History of PsychologyHistory of Psychology

Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt Psychology was not considered Psychology was not considered

an area of study until the 1870’s an area of study until the 1870’s when the ideas of the industrial when 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 Wundt opened the first laboratory and faculty of laboratory and faculty of Psychology in the University of Psychology in the University of Leipzig in 1879 and established Leipzig in 1879 and established the first Psychological Journal in the first Psychological Journal in 1881. 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 was the first to apply the scientific method to the field.scientific method to the field.

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 However, it applied the rigors of the scientific rigors of the scientific process in the same way process in the same way physics or chemistry would. physics or chemistry would.

Many students from around Many students from around the world and particularly the world and particularly U.S.A., these students would U.S.A., these students would go on to found 24 new go on to found 24 new schools across North America schools across North America from 1883 to 1893 from 1883 to 1893

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 John’s Hopkins University in 1883, he began the first journal of psychology in America.the first journal of psychology in America.

Structuralism vs. Structuralism vs. FunctionalismFunctionalism

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, Structuralists were led by Edward Tichner, they believed that the task of psychology they believed that the task of psychology was to was to analyze consciousness into its basic analyze consciousness into its basic elements and study how these were related.elements and study how these were related. These elements would include ideas like These elements would include ideas like sensations, emotions, and images. sensations, 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 observation of one’s own conscious experience.experience.

William JamesWilliam James

Functionalism became popular with the publication Functionalism became popular with the publication of of Principles of PsychologyPrinciples of Psychology in 1890 by William James. in 1890 by William James.

The work became the standard text for The work became the standard text for psychological departments and is still required psychological departments and is still required reading in many university programs. reading in many university programs.

FunctionalismFunctionalism is is the idea that psychology should the idea that psychology should focus on the function or purpose of consciousness focus on the function or purpose of consciousness rather than its structure. rather than its structure.

Natural Selection of Natural Selection of the mindthe mind

Functionalism is heavily based on the work Functionalism is heavily based on the work of Charles Darwin and his theory of natural of Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection. selection.

Natural selection posits that heritable Natural selection posits that heritable characteristics that provide an organism characteristics that provide an organism with a competitive advantage are more with a competitive advantage are more likely to be passed on to the next generation likely to be passed on to the next generation and thus less advantageous characteristics and thus less advantageous characteristics become extinct over generations. become extinct 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.

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 formation of the next major development. development.

Pavlov’s DogPavlov’s Dog

Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, began , a Russian physiologist, began studying stimuli and behaviour in animals studying stimuli and behaviour in animals in 1906. in 1906.

He succeed in replacing the sight of food He succeed in replacing the sight of food with a bell as the triggering stimuli causing with a bell as the triggering stimuli causing the dog to salivate. the dog to salivate.

This type of This type of conditioning conditioning revealed much revealed much about the relationship of stimuli and about the relationship of stimuli and responses in organisms leading to the responses in organisms leading to the formation of a new approach to psychology formation of a new approach to psychology called behaviourism. called behaviourism.

BehaviourismBehaviourism Behaviourism was founded Behaviourism was founded

by by John B. WatsonJohn B. Watson in 1913. in 1913. It stated that It stated that scientists scientists

should only study observable should only study observable behaviour and that behaviour and that consciousness should be consciousness should be abandonedabandoned because because ultimately, consciousness ultimately, consciousness and perceptions are private and perceptions are private events and cannot be events and cannot be objectively verified. objectively verified.

This means that psychology This means that psychology would suffer from a lack of would suffer from a lack of reliability. reliability.

Nature vs. NurtureNature vs. Nurture

Behaviourism sparked the nature vs. Behaviourism sparked the nature vs. nurture debate with its strong nurture debate with its strong emphasis on stimulus and response emphasis on stimulus and response (S-R psychology)(S-R psychology)

Behaviour – any overt and Behaviour – any overt and observable response or activity by an observable response or activity by an organism.organism.

Stimulus – any detectable input from Stimulus – any detectable input from the environment.the environment.

GestaltGestaltGestalt Psychology – the belief that Gestalt Psychology – the belief that

consciousness and behaviour must consciousness and behaviour must be studied as a whole rather than in be studied as a whole rather than in separate disciplines. separate disciplines.

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 anxieties, Freud developed a theory based on the existence of the unconscious. He felt on the existence of the unconscious. He felt that these that these disturbances were based on disturbances were based on personal conflicts on an unconscious levelpersonal conflicts on an unconscious level. .

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, collection of thoughts, memories, and desires that are well below memories, and desires that are well below the surface of conscious awareness but that the surface of conscious awareness but that exert influence on behaviour. exert influence on behaviour.

Psychoanalytic Theory – Psychoanalytic Theory – explains explains personality, motivation, and mental personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behaviour.determinants of behaviour.

