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    BPsych

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    The history of psychology began with early philosophical thought in ancient Greece and Egypt. Psychology emerged as a distinct scientific field in the late 19th century in Germany and the United States. Key early contributors included Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, and Ivan Pavlov, known for his work on classical conditioning. In the 20th century, fields like behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and cognitive science all contributed to the development of modern psychology.

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    BPsych

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    Nayra Dizon
    36 views8 pages
    The history of psychology began with early philosophical thought in ancient Greece and Egypt. Psychology emerged as a distinct scientific field in the late 19th century in Germany and the United States. Key early contributors included Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, and Ivan Pavlov, known for his work on classical conditioning. In the 20th century, fields like behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and cognitive science all contributed to the development of modern psychology.

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    The history of psychology began with early philosophical thought in ancient Greece and Egypt. Psychology emerged as a distinct scientific field in the late 19th century in Germany and the United States. Key early contributors included Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, and Ivan Pavlov, known for his work on classical conditioning. In the 20th century, fields like behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and cognitive science all contributed to the development of modern psychology.

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    36 views8 pages

    BPsych

    Uploaded by

    Nayra Dizon
    The history of psychology began with early philosophical thought in ancient Greece and Egypt. Psychology emerged as a distinct scientific field in the late 19th century in Germany and the United States. Key early contributors included Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, and Ivan Pavlov, known for his work on classical conditioning. In the 20th century, fields like behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and cognitive science all contributed to the development of modern psychology.

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    of 8

    The history of psychology as a scholarly study of the mind and behavior dates back to

    the Ancient Greeks. There is also evidence of psychological thought in ancient


    Egypt. Psychology was a branch of philosophy until the 1870s, when it developed as an
    independent scientific discipline in Germany and the United States. Psychology borders on
    various other fields including physiology, neuroscience, artificial
    intelligence, sociology, anthropology, as well as philosophy and other components of
    the humanities. of the subject see the Timeline of Psychology article.
    Psychology as a self-conscious field of experimental study began in 1879, when Wilhelm
    Wundt founded the first laboratory dedicated exclusively to psychological research
    in Leipzig. Wundt was also the first person to refer to himself as a psychologist. Other
    important early contributors to the field include Hermann Ebbinghaus (a pioneer in the study
    of memory), William James (the American father of pragmatism), and Ivan Pavlov (who
    developed the procedures associated with classical conditioning).
    Soon after the development of experimental psychology, various kinds of applied
    psychology appeared. G. Stanley Hall brought scientific pedagogy to the United States from
    Germany in the early 1880s. John Dewey's educational theory of the 1890s was another
    example. Also in the 1890s, Hugo Mnsterberg began writing about the application of
    psychology to industry, law, and other fields. Lightner Witmer established the first
    psychological clinic in the 1890s. James McKeen Cattell adapted Francis Galton's
    anthropometric methods to generate the first program of mental testing in the 1890s. In
    Vienna, meanwhile, Sigmund Freud developed an independent approach to the study of the
    mind called psychoanalysis, which has been widely influential.
    The 20th century saw a reaction to Edward Titchener's critique of Wundt's empiricism. This
    contributed to the formulation of behaviorism by John B. Watson, which was popularized
    by B. F. Skinner. Behaviorism proposed emphasizing the study of overt behavior, because
    that could be quantified and easily measured. Early behaviorists considered study of the
    "mind" too vague for productive scientific study. However, Skinner and his colleagues did
    study thinking as a form of covert behavior to which they could apply the same principles as
    overt (publicly observable) behavior. The final decades of the 20th century saw the rise
    of cognitive science, an interdisciplinary approach to studying the human mind. Cognitive

    science again considers the "mind" as a subject for investigation, using the tools
    of evolutionary psychology, linguistics, computer science, philosophy, behaviorism,
    and neurobiology. This form of investigation has proposed that a wide understanding of the
    human mind is possible, and that such an understanding may be applied to other research
    domains, such as artificial intelligence.

