Jochen Fahrenberg (born 18 September 1937 in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

) is a German

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how indi ...

in the fields of

Personality Personality is the characteristic sets of behaviors, cognitions, and emotional patterns that are formed from biological and environmental factors, and which change over time. While there is no generally agreed-upon definition of personality, mos ...

psychophysiology Psychophysiology (from Ancient Greek, Greek , ''psȳkhē'', "breath, life, soul"; , ''physis'', "nature, origin"; and , ''wiktionary:-logia, -logia'') is the branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiology, physiological bases of psych ...

and

philosophy of science Philosophy of science is a branch of philosophy concerned with the foundations, methods, and implications of science. The central questions of this study concern what qualifies as science, the reliability of scientific theories, and the ultim ...

Biography

Jochen Fahrenberg studied

psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

, sociology and philosophy in Freiburg,

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

, followed by a PhD at the

University of Freiburg The University of Freiburg (colloquially german: Uni Freiburg), officially the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg (german: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg), is a public university, public research university located in Freiburg im Breisg ...

. His dissertation was based on an experimental investigation and factor analysis of writing movement parameters (graphometry). After working as a research assistant to cardiologist Professor Ludwig Delius in

Bad Oeynhausen Bad Oeynhausen () is a spa town on the southern edge of the Wiehengebirge in the district of Minden-Lübbecke in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe, East-Westphalia-Lippe region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The closest larger towns are Bielefeld (39 ki ...

, he completed his postdoctoral thesis (habilitation) on Psychophysiological personality research in Freiburg in 1966. Together with Dr. med. Michael Myrtek, he founded the Freiburg ''Psychophysiology Research Group'' in 1970 with funding from the Volkswagen Foundation''.'' In 1973, he was offered the Chair at the Psychology Department previously held by his academic teacher, the philosopher and psychologist Robert Heiß, founder of the Freiburg Institute. During the following decades he was involved in the Institute's considerable expansion as well as academic reform. In 2002, as professor emeritus, he retired from his dual function as head of the Personality Research section and co-director of the Psychophysiology Research Group in the Department of Psychology at Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg,

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Research

During its 35-year history, the Psychophysiology Research Group was a centre for

multivariate Multivariate may refer to: In mathematics * Multivariable calculus * Multivariate function * Multivariate polynomial In computing * Multivariate cryptography * Multivariate division algorithm * Multivariate interpolation * Multivariate optical c ...

psychophysiological research on personality, research on cardiovascular

rehabilitation Rehabilitation or Rehab may refer to: Health * Rehabilitation (neuropsychology), therapy to regain or improve neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished * Rehabilitation (wildlife), treatment of injured wildlife so they can be retur ...

, illness behaviour, and life satisfaction. The laboratory was generously supported by the Volkswagen Foundation (with eight scientific and technical staff, two computer-based electrophysiological labs and a clinical-chemistry lab). The research group also developed and promoted both methodology and techniques of ambulatory monitoring (ambulatory assessment) to assist behavioural research in everyday situations. A number of tests and personality scales were developed, one of which, the Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI), comparable to the 16 PF Questionnaire, is the most frequently used in German-speaking countries. A series of extensive laboratory analyses and field research was conducted focusing on cardiovascular psychophysiology, in particular.

Hans Eysenck Hans Jürgen Eysenck (; 4 March 1916 – 4 September 1997) was a German-born British psychologist who spent his professional career in Great Britain. He is best remembered for his work on intelligence and personality, although he worked on other ...

's Theory of Emotionality (emotional lability,

neuroticism In the study of psychology, neuroticism has been considered a fundamental personality trait. For example, in the Big Five approach to personality trait theory, individuals with high scores for neuroticism are more likely than average to be moody ...

), which was generally accepted at that time, was critically tested in a number of experimental and clinical studies. The findings contradicted the assumed (hypothetical)

correlation In statistics, correlation or dependence is any statistical relationship, whether causal or not, between two random variables or bivariate data. Although in the broadest sense, "correlation" may indicate any type of association, in statistics ...

between specific personality factors (questionnaire scales) and autonomic lability (hyperreactivity of the

autonomic nervous system The autonomic nervous system (ANS), formerly referred to as the vegetative nervous system, is a division of the peripheral nervous system that supplies viscera, internal organs, smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nervous system is a control ...

