Two ideas about the role and development of psychology in the Third Reich are in need of correction. It was not true that psychology as a whole prostituted itself, or was called into service by the Nazis, nor was it the case that, as a result of its theories, it found itself in conflict with this regime, was more or less oppressed as a subject, or was able to secure its survival only in certain protected areas.

Psychologists did try to place their discipline in the service of organs of Nazi domination, but psychology contributed little to stabilizing that domination. It was socially much too insignificant for that. It was not systematically involved in the development of official propaganda; it had too little to offer for that. At that time in Germany it knew neither methods of propaganda nor research on its influence. As far as is known, psychologists were not used by the Nazis or the SS in persecution, torture, or murder. Whether the selection of soldiers by psychologists actually helped to improve the army's fighting strength is hard to say. Even if the Wehrmacht may have benefited from the work of psychology, it was hardly dependent on it.

Some psychologists were persecuted by the Nazis, but psychology as a subject did not suffer particular oppression. The Nazis drove out Jewish scholars for racial reasons. Among the emigrants, whom Wolfgang Kohler joined for political reasons, were the innovators of that period.