    Early origins
    The earliest origins of psychology are, unsurprisingly, found in the ancient civilizations of
    Greece, Egypt, China and India. This took a highly philosophical form though- the early
    psychology involved theories on the mind, body and soul and how they all operate together,
    so they weren't really what we would call psychology today. However, these great early
    psychological philosophers identified things like the brain and speculation of its functions,
    basics of human nature, and the "self".
    The Medieval Times saw more psychological progress. As early as the 700s Medieval
    Muslim had built insane asylums and practices to help patients with diseases of the mind.
    Ahmed ibn Sahl al-Balkhi was among the first to suggest that if the mind gets sick, the body
    may eventually develop a physical illness. He recognized and analyzed what we modernly
    call depression.

    Several other modern psychological phenomena and neuropsychiatric conditions were


    emerging: hallucination, mania, dreams, nightmares, epilepsy, paralysis, stroke, vertigo,
    psychotherapy and musical therapy, social psychology, neurophysiology, and the
    subconscious.

    Western Psychology Emerging

    The Ancient writings were preserved thanks to Islamic translators, and together with their
    theories and experiments became the basis for modern psychology which started to emerge
    during the Renaissance. While early psychology involved the study of the soul, modern
    psychology focused more on brain functions. During the Enlightenment period, thinkers like
    Descartes, Thomas Willis, and John Locke, discussed the nature of mind and soul, but also
    supported the development of clinical psychology as a discipline of medicine.
    Those times also saw the rise of popular yet false psychological developments. This
    included the science of hypnotism, developed by Anton Mesmer as a way to cure diseases
    using the "magnetism of the mind". Phrenology, the study of the brain and skull structure to
    establish personality traits and mental disposition.
    All the while though, psychology was treated as just a branch of philosophy. Scientific,
    empirical psychology was not seen as plausible or acceptable, since the mind and soul
    were abstract concepts.

    Experimental Psychology is Born


    During the Scientific Revolution, concepts that were thought to be philosophical were fused
    with mathematical and scientific thoughts to come up with profound disciplines such as
    economics and early engineering. Psychology was no exception. Johann Friedrich Herbart
    was among the first to try and apply a mathematical basis for a scientific psychology.

    As a result, more research followed. Fechner attempted to mathematically relate external


    stimuli and resulting sensations, coining psychophysics in the process. Bessel, Donders,
    and other scientists measured things like reaction times and the speed of mental decisions.
    During the later 1800s, Wilhelm Wundt, the father of psychology, founded the first laboratory
    dedicated exclusively to psychological research in Germany.

    Experimental psychology became important during the late 1800s especially in Germany,
    but also in Russia, the US, and the rest of Western Europe. Pioneers like Ebbinghaus and
    Pavlov made important discoveries in the areas of memory, learning processes and more.
    In the 1890s, psychoanalysis was developed. Sigmund Freud, probably the most wellknown psychology theorist, developed this method of study of human psychological
    functioning and behavior through interpretive methods and observation. He became famous
    after tackling taboo subjects such as sexuality, repression, and the unconscious mind, and
    he influenced Carl Jung who developed analytical psychology. This laid basis to many
    modern psychological concepts still used today.

    Behaviorism, Humanism, Cognitivism, and other Modern Developments


    Experimental psychology led to the use of things like recollecting childhood experiences
    and analyzing them subjectively and introspectively. Opposition to this led to the
    development of behaviorism, which states that all things which organisms do can be
    regarded as behaviors, which can be described scientifically without recourse either to
    internal physiological events or to hypothetical constructs such as the mind. This was
    developed by John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, and based on animal experimentation.