). A second focus of his research was Ambulant Assessment (ambulatory monitoring): psychophysiological examinations under everyday conditions, also during work and leisure periods, with multi-channel digital systems for recording behavioural, physiological and subjective data. The research group's list of publications consists of more than 400 references (Fahrenberg & Myrtek, 2005); the most important research data have been collected and made available (open access). His later work was devoted to other areas:

psychological anthropology Psychological anthropology is an interdisciplinary subfield of anthropology that studies the interaction of cultural and mental processes. This subfield tends to focus on ways in which humans' development and enculturation within a particular ...

– including surveys on student attitudes and belief systems, or assumptions about

human nature Human nature is a concept that denotes the fundamental dispositions and characteristics—including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting—that humans are said to have naturally. The term is often used to denote the essence of humankind, or ...

and the impact of philosophical concepts on

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...

issues – the

methodology In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions. A method is a structured procedure for bri ...

categories Category, plural categories, may refer to: Philosophy and general uses *Categorization, categories in cognitive science, information science and generally *Category of being *Categories (Aristotle), ''Categories'' (Aristotle) *Category (Kant) ...

; and theoretical psychology. In addition, a number of books and articles were written about

Wilhelm Wundt Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt (; ; 16 August 1832 – 31 August 1920) was a German physiologist, philosopher, and professor, known today as one of the fathers of modern psychology. Wundt, who distinguished psychology as a science from philosophy and ...

, a pioneer of modern psychology. This series was completed on the 100th anniversary of Wundt's death with a Centenial review of Wundt's work, its reception and topicality. Fahrenberg initiated the ''Workshop for Psychophysiological Methods'' in 1972, which became the ''German Society for Psychophysiology and its Application'' in 1982. Workshops on ambulatory assessment in Freiburg led to the founding of the international ''Society for Ambulatory Assessment'' in 2009.

Awards

Honorary member of the ''German Society for Psychology'' (DGP)
Honorary member of the ''German Society for Psychophysiology and its Application'' (DGPA)
''Psychological Anthropology'' Award 2011, Dr. Margrit Egnér Foundation,

Zürich Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...