C.G. JungC.G. JungWorked with Freud – formedWorked with Freud – formed

analytical psychologyanalytical psychologyThought theories of unconscious Thought theories of unconscious

were too negative, incompletewere too negative, incompleteDivided unconscious into two parts:Divided unconscious into two parts:

1) 1) Personal unconscious Personal unconscious – material not in – material not in consciousness due to forgetting or repressionconsciousness due to forgetting or repression

2) 2) Collective unconscious Collective unconscious – storehouse of – storehouse of latent memory traces from a person’s latent memory traces from a person’s ancestral pastancestral past

ArchetypesArchetypes Emotionally charged images or thought Emotionally charged images or thought

patterns that have universal meaning.patterns that have universal meaning. Reveal themselves in dreams, art, free Reveal themselves in dreams, art, free

associations, imaginations.associations, imaginations. These include: These include: introvert/extrovertintrovert/extrovert Other important theories:Other important theories: PersonaPersona – – the actively fashioned identity. the actively fashioned identity.

Made from socialization, acculturation, and the Made from socialization, acculturation, and the collective unconscious collective unconscious – brought into – brought into consciousness through the process known as consciousness through the process known as individuationindividuation

B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner

Behaviourism gained greater influence in Behaviourism gained greater influence in the 1950’s with the work of the 1950’s with the work of B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner, , who was voted the most important who was voted the most important influence in the history of psychology influence in the history of psychology Kristine is awsome.Kristine is awsome.

By using stimulus and response pairings, By using stimulus and response pairings, he could control the behaviour of rats and he could control the behaviour of rats and pigeons with remarkable consistency. pigeons with remarkable consistency.

““Free will is an illusion…”Free will is an illusion…” He discovered the principle that organisms He discovered the principle that organisms

tend to repeat responses that lead to tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes and not repeat responses positive outcomes and not repeat responses that lead to negative ones. that lead to 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 Skinner’s work sparked heated debates over the concepts of free will and determinism in the concepts of free will and determinism in his work “Beyond Freedom and Dignity”. If all his work “Beyond Freedom and Dignity”. If all our behaviour was determined by external our behaviour was determined by external stimuli, what choice did we really have stimuli, what choice did we really have concerning our behaviours and desires? concerning our behaviours and desires?

Did you write that Kristine is awesome?Did you write that Kristine is awesome?

Humanists revoltHumanists revolt

This debate sparked the next wave This debate sparked the next wave of innovation in psychology. of innovation in psychology.

Humanism was a direct reaction to Humanism was a direct reaction to the stripping of free will that the stripping of free will that psychoanalytic theory and psychoanalytic theory and behaviourism entailed. 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 humans, personal freedom, and personal growth. personal growth.

Carl Rogers and Carl Rogers and Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow

Humanism was championed by Carl Humanism was championed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. They both Rogers and Abraham Maslow. They both believed that human behaviour is believed that human behaviour is determined by an individual’s determined by an individual’s “self-“self-concept”,concept”, which animals presumably lack. which animals 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.

Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology

With the onset of WWI, psychologists were pressed With the onset of WWI, psychologists were pressed into service along with every other profession. into 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 Mental/Psychological injuries from combat identified for the first time - “Shellshock”for 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 pressed into service to screen recruits for mental stress.stress.

After the war ended, these same workers found After the war ended, these same workers found themselves treating those affected by the war themselves treating those affected by the war mentally.mentally.

A new branch of psychology would now focus on A new branch of psychology would now focus on therapy and recovery – professional psychologytherapy and recovery – professional psychology

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 Renewed the belief that thinking was a physical experience and needed to be studies physical experience and needed to be studies even though it was unobservable.even though it was unobservable.

Piaget – studied children’s cognitive Piaget – studied children’s cognitive developmentdevelopment

Chomsky – studied language acquisition and Chomsky – studied language acquisition and cognitive roots. cognitive roots.

Observing the unobservableObserving the unobservable

Cognitive psychology gained influence Cognitive psychology gained influence when James Olds discovered that when James Olds discovered that stimulating parts of the brain elicited stimulating parts of the brain elicited sensations, memories, and emotions in sensations, memories, and emotions in patients. patients.

Roger Sperry – discovered that the right Roger Sperry – discovered that the right half and left half of the brain perform half and left half of the brain perform specialized functions.specialized functions.

Begins the mapping of the brain.Begins the mapping of the brain. Cognitive processes can now be Cognitive processes can now be

scientifically observed.scientifically observed.

Biological ApproachBiological Approach

Advances in knowledge of how the brain Advances in knowledge of how the brain works led to an increase in the research in works led to an increase in the research in the biological basis of human behaviourthe biological basis of human behaviour

They believed that much of human They believed that much of human behaviour can be explained in terms of the behaviour can be explained in terms of the bodily structures and biochemical bodily structures and biochemical processes that allow organisms to behave.processes that allow organisms to behave.

Evolutionary PsychologyEvolutionary Psychology

Most recent development, pioneered by Most recent development, pioneered by David BussDavid Buss

Examines behavioural processes in terms of Examines behavioural processes in terms of their adaptive value for members of the their adaptive value for members of the species over the course of generations. species over the course of generations.

Eg. Men are engineered to behave as Eg. Men are engineered to behave as hunters and women as gatherers. Therefore hunters and women as gatherers. Therefore our visual-spatial organization would be our visual-spatial organization would be different. different.