    Behaviorism was popular in the US for the first half of the 1900s. In the 50s, drawing from
    psychoanalysis, behaviorism and existentialist philosophy, humanistic psychology was
    developed. It focused on human issues such as self-identity, death, aloneness, freedom,
    and meaning. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Carl Rogers's client-centered therapy are
    humanistic developments still used today.
    Cognitivisim is another psychological school of thought. It accepts the use of the scientific
    method, rejecting introspection (and psychoanalysis), and it acknowledges the existence of
    internal mental states (unlike behaviorism). Cognitive psychology sees mental functions as

    information processing, and is advancing thanks to computerized developments and a


    better understanding of how the brain and neural systems work.

    Where is psychology going?


    Modern psychology incorporates all of these fields to provide useful solutions to mental
    problems. Using psychoanalytical therapy, behavioral theories, humanist concepts and
    cognitive understanding, psychologists can learn and offer the best solutions possible.
    Future developments and questions that need to be answered in psychology are numerous.
    The application of genetic research and the discoveries of new genes that relate to behavior
    and personality will pose a challenge for psychologists. Using new bioengineering and
    computerized techniques can help develop medicines and cures for neuropsychological
    symptoms.
    As well, new social concepts have to emerge to explain changing, modern societies. With
    depression and eating disorders constantly on the rise, psychological answers are in high
    demand. In engineering and technology, the development of artificial intelligence will require
    thorough psychological understanding of human intelligence.

    Branches of Psychology

    Abnormal Psychology - the area that looks at psychopathology and abnormal


    behavior. The term covers a broad range of disorders, from depression to obsessioncompulsion to sexual deviation and many more. Counselors, clinical psychologists
    and psychotherapists often work directly in this field.

    Behavioral Psychology - also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based


    upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. While this branch
    of psychology dominated the field during the first part of the twentieth century, it
    became less prominent during the 1950s. However, behavioral techniques remain a
    mainstay in therapy, education and many other areas.

    Biopsychology - the branch of psychology focused on the study of how


    the brain influences behavior is often known as biopsychology, although it has also
    been called physiological psychology, behavioral neuroscience and psychobiology.

    Cognitive Psychology - the branch of psychology that focuses on internal states,


    such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking and attention. This
    area of psychology has continued to grow since it emerged in the 1960s.

    Comparative Psychology - the branch of psychology concerned with the study of


    animal behavior. The study of animal behavior can lead to a deeper and broader
    understanding of human psychology.

    Cross-cultural psychology - a branch of psychology that looks at how cultural factors


    influence human behavior. The International Association of Cross-Cultural
    Psychology (IACCP) was established in 1972, and this branch of psychology has
    continued to grow and develop since that time. Today, increasing numbers of
    psychologists investigate how behavior differs among various cultures throughout
    the world.

    Developmental Psychology - This branch of psychology looks at development


    throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. The scientific study of human
    development seeks to understand and explain how and why people change
    throughout life. This includes all aspects of human growth, including physical,
    emotional, intellectual, social, perceptual and personality development. Topics
    studied in this field include everything from prenatal development to Alzheimer's
    disease.

    Educational Psychology - the branch of psychology concerned with schools,


    teaching psychology, educational issues and student concerns. Educational
    psychologists often study how students learn or work directly with students, parents,
    teachers and administrators to improve student outcomes.

    Experimental Psychology - the branch of psychology that utilizes scientific methods


    to research the brain and behavior. Many of these techniques are also used by other
    areas in psychology to conduct research on everything from childhood development
    to social issues

    Forensic Psychology - a specialty area that deals with issues related to psychology
    and the law. Forensic psychologists perform a wide variety of duties, including
    providing testimony in court cases, assessing children in suspected child abuse
    cases, preparing children to give testimony and evaluating the mental competence of
    criminal suspects.

    Health Psychology is a specialty area that focuses on how biology, psychology,


    behavior and social factors influence health and illness. Other terms including
    medical psychology and behavioral medicine are sometimes used interchangeably

    with the term health psychology. The field of health psychology is focused on
    promoting health as well as the prevention and treatment of disease and illness.

    Social Psychology- seeks to explain and understand social behavior and looks at
    diverse topics including group behavior, social interactions, leadership, nonverbal
    communication and social influences on decision-making.

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