Psychological Atlas

Psychological Atlas is a remarkable collection created by German psychologist David Katz, who wanted to spark curiosity and excitement for the study of psychology. Rather than writing alone, he assembled 396 images - an attempt to chart his research not as a book, but as a visual journey. Inside are vivid illustrations of color illusions, graphs tracing the paths of memory and learning, photographs of the tools and volunteers that shaped early psychology, and spare diagrams distilling intricate mental processes. They are not embellishments but instruments of clarity, designed to make psychology legible at a glance, and to draw the curious reader closer to its insights. First published in 1948 by the Philosophical Library in New York, this influential work now returns as the third title in the Ningen Paper Reprint Series.

This atlas bridges scientific precision with visual clarity, transforming complex psychological phenomena into an accessible visual narrative. Its two-part structure separates foundational text from visual documentation, creating a clear path through dense material. Each diagram captures groundbreaking experiments that shaped modern neuroscience and perceptual psychology—a rare window into how early psychologists visualized the invisible workings of mind and body.

The atlas has long served as an essential tool for engaging students across scientific disciplines; geography, zoology, botany, anatomy, art history, all rely on visual materials to illuminate complex ideas. Yet no one had gathered the fascinating imagery of psychology into a single volume. Psychological Atlas represents the first attempt to organize such a collection, filling a genuine need in psychological education. The book aims to spark curiosity rather than contribute to academic research. Its purpose is simple: to awaken a passion for studying the mind.

Original text: David Katz
Translation: Frank Gaynor
Editorial: Chae Ahn
Image Editing: Uigang Cha
Cover Design: Ganghyeon Paeg