Overview
This lecture surveys the major historical movements and figures in psychology, tracing the evolution of the field from its philosophical roots to contemporary perspectives, including structuralism, functionalism, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanism, cognitive science, feminist, and multicultural approaches.
Early Foundations of Psychology
- Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, focusing on conscious experience using experimental introspection.
- Structuralism, led by Edward Titchener, aimed to identify the basic components of the mind.
- William James, with others, developed functionalism, studying the purpose of behavior and mental processes in adapting to environments.
Psychoanalytic Theory
- Sigmund Freud emphasized the role of the unconscious and early childhood experiences in behavior through psychoanalytic theory.
- Freud’s methods included dream analysis and the exploration of slips of the tongue.
Gestalt Psychology
- Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler introduced Gestalt psychology, which focuses on perception as whole forms rather than the sum of parts.
- Gestalt principles remain influential in the study of sensation and perception.
Behaviorism
- Ivan Pavlov demonstrated classical conditioning, showing learned reflexes in response to stimuli.
- John Watson promoted observable behavior as the main focus of psychology, launching behaviorism.
- B.F. Skinner developed operant conditioning, emphasizing reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
- Behaviorism established psychology as a scientific discipline through objective methods and experimentation.
Humanistic Psychology
- Abraham Maslow introduced a hierarchy of needs culminating in self-actualization.
- Carl Rogers emphasized client-centered therapy, focusing on unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.
- Humanism highlights innate human goodness, personal control, and individual potential.
The Cognitive Revolution
- By the 1950s-60s, psychologists like Noam Chomsky refocused on the mind and mental processes, initiating the cognitive revolution.
- Cognitive science became interdisciplinary, involving linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science.
Feminist and Multicultural Psychology
- Feminist psychology emerged in response to male bias, reevaluating women’s roles and gender differences in psychology.
- Multicultural psychology studies diverse populations within countries; cross-cultural psychology compares groups across countries.
- Francis Cecil Sumner, George I. Sanchez, Mamie and Kenneth Clark made significant contributions to diversity in psychology.
- Women like Margaret Floy Washburn, Mary Whiton Calkins, and Martha Bernal contributed foundational research despite early barriers.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Structuralism — Early school focusing on breaking down mental processes into basic components.
- Functionalism — School studying the purpose and function of behavior and mental processes.
- Psychoanalysis — Freud’s theory emphasizing unconscious motives and early childhood experiences.
- Gestalt Psychology — Approach highlighting holistic perception.
- Behaviorism — School focusing on observable and measurable behavior.
- Humanism — Perspective emphasizing human potential and self-actualization.
- Cognitive Revolution — Shift back to studying mental processes and the mind.
- Feminist Psychology — Field questioning male bias and focusing on women’s experiences.
- Multicultural Psychology — Study of psychological diversity within and between cultures.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key figures and schools for upcoming quizzes.
- Read about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Freud’s psychoanalytic theory in assigned textbook chapters.