History of Psychology

Modern Psychology’s Roots

What is Psychology?

The science of behavior and mental processesBehavior—observable actions of a person or animal

Mind—thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences

Science--an objective way to answer questions based on observable facts/data and well-described methods

• Separated from philosophy in 19th century– influences from physiology remain

Philosophical Developments

• A Question: How are mind and body related?

• René Descartes (1596–1650)—Interactive dualism

• The mind and body interact to produce conscious experience

Philosophical Developments

• Another Question: Nature vs. Nurture

• Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences?

• What are the interactions between genetics and environment?

• What effect does it have on behavior?

Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920)

Wilhelm Wundt –Leipzig, Germany

–The “father of psychology”

–Founder of modern psychology

–Opened the first psychology lab in 1879

–applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind

E. B. Titchener (1867–1927)

•Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University

•Analyzed the intensity, clarity and quality of the parts of consciousness

•Founder of structuralism

E.B. Titchener

Structuralism

• Studied the basic elements (structure) of thoughts and sensations.– identify ‘atoms’ of the mind

• focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes

• measured reaction times

William James (1842–1910)

•First American psychologist

•Started psychology at Harvard in 1870s

•Opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach

•Author of the first psychology textbook

•Founder of Functionalism–functionalism – influenced by Darwin to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment

William James

Functionalism• Emphasized studying the function of

consciousness and how consciousness helped people adapt to their environment

DAILY

DOUBLE

Explain the difference between Structuralism & Functionalism.

Structuralism – basic parts of a person’s thoughts and feelings. Focus on basic senses & perception.

Functionalism – how our consciousness helps us to function or adapt to our environment.

John B. Watson (1878–1958)

John B. Watson

•Founder of Behaviorism

•Studied only observable and objectively described acts

•Emphasized objective and scientific methodology

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)

• Behaviorist• Russian Physiologist• Studied learning

through associations in animals

• Emphasized the study of observable behaviors

B. F. Skinner (1904–1990)

•Behaviorist

•American psychologist at Harvard

•Focused on learning through rewards and observation

•studied learning and effect of reinforcement

B.F. Skinner

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

• Austrian physician that focused on illness

• Founder of the psychoanalytic perspective

• Believed that abnormal behavior originated from unconscious drives and conflicts

Freud’s Influence

• Influence on “pop culture”– Freudian slips– Anal-retentive

• Influence on psychology– Psychodynamic theory– Unconscious thoughts– Significance of childhood experiences

Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow(1902-1987) (1908-1970)

• Helped to create Humanistic Psychology

• Stressed the study of conscious experience and an individual’s free will

• Healthy individuals strive to reach their potential.

Wolfgang Kohler

• Created Gestalt Psychology

• The whole is different from the sum of its parts.

• Integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

Wolfgang Kohler

(1865-1965)

What do you see?

You See the whole picture first rather than the individual dots that make it up. – Gestalt Psychology