History of psychology

History of Psych

1. History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

2. Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt
Psychology was not considered an Psychology was not considered an
area of study until the 1870’s when area of study until the 1870’s when
the ideas of the industrial the ideas of the industrial
revolution were applied to the revolution were applied to the
fields of philosophy and fields of philosophy and
physiology. physiology.
The German scientist Wilhelm The German scientist Wilhelm
Wundt opened the first laboratory Wundt opened the first laboratory
and faculty of Psychology in the and faculty of Psychology in the
University of Leipzig in 1879 and University of Leipzig in 1879 and
established the first Psychological established the first Psychological
Journal in 1881. Journal in 1881.
He is estimated to have written He is estimated to have written
over 54,000 pages of work He over 54,000 pages of work He
was the first to apply the scientific was the first to apply the scientific
method to the field.method to the field.

3. Consciousness Consciousness
His work focused on His work focused on
consciousness – or the consciousness – or the
awareness of immediate awareness of immediate
experience. experience.
However, it applied the rigors of However, it applied the rigors of
the scientific process in the the scientific process in the
same way physics or chemistry same way physics or chemistry
would. would.
Many students from around the Many students from around the
world and particularly U.S.A., world and particularly U.S.A.,
these students would go on to these students would go on to
found 24 new schools across found 24 new schools across
North America from 1883 to North America from 1883 to
1893 1893

4. G. Stanley HallG. Stanley Hall
One of Wundt’s students was G. Stanley Hall One of Wundt’s students was G. Stanley Hall
who was vital for bringing the science of who was vital for bringing the science of
psychology to America. psychology to America.
He founded the American Psychological He founded the American Psychological
Association and became its first president, he Association and became its first president, he
started America’s first research laboratory at started America’s first research laboratory at
John’s Hopkins University in 1883, he began the John’s Hopkins University in 1883, he began the
first journal of psychology in America.first journal of psychology in America.

5. Structuralism vs. FunctionalismStructuralism vs. Functionalism
 At this time, psychology split into two main At this time, psychology split into two main
schools: structuralism vs. functionalism.schools: structuralism vs. functionalism.
Structuralists were led by Edward Tichner, they Structuralists were led by Edward Tichner, they
believed that the task of psychology was to believed that the task of psychology was to
analyze consciousness into its basic elements analyze consciousness into its basic elements
and study how these were related.and study how these were related. These These
elements would include ideas like sensations, elements would include ideas like sensations,
emotions, and images. emotions, and images.
These investigations were based on These investigations were based on
introspection by trained subjects.introspection by trained subjects.
Introspection – careful, systematic self-Introspection – careful, systematic self-
observation of one’s own conscious experience.observation of one’s own conscious experience.

6. William JamesWilliam James
Functionalism became popular with the publication of Functionalism became popular with the publication of
Principles of PsychologyPrinciples of Psychology in 1890 by William James. in 1890 by William James.
The work became the standard text for psychological The work became the standard text for psychological
departments and is still required reading in many departments and is still required reading in many
university programs. university programs.
FunctionalismFunctionalism is is the idea that psychology should focus the idea that psychology should focus
on the function or purpose of consciousness rather than on the function or purpose of consciousness rather than
its structure. its structure.

7. Natural Selection of the Natural Selection of the
mindmind
Functionalism is heavily based on the work of Functionalism is heavily based on the work of
Charles Darwin and his theory of natural Charles Darwin and his theory of natural
selection. selection.
Natural selection posits that heritable Natural selection posits that heritable
characteristics that provide an organism with a characteristics that provide an organism with a
competitive advantage are more likely to be competitive advantage are more likely to be
passed on to the next generation and thus less passed on to the next generation and thus less
advantageous characteristics become extinct advantageous characteristics become extinct
over generations. over generations.
The Functionalists like William James applied The Functionalists like William James applied
this theory to humans. By studying what this theory to humans. By studying what
consciousness does for humans, we can consciousness does for humans, we can
discover how it works. discover how it works.

8. ComparisonComparison
Structuralists focused their work in the Structuralists focused their work in the
laboratory and on sensation and laboratory and on sensation and
perception. perception.
Functionalism took the field in new Functionalism took the field in new
directions and focused on mental testing, directions and focused on mental testing,
education, and adolescent development.education, and adolescent development.
 Functionalism’s practical application of Functionalism’s practical application of
early psychological principles led to the early psychological principles led to the
formation of the next major development. formation of the next major development.

