Portrait of the WSG member Franz Arnold

Dipl.-Psych. Franz Arnold, Cologne

Franz Arnold studied psychology and business administration at the University of Cologne. After his studies he completed his training in Analytical Intensive Consulting at the Wilhelm Salbers chair. From 1980 to 1985 he worked at ifp - Institute for Personnel Consulting, Cologne - for the last two years as assistant to the owner. In 1985 Franz Arnold founded the EVOLOG consulting company, which he transferred to EVOLOG-Beratersozietät GbR, Cologne convicted. In the 1990s he was on the board of directors of Society for Psychological Morphology (GPM) - today Wilhelm Salber Society (WSG) - active. The EVOLOG consulting partnership publishes a regular newsletter with subject-related columns. These have been distributed in a booklet for several years.

Mr Arnold, what do you wish for the future of the WSG?
Morphological psychology proves itself in consulting practice - with the individual, in companies, in institutions, in market research - as a path for meaningful, trend-setting analyses and as a methodological guideline for effective consulting. The work of W. Salber has enabled and prepared a form of psychological work that is outstanding today. For this, we need a basis for exchange and cooperation in science, research, training and support of psychological practice. In addition, there should be activities for the further development of morphological psychology as a science and as a community of like-minded, practically active psychologists.

Which area or phenomenon of human life should be morphologically investigated?
The question could perhaps be: "...should still be investigated?" But in view of the large number of diploma and bachelor theses, dissertations and numerous studies in management consulting and market research, it is not a question of what else we investigate in addition, but rather of the fact that morphological psychology positions itself in the treatment, consulting and change of reality - in families, companies, organisations, society and politics.

Through which points of contact did you get to know the psychological morphology?
As a student of business administration in Cologne, I was interested in contributions that could come from psychology to solve problems in companies. Excursions to the psychological institutes of the university then led to lectures by W. Salber, who at that time, in 1976, strongly emphasized that psychology was less responsible for clinical issues and much more for the manifold topics of everyday life, life in general and, last but not least, practical areas such as schools, architecture and business. This awakened my interest in his psychology and led me to switch from business administration to psychology.

Which psychological book do you use from time to time?
Not one, but the "units of action" and "art - psychology - treatment"

Which country would you like to visit one day?
I love the Mediterranean region - and with my annual trips to this region I am very happy.

Gestalt and transformation is the central primal phenomenon of psychological morphology: into whom or what would you like to transform yourself for a day?
I have a lot to do with transforming myself into what I aspire to be: an effective psychological counsellor. I'm not driven by any fantasy of transforming myself into something completely different. I once discussed with W. Salber whether we really have to "deal and reckon with so much transformation" because I experienced the opposite in my everyday life. W. Salber showed me that persistence, holding on and resistance are also phenomena of transformation, because it is also an "art of living" to continue to live the traditional under changing circumstances. That is not my motto, but the constructive preservation of forms has also become an important phenomenon for me - and this is to be distinguished from the "holding on" to change.

Mr Arnold, thank you for your answers.