and Mineka, S. (1992). Morton Prince on anxiety disorders: Intellectual antecedents of the cognitive approach to panic? Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 607-610.
- White, R. W. (1992 ). Who was Morton Prince? Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 604-606.
Selected publications
- Prince, M. (1906). The dissociation of a personality. New York: Longmans, Green, & Co. Second edition (1908) available at Open Library
- Prince, M. (1909). My life as a dissociated personality, by B.C.A. Prince, M (Ed.). Boston: R. G. Badger.
- Prince, M. (1915) The psychology of the Kaiser: a study of his sentiments and his obsessions. London: Unwin Ltd.
- Prince, M. (1929). Clinical and experimental studies in personality. Cambridge, MA: Sci-Art.
- Prince, M. (1975). Psychotherapy and multiple personality: selected essays. Hale, Jr., N. G. (Ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-72225-6
External Links
- The dissociation of a personality; a biographical study in abnormal psychology (1906) on the Internet Archive.
- American Kaleidoscope article by George Prochnik on Prince, including comprehensive links to all his public domain online works.
Image Credit
Dr. Morton Prince by John Singer SargentJohn Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent was an American artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era luxury. During his career, he created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings...
(in public domain) courtesy of John Singer Sargent Virtual Gallery