Deborah Coon Summary

In this article Deborah J. Coon discusses the difficulties psychologists faced during the period of spiritualism and psychic research. The article discusses the battles psychologists held against spiritualism and psychic research in attempt to legitimize psychology as a science. By the end of19th century the field of psychology started following patterns of other sciences such as establishing journals, setting up laboratories etc. Through this, new psychologists were hoping that study of the mind could be in equal position with more established sciences. However, psychology’s association with spiritualism and psychic research was a hindrance in achieving the status psychologists were hoping for. At this time, although public interest was needed