The History of Experimental Psychology’s Subjects

Who are subjects? How do they respond in experiments? What is their impact on the profession? What else can we learn from them? Subjects are a window into both uniformity and plurality; they may be the very definition of average or one of a kind. Despite this, the history of psychology often overlooks subjects in its illustrious chronicles.

This well-researched book looks at the history of the use of human subjects in clinical and experimental psychology, as well as looking at the human side of those subjects who left their mark on the profession. This book presents iconic subjects who either defined the central thesis of an experiment or rebelled against it, from amnesiac H.M. and Little Albert to the defiant Subject #6 in Solomon Asch’s conformity experiments. The book explores the unspoken subtexts of being a subject, and compares and contrasts various subjects to look at the bigger picture – that is, the fact that subjects are viewed as an analytical element of experimentation, while the emotional, cultural, and philosophical aspects are often overlooked.