McDougall, William (1871-1938), a British psychologist, founded the purposive school of psychology. He suggested that all the actions of human beings and animals are purposive—that is, they are directed toward attaining certain aims. McDougall also believed that instincts or closely related feelings motivate (cause) all actions. He listed seven basic emotions linked with these instincts—fear, disgust, wonder, anger, subjection, elation, and tenderness. Many psychologists have criticized McDougall’s ideas because they are vague and cannot be tested by experiment.
McDougall was born on June 22, 1871, near Oldham, England. He studied biology and medicine at Cambridge University. In 1920, he moved to the United States to become a professor of psychology at Harvard University, where he taught until he accepted a professorship at Duke University in 1927. He died on Nov. 28, 1938. His best-known book is Outline of Psychology (1923).
