History of Modern Psychology Essay

In this essay I am looking at where Psychology as a discipline has come from and what affects these early ideas have had on psychology today, Psychology as a whole has stemmed from a number of different areas of study from Physics to Biology,

John Locke's theory of knowledge stated that all knowledge is derived from the senses, that are converted into impressions, that are then made into ideas, either simple or complex. Simple ideas are ones that involve only one sense, whereas complex ideas consist of multiple simple ideas being combined to create a vivid one. Ideas have two qualities, primary qualities, and secondary qualities. Primary qualities are things that are perceived the same for everyone, and secondary qualities are the individual perceptions of

Locke (1632-1704) further discounted the work of Descartes, as well as that of Plato. He maintained that all ideas originate in ones experiences. A newborn is devoid of ideas until experience begins to form these ideas.

By Richard Thripp for Prof. John Beltran, PSY 4604 sec. 0W58, Univ. of Central Fla., Sp. 2013

Within “Basic Writings in the History of Psychology” by Robert I. Wilson, there is an excerpt from John Locke. John Locke was an English philosopher who was one of the first to connect mechanical principles to ideas in psychology. Locke mostly discusses how ideas are a result of both experience and reflection, and the problems with our associations of ideas. There are a number of critical aspects within the excerpt that allows one to understand his ideas and position on the topic. Each critical aspect can be discussed in terms of what has been previously discussed in class.

Psychology viewed as an old discipline. Psychology can trace its roots to the 5 century BC to the Greek philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle and Socrates, because we grapple with the same questions they attempted to answer. On the other hand, we could view psychology as emerging when philosophy and physiology merged to include experimentation and empirical methods to answer those questions about 200 years ago. Thus, it also viewed as a new discipline in 1879, which the approach taken to study make psychology became a science and distinguish from the older discipline philosophy and form modem

History and Systems of Psychology is a course requirement offered to Psychology majors and minors. This course is used to provide majors and minors with the foundation and the evolution of the field of psychology. Within this class, many scholars of discussed. Two scholars that stood out to me in this course would be John Watson and Max Wertheimer. These two particular scholars are responsible for two of the most influential and famous schools of thought, behaviorism and Gestalt psychology. These two schools of thought are responsible for changing the field of psychology and introducing the field to new theories and ways of thinking. Although the two schools of thought are similar in being influential but they are different in many ways. The two schools of thought are even said to be contradictory of one another and one is even said to be the cause of the fading out of the other.

The historical underpinnings of American psychology came by way of Francis Bacon and John Stuart Mill philosophy, Charles Darwin evolutionary biology, Chauncey Wright evolutionary psychology, and Wilhelm Wundt volunteer psychology generally (Green, 2009; Wright, 1873). From these philosophical and biological contributors came two major schools of American psychology, namely structuralism and functionalism (Green, 2009; Caldwell, 1899; biological terms; see Boucher, 2015, pp. 384-385), which emerged as competitors of thought on how to describe and explain the human mind and behavior specifically (Angell, 1907; Caldwell, 1899; Green, 2009; Green, Feinerer, & Burman, 2013). The conceptual reality of this debate between the two schools is foundational and must be understood in order to build the proper picture of how American psychology has established itself as a “marker” by which America, and I proffer, the world evaluates psychology as a whole. It is in this historical context where the soil was cultivated for the planting of these two schools and how each one takes root, flourishes, and how they both eventually find a reticent subjugation to modern forms of psychological preeminence. Therefore, this paper will discuss the historical nature and foundational construct of structuralism, functionalism, and the process of change for American psychology to be where it is today.

Wade E. Pickren’s article, Internationalizing the History of Psychology Course in the USA is an advocacy piece for diversity in the field of psychology; specifically in the teaching of the history and systems of psychology course in US colleges and universities. Pickren first outlines the development of historical psychological texts (dubbed textbook histories REFERENCE), the subsequent influence of said texts on the development of the course of history and systems, criticisms of then current textbook histories and the events that led to “The New History of Psychology” (REFERENCE). The present standing of the history of psychology course in the USA is examined followed by a review of how the USA dominated the field of psychology after World

Authored by Keith E. Stanovich, How to Think Straight About Psychology is a known work of the psychology world which was published in 1986. Beginning courses in psychology use his text frequently. Stanovich primary purpose for writing the text is to bring attention to his observation that the public’s understanding of psychology is different from psychology as a modern science. Psychology as a modern science explains the underlying functions that shape human attitudes and behavior. To the people who misunderstand this, the field of psychology is not a real science, but a pseudo-science instead. How to Think Straight About Psychology describes people’s several false impressions of psychology and it gives its readers a factual understanding of the field as a modern and scientific psychology while explaining how this science works.

Throughout history people have always taken an interest in how other people behave. This interest can be traced back to some of the philosophical ideas in psychology back all the way to early Greeks. Plato and Aristotle had a long standing debate on whether or not human ideas are natural or if they have to be experienced. Philosophers have always had a fascination of the nature of people. In the sixteen hundreds, the British philosopher John Locke described the human mind as a blank slate that could be written all of life's experiences. Other influences on early psychology came from biology and physics. Darwin's influence on psychology included both his method of naturalistic observation of behavior and his theory of evolution. In his theory,

As far back as the time when man first discovered ways to communicate with one another he has attempted to understand and explain the course of historical events. In considering the historical development of scientific psychology two main views of the historical progress the field of science have emerged: personalistic theory and naturalistic theory.

John Lock believed that all ideas originated through experience; with his theory structured on how exactly ideas work, begins with ‘idea and object’. For example, the ideas of sensations: sounds, tastes, smells, shapes, sizes, in contrast to the qualities of objects: texture, bulk, figure and motion. So in essence, Locke belief is that an idea forms in your mind which causes a person to think of other things; while an object is what the mind is active about when thinking.

It is common belief that Wilhelm Wundt is the father of psychology. While Wundt helped psychology in a great way, he was not necessarily the first person to do so. Rene Descartes was a philosopher during the Renaissance who is probably best known for the saying “I think, therefore I am.” While Descartes was very prominent in the education field for math and geometry, he also made many great contributions to psychology. Often being called the founder of Western Psychology, Descartes took what he learned while in school and other religious teachings and let it lead him in his research. His influence on psychology is still felt today.

The History of Psychology In order to discuss Psychology's history, it is important to understand that psychology still does not have one unifying approach unlike the natural sciences; even the definition of Psychology and what it truly means is still undecided. However I shall attempt to review chronologically its philosophical origins, include how the science of Physics and Biology were placed in history and how they influenced research and determined the development of Psychology as its recognised today. Beginning with the philosophers Plato and Aristotle (between 428- 347) in ancient Greece, they began to ask