Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt, the son of an Evangelical pastor, was born near Manheim, Germany, on 16 August 1832. He was from an academic family with members who were scientists, professors, government officials and physicians. He was often inattentive in his own schooling and was a habitual daydreamer. He failed his first year of high school and was sent to Heidelberg to live with an aunt.

William James was born on 11 January 1842 in New York City. He was the eldest child of a wealthy, unconventional family. His father moved the family around America and Europe and was plagued be panic attacks and nervous problems. All the children were educated privately and in this unusual household they were encouraged to formulate and discuss their own personal opinions from an early age. James as a child was interested in and showed great aptitude at art but this career was quickly terminated by his father. James was encouraged to go into science so in 1861 James went to Harvard, where he first studied chemistry and then changed to physiology. In 1864 he enrolled at Harvard's Medical School. After suffering from health problems James's future was uncertain and after suffering episodes similar to his fathers he was in despair. However, he completed his medical degree but his interests were beginning to emerge in another field-philosophy.

He formulated two branches of psychology. The branch he is most famous for is experimental psychology. In this he took his experiences as a philosopher studying the mind and experiences in physiology studying the body and created a new area of science. He believed the mind could be studied in relation to the body and by controlled experimental conditions new hypotheses could be formulated and either supported or not in this new field. He did not believe however, that the experimental method would prove enough to provide a balanced view of the science of psychology. He also devised what he termed Volkerpsychologie (ethnic or folk psychology). This embraced especially the study of language, myth and custom.

As a lecturer at Heidelberg Wundt earned a very low salary so he began to teach courses privately. His first course in experimental physiology he taught in his own home and attracted only four students. Wundt wished to further his career by both private teaching and private studies. His studies at this time were connected with earlier work in the fields of physiology and astronomy however these studies also carried implications for a future science of psychology. It was in these scientific experiments that Wundt developed his ideas for a hybrid of philosophy and physiology, which would eventually become psychology.

As James's interest in psychology grew so he was determined to spread its message. He was extremely influential in this area as he brought the new science to life and taught in a way that all could understand. He had himself benefited from his readings with regard to his nerve problems and was dete

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