Hugo Münsterberg

Hugo Münsterberg was a German-American psychologist who studied under Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig before moving to Harvard University, where he became a leading figure in applied psychology. He is particularly regarded as a founder of forensic psychology: his 1908 book On the Witness Stand argued that psychology could and should be applied within the legal system, examining problems such as the reliability of eyewitness testimony and false confessions, and helped introduce psychological evidence into courtroom practice. Münsterberg also extended psychological research into industrial and educational settings during his career at Harvard, though his public defense of Germany's actions in the early years of the First World War led to his ostracism there before his death in 1916.