Modern Psychology Timeline

Within the curiosity of the human mind lies a variety of occurrences that have plagued philosophers, scientists, and skeptics alike. What is the part, we as a society, play in the study of the material world? Although, many have theorized, experts are only just now scratching the surface of the mental and behavioral processes of the human mind. However, within the minute distance that examiners have travelled through the world of psychology, scientists have discovered and developed a plethora of concepts, approaches, ideas, and principles that have now become relevant to our growth. Within this context, the analysis will center on the progressive history of psychology, including some of psychology’s primary contributors and their concepts. Furthermore, the major psychological approaches, and how they pertain to, and influence, society as we view it today.

Throughout the span of history, psychology has always existed. Humans have always pondered why we think, act, and see the world as we do. Most information we have on the very foundations of psychology come from philosophers and physicists such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Gustav Fechner. Today I’ll be comparing two very different psychologists: John B. Watson and Carl Rogers. Although these two display different feelings and approaches to their field, they share the same roots. Keeping this in mind, I believe it’s important to understand that evaluating the likeness of contrasting branches

Wilhelm Wundt’s first experiment involved using a machine that measured the time lag between a person hearing a ball hit a platform, and a person pressing a telegraph key. They also decided to test to press a key when they were consciously aware of perceiving a sound. Overall, he conducted a series of studies dealing with the elements of consciousness, becoming the first experiment in the field of psychology because of the reliance, psychologists had on his invention.

The person who was doing the introspection would be fully aware of when and what stimulus would be presented to them. This ensured that the observer was in full control of the experience. The stimulus would then be presented many times. Introspection was commonly done when the observer was awaiting the stimulus and when they were reacting to its presentation. It was through using introspection that Wundt and his students concluded that the sensations and feelings are what constitute the activity in our minds. They believed that the combination of or the relationship between sensations and feelings are what creates constantly shifting psychological processing. (King et al 2009)

Analytical Psychology (Carl Jung; combines history, anthropology, mythology, religion…midlife crisis)…influenced by past & future events moving us towards individuation (integration of conscious and unconscious)…constructive and destructive (shadow) forces which must accept; collective conscious—past and history of species; persona—mask we wear to protect ourselves, animus/anima—biological & psychological parts of M and F, shadow—dark side; unconscious discovery prepares for the near future & bring balance between opposites of individual

All great science starts with certain opinions and methods. These processes come to shape a hypothesis that in turn becomes a theory. Structuralism and Functionalism are the theories of many opinions and methods that came to form schools of thought. Structuralist’s believed psychology was the science of conscious experience and immediate thought and in contrast Functionalists believed in practical results of the mental processes. Structuralism and Functionalism served their unique purpose in the world of psychology. Both Structuralism and Functionalism used each other to gain legitimacy to the science world and further continue the evolution of modern psychology.

In this laboratory, Wundt and his followers undertook the study of psychology, which to them consisted of the study of experience. (Read more about it at) http://www.wiley.com/college/psyc/huffman249327/ch_01.pdf

Well Mrs. Sawyer, when considering Dr. Titchner’s work, I would have to say it is the lack of individuality that has created structuralism’s downfall. You see, Dr. Titchner focuses on reducing the experiences of the mind to several thousand sensory images. These images are then applied to every individual within the universe. This application de-individualizes the mindful process of experience, and fails to acknowledge that no two experiences are alike; nor are they the same for

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.

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.

Psychology is not just philosophical speculation and reasoning over the years it has evolved and it is now also recognised as a science, to understand what psychology is all about it is necessary to know it’s origins and the theorist who brought it out of obscurity, Sigmund Freud. He developed the Psychodynamic or Psychoanalytical perspective to enable better understanding of human behaviour these concepts will be discussed further later in this study. After Freud opened the gateway other perspectives and approaches have been developed, now with five main areas of psychology - Cognitive, Behaviourist, Biopsychology and Humanist approaches. For a comparison with the Psychodynamic theory, Behaviourist Theory will be discussed.

over time, due to psychologists coming to light in the modern world. This essay will also

The central purpose of this essay is to critically discuss the importance of understanding human evolution and the history of psychology for the modern psychologist. For the human evolution, the essay will be addressing on how we and other species descended from our ancestors and how the different environment has helped to us to become more adaptable. Regarding the history of psychology, the essay will be discussing on how psychology branched off from the philosophy approach to become its own science. The essay will then go on discussing how the understanding of both human evolution and history of psychology would be used by modern psychologist.

For example, the taste of lemonade (perception) to be a molecule of conscious experience could be analyzed in terms of elements (sensations) i.e. sweet, sour, cold, warm, bitter, and how it was identified by introspection (observation). Wundt’s structuralism was quickly abandoned because it could not be empirically or scientifically tested, it was also criticised for favouring deterministic structural forces over the ability of individual people to act refusing the suggestion of freewill. But at the end of the 19th century and lasting only 25 years Structuralism was still seen as a historically important school of thought and it was the movements that it developed, rather than structuralism itself that pushed forward the progress of psychology

looking at process rather than structure is a common attribute of modern psychology. As an