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Wolf MerlinSoviet psychologist, professor
Date of Birth: 22.01.1898
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Petrograd-Leningrad Period (1920-1931)
- Saratov Period (1931-1938)
- Sverdlovsk Period (1938-1948)
- Kazan Period (1948-1954)
- Perm Period (1954-1982)
- Publications and Legacy
- Family
Early Life and Education
Born into a family of educators in Belarus, Wolf Solomovich Merlin received a classical education through his family and the Mohilev Gymnasium, where he mastered five languages. He later taught in primary schools and enrolled at the Petrograd Pedagogical Institute of Extracurricular Education in 1920.
Petrograd-Leningrad Period (1920-1931)
At the institute, Merlin studied under renowned educators Ye. Y. Golant and Prof. M. Ya. Basov. He conducted research on adult education and gained practical experience with public lectures on the unconscious and mass hypnosis. After graduating, Merlin joined the Leningrad Psycho-Technical Commission and the Leningrad Gubpolitprosviet, where he studied literacy campaigns under Basov.
In 1925, Merlin became an assistant professor in the Psychology Department of the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute named after A.I. Herzen. He published his early research findings and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1929.
During his tenure, Merlin conducted groundbreaking research on the development of worldview and personality in young children from various social backgrounds. He employed innovative methods, including modified clinical interviews and observation techniques, to explore the interconnections between emotional and intellectual processes in children.
Saratov Period (1931-1938)
Following Basov's death in 1931, Merlin moved to Saratov, where he continued his research on willpower at the Saratov Pedagogical Institute. In 1938, he earned his Candidate of Sciences degree with a dissertation on "Voluntary Activity and the Conditional Reflex." This work reflected his integration of psychophysiological approaches with the study of personality.
Sverdlovsk Period (1938-1948)
From 1938 to 1948, Merlin worked at the Sverdlovsk Pedagogical Institute. During World War II, he provided psychological and psychotherapeutic assistance to disabled veterans at the Institute of Psychology of Moscow State University. He studied the rehabilitation of wounded and visually impaired soldiers, applying hypnosis and other techniques.
Kazan Period (1948-1954)
Merlin taught psychology at Kazan University from 1948, where he continued his research on personality. He completed his doctoral dissertation, "Psychophysiological Characteristics of Conditional Reactions in the Structure of the Volitional Act," in 1950.
During this period, Merlin developed the concept of individual style of activity, emphasizing the unique ways in which individuals achieve success. He also initiated a line of research on the relationship between personality and performance, led by his graduate student E. A. Klimov.
Perm Period (1954-1982)
In 1954, Merlin moved to Perm, where he headed the Department of General Psychology at the Pedagogical Institute (later Permian State Pedagogical Institute). For nearly three decades, he taught general psychology, supervised student research, and directed the institute's psychology laboratory.
His research interests expanded to include philosophy, logic, and mathematical methods of statistical analysis. He developed a systemic and multi-level approach to personality, focusing on the interconnections between different levels of organization and the role of individual differences.
Publications and Legacy
Merlin published numerous books and papers, including "Outline of the Psychology of Personality" (1959), "Outline of the Theory of Temperament" (1964), and "Problems of Experimental Psychology of Personality" (1968-1970). His work laid the foundation for the scientific study of individual differences and established the Perm School of Psychology.
Merlin remained active in research and academic activities until his passing in 1982. He received recognition from the Soviet government and international psychological organizations. His legacy continues to inspire research on personality, temperament, and the systemic nature of human individuality.
Family
Merlin was married twice. His first wife, Galina B. Kurlyandskaya, was a renowned literary scholar. His second wife, Elena N. Antonova, was a teacher of Russian language and literature. He had two sons: Anatoly V. Merlin, a physicist, and Valery V. Merlin, a philologist.