9. Pavlov’s DogPavlov’s Dog
Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, began , a Russian physiologist, began
studying stimuli and behaviour in animals in studying stimuli and behaviour in animals in
1906. 1906.
He succeed in replacing the sight of food with a He succeed in replacing the sight of food with a
bell as the triggering stimuli causing the dog to bell as the triggering stimuli causing the dog to
salivate. salivate.
This type of This type of conditioning conditioning revealed much about revealed much about
the relationship of stimuli and responses in the relationship of stimuli and responses in
organisms leading to the formation of a new organisms leading to the formation of a new
approach to psychology called behaviourism. approach to psychology called behaviourism.

10. BehaviourismBehaviourism
Behaviourism was founded by Behaviourism was founded by
John B. WatsonJohn B. Watson in 1913. in 1913.
It stated that It stated that scientists should scientists should
only study observable behaviour only study observable behaviour
and that consciousness should and that consciousness should
be abandonedbe abandoned because because
ultimately, consciousness and ultimately, consciousness and
perceptions are private events perceptions are private events
and cannot be objectively and cannot be objectively
verified. verified.
This means that psychology This means that psychology
would suffer from a lack of would suffer from a lack of
reliability. reliability.

11. Nature vs. NurtureNature vs. Nurture
Behaviourism sparked the nature vs. Behaviourism sparked the nature vs.
nurture debate with its strong emphasis on nurture debate with its strong emphasis on
stimulus and response (S-R psychology)stimulus and response (S-R psychology)
Behaviour – any overt and observable Behaviour – any overt and observable
response or activity by an organism.response or activity by an organism.
Stimulus – any detectable input from the Stimulus – any detectable input from the
environment.environment.

12. GestaltGestalt
Gestalt Psychology – the belief that Gestalt Psychology – the belief that
consciousness and behaviour must be consciousness and behaviour must be
studied as a whole rather than in separate studied as a whole rather than in separate
disciplines. disciplines.

13. Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud
Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud – Austrian physician who – Austrian physician who
founded the psychoanalytic approach to founded the psychoanalytic approach to
psychology. psychology.
From his work with people with psychological From his work with people with psychological
problems like phobias, irrational fears, and problems like phobias, irrational fears, and
anxieties, Freud developed a theory based on anxieties, Freud developed a theory based on
the existence of the unconscious. He felt that the existence of the unconscious. He felt that
these these disturbances were based on personal disturbances were based on personal
conflicts on an unconscious levelconflicts on an unconscious level. .

14. Resistance to unconsciousResistance to unconscious
The theory initially faced great resistance The theory initially faced great resistance
because of it’s reliance on unconscious, let because of it’s reliance on unconscious, let
alone conscious events in a time when alone conscious events in a time when
observable science dominated.observable science dominated.
Unconscious – Unconscious – collection of thoughts, memories, collection of thoughts, memories,
and desires that are well below the surface of and desires that are well below the surface of
conscious awareness but that exert influence on conscious awareness but that exert influence on
behaviour. behaviour.
Psychoanalytic Theory – Psychoanalytic Theory – explains personality, explains personality,
motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on
unconscious determinants of behaviour.unconscious determinants of behaviour.

15. B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner
Behaviourism gained greater influence in the Behaviourism gained greater influence in the
1950’s with the work of 1950’s with the work of B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner, who was , who was
voted the most important influence in the history voted the most important influence in the history
of psychology Kristine is awsome.of psychology Kristine is awsome.
 By using stimulus and response pairings, he By using stimulus and response pairings, he
could control the behaviour of rats and pigeons could control the behaviour of rats and pigeons
with remarkable consistency. with remarkable consistency.

16. ““Free will is an illusion…”Free will is an illusion…”
He discovered the principle that organisms tend He discovered the principle that organisms tend
to repeat responses that lead to positive to repeat responses that lead to positive
outcomes and not repeat responses that lead to outcomes and not repeat responses that lead to
negative ones. negative ones.
This simple principle would go on to form the This simple principle would go on to form the
foundation of behaviour modification used in foundation of behaviour modification used in
schools, prisons, factories and hospitals. schools, prisons, factories and hospitals.
Skinner’s work sparked heated debates over the Skinner’s work sparked heated debates over the
concepts of free will and determinism in his work concepts of free will and determinism in his work
“Beyond Freedom and Dignity”. If all our “Beyond Freedom and Dignity”. If all our
behaviour was determined by external stimuli, behaviour was determined by external stimuli,
what choice did we really have concerning our what choice did we really have concerning our
behaviours and desires? behaviours and desires?
Did you write that Kristine is awesome?Did you write that Kristine is awesome?

