Carl Jesinghaus completed his studies in philosophy and natural sciences with a doctoral thesis in memory psychology (supervised by Wundt/Meumann). In 1913 he was appointed to a professorship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1934 he returned to Germany. Through intervention of the NSDAP Reichsleitung and the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Culture, he was appointed to succeed Marbe against the vote of the faculty. During the war, he was able to prevent the closure of the institute and even managed to enlarge it by moving it to Klinikstraße 8.
After 10 years, Jesinghaus was dismissed by the military government in 1945. He emigrated to Argentina in 1948 where he died soon after.