1.3 A History of Psychology

Ancient GreeceMost believed psychological problems were a

result of the gods’ punishment Socrates encouraged his students to learn

through introspection (“Know thyself.”)Aristotle outlined the laws of associationism,

began to scientifically study human behavior, and wrote Peri Psyches

Hippocrates suggested that psychological problems may have biological causes

Middle Ages Most believed psychological problems were a result of

demon possession, punishment for sins, or alliances made with the devil

During this time certain tests, like the water-float test, were used to see if a person was possessed

Wilhelm Wundt and Structuralism The establishment of Wundt’s psychological research

laboratory in Germany in 1879 marked the beginning of modern psychology

This school of thought used introspection to discover the basic elements of consciousness

Broke consciousness down into two parts: objective sensations and subjective feelings ex) apple

William James and Functionalism He wrote The Principles of Psychology – the first modern

psychology textbook He rejected structuralists’ attempt to break consciousness

into parts his “stream of consciousness” theory He used both introspection and observation to study the

purpose of behavior

Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalyis His theories were based on consultations with his patients This school of thought focuses on unconscious motives and

internal conflicts to study behavior His theory is also known as psychodynamic thinking

John Watson and Behaviorism He broke away from functionalists and only studied observable behavior

This school of thought believes we are solely products of our

environments

Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified

world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and

train him to become any type of specialist I might select—doctor, lawyer,

artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of

his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his

ancestors. (1930)

B.F. Skinner and Reinforcement Like Watson, he thought that it was pointless to try and study

the inner person He expanded upon the behaviorist school of thought by

adding the concept of reinforcement

The Gestalt School Developed by several German psychologists This school focuses on how context effects perception;

believing that our perceptions are the wholes that give meaning to the parts

This school of thought, unlike behaviorists, believes learning is active and purposeful