Die poetische Struktur des Unbewussten Zur Verdichtung des psychologischen Vokabulars im langen 19. Jahrhundert

Abstract

The following dissertation explores the evolution and transformation of psychological language and discourse throughout the long 19th century. The term "Verdichtung" stands central to the investigation, capturing dual connotations: the mechanization and mathematization of psychological vocabulary, particularly seen in Herbart's formulas and formulations, and the subsequent metamorphosis of this psycho-mechanical language into rich metaphors and imagery. Beginning with Karl Philipp Moritz, the study unveils his own foundational contributions to the Magazin für Erfahrungsseelenkunde, emphasizing his attempts at structuring psychological language. Johann Friedrich Herbart's Psychologie als Wissenschaft. neu gegründet auf Erfahrung, Metaphysik und Mathematik furthers this discourse, innovatively integrating mathematical mechanics into psychology, creating a formulaic lexicon. Building on Herbart, the Austrian School Reform between 1848-54 is spotlighted, elucidating the instrumental roles of Franz Seraphim Exner and Gustav Adolf Lindner in disseminating Herbartian thought. Lindner's textbook emerges as pivotal, not only influencing Freud's psychoanalytic constructs but also seeding the narrative styles of literary figures like Arthur Schnitzler and Beer-Hofmann, emphasizing the intertwined trajectories of psychoanalysis and literature. The dissertation concludes with a significant contribution from digital humanities—an innovative application named "TexTiles." This app intricately analyzes word environments and patterns, revealing the linguistic shifts in the language used to discuss psychological processes during the transformative period when psychology was evolving into a formalized science, spanning from Moritz to Freud.