{{Short description|German psychologist and anthropologist (1821–1864)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Theodor Waitz | image = Theodor Waitz (1821–1864).png | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1821|03|17|df=yes}} | birth_place = Gotha, Thuringia | death_date = {{Death date and age|1864|05|21|1821|03|17|df=yes}} | death_place = Marburg, Hesse | burial_place = | other_names = | spouse = | children = | occupation = Psychologist, anthropologist | awards = | education = {{Plainlist| * Leipzig * University of Jena }} | party = | signature = }}

'''Theodor Waitz''' (17 March 1821{{snd}}21 May 1864) was a German psychologist and anthropologist. His research in psychology brought him into touch with anthropology, and he is best known for his monumental work in six volumes, ''Die Anthropologie der Naturvölker'' ("The anthropology of peoples that live close to nature").{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

==Biography== Waitz was born at Gotha and educated at the universities of Leipzig and Jena. He made philosophy, philology and mathematics his chief studies, and in 1848 he was appointed associate professor of philosophy at the University of Marburg (full professor, 1862).<ref>[http://www.lagis-hessen.de/pnd/117115460 Waitz, Franz Theodor] Hessian Biography</ref> He was a severe critic of the philosophy of Fichte, Schelling and Hegel, and considered psychology to be the basis of all philosophy. He died in Marburg.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

==Theorizing boredom== Theodor Waitz contributed significantly as an affective psychologist, particularly in the field of conceptualizing boredom.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |last= Velasco |first= Josefa Ros |author-link= |date= 23 September 2019|title= Boredom Is in Your Mind: A Shared Psychological-Philosophical Approach| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=iIixDwAAQBAJ|access-date= 23 February 2022 |location= London | publisher= Springer Nature | page= 58 | isbn= 978-3-030-26395-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1= Romand |first1= David |title= Theodor Waitz's theory of feelings and the rise of affective sciences in the mid-19th century |url= https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-50329-003|journal= History of Psychology|year= 2015|volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=385–400|doi= 10.1037/a0039797|pmid= 26551862 |access-date= 23 February 2022}}</ref> According to Waitz, boredom was about flow of thoughts. As one thought begets another, expectations on where this thought is moving towards are generated.<ref>{{cite book |last= Danckert |first= James |author-link= |date= 9 June 2020|title= Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fjHXDwAAQBAJ|access-date= 23 February 2022 |location= Cambridge | publisher= Harvard University Press | page= 8 | isbn= 978-0-674-98467-7}}</ref> Boredom arises when those expectations are not met. Boredom is basically associated with a break in the expected flow of thoughts because of a mismatch between expected and actual mental activity.<ref name="auto"/>

==Works== The first four volumes of his ''Anthropologie der Naturvölker'' appeared at Leipzig, 1859–64, the last two were issued posthumously, edited by Georg Gerland. Waitz also published: * ''Grundlegung der Psychologie'' (1846). * ''Lehrbuch der Psychologie als Naturwissenschaft'' (1849). * ''Allgemeine Pedagogik'' (1852). * ''Die Indianer Nordamerikas'' (1864). * ''Aristotelis Organon graece''; a critical edition of the ''Organon'' of Aristotle (1844).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

==References== {{reflist}} *{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Waitz, Theodor}} *Burton, R.F. (1864), "Notes on Waitz's ''Anthropology''", ''Anthropological Review'', Vol. II, pp.&nbsp;233–50.

'''Attribution:''' * {{EB1911|wstitle=Waitz, Theodor|volume=28|page=247}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Waitz, Theodor}} Category:1821 births Category:1864 deaths Category:German psychologists Category:German anthropologists Category:Academic staff of Marburg University Category:People from Gotha (town)