Education
Maier graduated with a Bachelor from the University of Michigan in 1923. After a year of graduate work, he studied at the University of Berlin during 1925 and 1926, and completed his Doctor of Philosophy at Michigan in 1928.
Maier graduated with a Bachelor from the University of Michigan in 1923. After a year of graduate work, he studied at the University of Berlin during 1925 and 1926, and completed his Doctor of Philosophy at Michigan in 1928.
Although rarely discussed today, Maier"s research received extensive publicity in its day. In 1931, he invented the two-cords problem. Together with his student Theodore C. Schneirla, Maier authored the classic textbook, Principles of Animal Psychology (1935).
His research on rats during the 1930s and 1940s challenged the reigning behaviorist paradigm, by postulating cognitive processes akin to what was then being described by psychoanalysis.
In the 1950s he changed his area of research to industrial psychology, he claimed in response to prejudicial treatment of him in the profession. He was a National Research Council Fellow with Karl Lashley at the University of Chicago in 1929-1931, and joined the faculty at Michigan in 1931.
The formative influences on Maier included John Shepard at Michigan. Wolfgang Kohler, Max Wertheimer, and Kurt Lewin in Berlin.
Karl Lashley and Heinrich Kluver at Chicago.
“ ‘Neurosis of rats’ wins science prize.” The New York Times, January 1, 1939, p. 21. “Scientist who double-crossed rats into lunacy wins $1,000.” The Washington Post, January 1, 1939, pp. 1, 4. “Rats are driven crazy by insoluble problems.” Life, March 6, 1939, pp.
66–68 (with 13 illustrations).
“Cure for Germans?” Time, June 26, 1944, pp. 58–59.
“Norman Maier, 76.
Noted psychologist at University of Michigan” (obituary). The New York Times, September 27, 1977, p.
42.
Solem, A., & McKeachie, West. J. (1979).
“Norman R. F. Maier (1900-1977)” (obituary). American Psychologist 34: 266-267. Dewsbury, Doctorate. (1993). “On publishing controversy: Norman R. F. Maier and the genesis of seizures.” American Psychologist 48(8): 869-877.