17. Humanists revoltHumanists revolt
This debate sparked the next wave of This debate sparked the next wave of
innovation in psychology. innovation in psychology.
Humanism was a direct reaction to the Humanism was a direct reaction to the
stripping of free will that psychoanalytic stripping of free will that psychoanalytic
theory and behaviourism entailed. theory and behaviourism entailed.
Humanism is the Humanism is the approach that approach that
emphasizes the unique qualities of emphasizes the unique qualities of
humans, personal freedom, and personal humans, personal freedom, and personal
growth. growth.

18. Carl Rogers and Carl Rogers and
Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow
Humanism was championed by Carl Rogers and Humanism was championed by Carl Rogers and
Abraham Maslow. They both believed that Abraham Maslow. They both believed that
human behaviour is determined by an human behaviour is determined by an
individual’s individual’s “self-concept”,“self-concept”, which animals which animals
presumably lack.presumably lack.
 Each of these self-concepts seeks to grow, Each of these self-concepts seeks to grow,
evolve and develop and psychological evolve and develop and psychological
disturbances arise when these drives are disturbances arise when these drives are
blocked.blocked.

19. Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology
With the onset of WWI, psychologists were pressed into With the onset of WWI, psychologists were pressed into
service along with every other profession. service along with every other profession.
Mental testing of new recruits developed at this time – Mental testing of new recruits developed at this time –
Binet Intelligence Test (I.Q.)Binet Intelligence Test (I.Q.)
Mental/Psychological injuries from combat identified for Mental/Psychological injuries from combat identified for
the first time - “Shellshock”the first time - “Shellshock”
When WWII broke out, psychologists were again When WWII broke out, psychologists were again
pressed into service to screen recruits for mental stress.pressed into service to screen recruits for mental stress.
After the war ended, these same workers found After the war ended, these same workers found
themselves treating those affected by the war mentally.themselves treating those affected by the war mentally.
A new branch of psychology would now focus on therapy A new branch of psychology would now focus on therapy
and recovery – professional psychologyand recovery – professional psychology

20. Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology
Cognition – the mental processes involved in Cognition – the mental processes involved in
acquiring knowledge. acquiring knowledge.
Renewed the belief that thinking was a physical Renewed the belief that thinking was a physical
experience and needed to be studies even though it experience and needed to be studies even though it
was unobservable.was unobservable.
Piaget – studied children’s cognitive developmentPiaget – studied children’s cognitive development
Chomsky – studied language acquisition and Chomsky – studied language acquisition and
cognitive roots. cognitive roots.

21. Observing the unobservableObserving the unobservable
Cognitive psychology gained influence when Cognitive psychology gained influence when
James Olds discovered that stimulating parts of James Olds discovered that stimulating parts of
the brain elicited sensations, memories, and the brain elicited sensations, memories, and
emotions in patients. emotions in patients.
Roger Sperry – discovered that the right half and Roger Sperry – discovered that the right half and
left half of the brain perform specialized left half of the brain perform specialized
functions.functions.
Begins the mapping of the brain.Begins the mapping of the brain.
Cognitive processes can now be scientifically Cognitive processes can now be scientifically
observed.observed.

22. Biological ApproachBiological Approach
Advances in knowledge of how the brain works Advances in knowledge of how the brain works
led to an increase in the research in the led to an increase in the research in the
biological basis of human behaviourbiological basis of human behaviour
They believed that much of human behaviour They believed that much of human behaviour
can be explained in terms of the bodily can be explained in terms of the bodily
structures and biochemical processes that allow structures and biochemical processes that allow
organisms to behave.organisms to behave.

23. Evolutionary PsychologyEvolutionary Psychology
Most recent development, pioneered by David Most recent development, pioneered by David
BussBuss
Examines behavioural processes in terms of Examines behavioural processes in terms of
their adaptive value for members of the species their adaptive value for members of the species
over the course of generations. over the course of generations.
Eg. Men are engineered to behave as hunters Eg. Men are engineered to behave as hunters
and women as gatherers. Therefore our visual-and women as gatherers. Therefore our visual-
spatial organization would be different. spatial organization would be different.