Selected publications

*Fahrenberg, J., (1967). Psychophysiologische Persoenlichkeitsforschung (Psychophysiological personality research). Goettingen: Hogrefe. *Fahrenberg, J., Hampel, R., & Selg, H. (1970). Das Freiburger Persoenlichkeitsinventar FPI-R. Handanweisung (Freiburg Personality Inventory Manual). (8th ed. 2010). Goettingen: Hogrefe. *Fahrenberg, J., & Foerster, F. (1982). Covariation and consistency of activation parameters. Biological Psychology, 15, 151-169. *Fahrenberg, J. (1986). Psychophysiological individuality: A pattern analytic approach to personality research and psychosomatic medicine. Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 8, 43-100. *Fahrenberg, J. (1988). Psychophysiological processes. In J. R. Nesselroade, & R. B. Cattell (Eds.), Handbook of multivariate experimental psychology (2nd ed., pp. 867–914). New York: Plenum. *Fahrenberg, J. (1992). Psychophysiology of neuroticism and anxiety. In A. Gale, & M. W. Eysenck (Eds.), Handbook of individual differences: Biological perspectives (pp. 179–226). Chichester: Wiley. . *Fahrenberg, J., & Myrtek, M. (Eds.). (1996). Ambulatory assessment. Computer-assisted psychological and psychophysiological methods in monitoring and field studies. Seattle, WA: Hogrefe & Huber. . *Foerster, F., & Fahrenberg, J. (2000). Motion pattern and posture: Correctly assessed by calibrated accelerometers. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 32, 450-457. *Fahrenberg, J., & Myrtek, M. (Eds.). (2001). Progress in ambulatory assessment. Seattle, WA: Hogrefe & Huber. . *Fahrenberg, J. (2002). Psychologische Interpretation. Biographien – Texte – Tests (Psychological interpretation. Biographies – Texts – Tests). Bern: Huber. . PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J., Leonhart, R., & Foerster, F. (2002). Alltagsnahe Psychologie mit hand-held PC und physiologischem Mess-System (Psychology in daily life using a hand-held PC and physiological recorder). Bern. Huber. . PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J., & Steiner, J. M (2004). Adorno und die authoritaere Persoenlichkeit (Adorno and the Authoritarian Personality). Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, 56, 127-152. PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J., & Myrtek, M. (2005). Psychophysiologie in Labor, Klinik und Alltag. 40 Jahre Projektarbeit der Freiburger Forschungsgruppe Psychophysiologie – Kommentare und Neue Perspektiven (Psychophysiology in the laboratory, clinic, and daily life. 40 years’ research in the Freiburg Psychophysiology Research Group – Commentaries and new perspectives). Frankfurt am Main: Lang. . PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J. (2007). Menschenbilder. Psychologische, biologische, interkulturelle und religioese Ansichten. Psychologische und Interdisziplinaere Anthropologie (Concepts of man. Psychological, cross-cultural, and religious perspectives. Psychological and interdisciplinary anthropology). e-book. PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J., & Cheetham, M. (2007). Assumptions about human nature and impact of philosophical concepts on professional issues. A questionnaire-based study with 800 students from psychology, philosophy, and science. Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology, 14 (3), 183-214. *Fahrenberg, J., Myrtek, M., Pawlik, K., & Perrez, M. (2007). Ambulatory Assessment – Monitoring Behaviour in Daily Life Settings. A Behavioural-Scientific Challenge for Psychology. European Journal of Personality Assessment, 23, 206-213. *Prill, T., & Fahrenberg, J. (2007). New methods in ambulatory BP monitoring: Interactive monitoring and detection of posture and movement patterns. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 39, 390-398. *Fahrenberg, J. (2008). Gehirn und Bewusstsein. Neurophilosophische Kontroversen brain and consciousness. Neurophilosophical controversies. In S. Gauggel, & M. Herrmann (Eds.), Handbuch der Neuro- und Biopsychologie (pp. 28–43). Goettingen: Hogrefe. . *Fahrenberg, J. (2011). Wilhelm Wundt – Pionier der Psychologie und Außenseiter? Leitgedanken der Wissenschaftskonzeption und deren Rezeptionsgeschichte (Wilhelm Wundt – pioneer in psychology and outsider? Basic concepts and their reception). e-book. PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J. (2012). Wilhelm Wundts Wissenschaftstheorie. Ein Rekonstruktionsversuch (Wilhelm Wundt's theory of science. An attempt at reconstruction). Psychologische Rundschau, 63 (4), 228-238. *Fahrenberg, J. (2013). Zur Kategorienlehre der Psychologie. Komplementaritaetsprinzip. Perspektiven und Perspektiven-Wechsel (On categories in psychology. Complementarity principle, perspectives, and perspective-taking). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers. . PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J. (2015). Wilhelm Wundts Neuropsychologie (Wilhelm Wundt's neuropsychology). D. Emmans & A. Laihinen (Eds.). Comparative Neuropsychology and Brain Imaging: Commemorative publication in honour of Prof. Dr. Ulrike Halsband (pp. 348–373). Vienna; LIT-Verlag. . *Fahrenberg, J. (2015). Theoretische Psychologie – Eine Systematik der Kontroversen (Theoretical psychology – A system of controversies). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers. . PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J. (2017). The influence of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz on the Psychology, Philosophy, and Ethics of Wilhelm Wundt.PsyDok ZPI

*Fahrenberg, J. (2019). Wilhelm Wundt (1832 - 1920). Introduction, Quotations, Reception, Commentaries, Attempts at Reconstruction. Pabst Science Publishers, 2019. PsyDo

*Fahrenberg, J., Hampel, R., & Selg, H.(2020): Freiburger Persönlichkeitsinventar. (9., vollständig überarbeitete Auflage mit neuer Normierung und Validitätshinweisen, Prinzipien der Testkonstruktion und modernen Assessmenttheorie). Goettingen: Hogrefe. * Fahrenberg, J & Fahrenberg, A. (2021). Täter-Forschung nach Auschwitz. John M. Steiners Untersuchungen (1962 bis 2014). PsychArchive

* Fahrenberg, J. (2022). Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920). Eine Centenarbetrachtung 2022. PsychArchive

External links

Institute for Psychology at Albert Ludwigs University of FreiburgGeschichte des Instituts für Psychologie in FreiburgGeschichte der Forschungsgruppe PsychophysiologiePublications by Jochen Fahrenberg
i
Dokumentenserver PsyDokCenter for Psychological Documentation and Information, ZPIDGerman Society for Psychophysiology and its Application, DGPASociety for Ambulatory Assessment.Homepage Jochen Fahrenberg

Research data (open access)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fahrenberg, Jochen German psychologists 1937 births Living people