The Concept of Memory in the Works of Delboeuf,Joseph (1831-1896)

Journal/Book: Psychol Belg. 1995; 35: Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Louvain, Belgium. Belgian Psychol Soc. 41-55.

Abstract: Delboeuf (1831-1896) is famous in psychology as the author of the optico-geometrical illusion that bears his name and as a worker in the field of hypnotism. However, he also generated original and fascinating ideas in the field of memory. This article reviews Delboeuf's work on memory. We have showed that the origin of his reflection on memory is relative to the problem of dreams. Analysing Delboeuf's work shows that he is a pioneer in at least two domains. On the one hand, he was the first psychologist who, as early as 1880 and before Ebbinghaus' work, clearly established a distinction between today's so-called ''implicit memory'' and ''explicit memory''. On the other hand, he was the first psychologist, but not the first scholar, to consider memory in a connexionist perspective. Today research is still being carried out in the areas of implicit memory and connexionism and Joseph Delboeuf is definitely an important figure in these fields.

Note: Article S Nicolas, Univ Paris 05, Psychol Exptl Lab, CNRS, Ura 316, 28 Rue Serpente, F-75270 Paris 06, France

Keyword(s): CRYPTOMNESIA; PLAGIARISM; IMPLICIT

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