Psychology Development Overview

Overview

This lecture summarizes the historical development of psychology, highlighting key figures, major schools of thought, and the emergence of diverse perspectives within the field.

Early Foundations of Psychology

• Prior to the 19th century, the study of the mind was mostly philosophical.
• Wilhelm Wundt founded psychology as a scientific discipline in 1879 and established the first lab.
• Wundt developed experimental introspection and structuralism, focusing on breaking down consciousness into components.
• Edward Titchener expanded structuralism, emphasizing the contents of mental processes.

Functionalism

• William James, John Dewey, and Charles Sanders Peirce founded functionalism, focusing on the functions of behavior in adapting to the environment.
• Functionalists emphasized studying the purpose of mental activities as a whole rather than isolating parts.

Freud and Psychoanalytic Theory

• Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalytic theory, stressing the unconscious mind and the impact of early childhood.
• Freud popularized methods like dream analysis and talk therapy to uncover unconscious motivations.
• Freud emphasized the conflict between unconscious and conscious motivations and the development of personality.

Gestalt Psychology

• Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler introduced Gestalt psychology in the U.S.
• Gestalt psychology emphasizes understanding perception as wholes rather than separate parts.
• Gestalt principles influenced research on sensation and perception and humanism.

Behaviorism

• Ivan Pavlov studied conditioned reflexes and classical conditioning.
• John B. Watson promoted behaviorism, focusing solely on observable behavior.
• B.F. Skinner expanded behaviorism, introducing operant conditioning with reinforcement and punishment.
• Behaviorism established psychology as an objective, experimental science.

Humanism

• Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers founded humanistic psychology, focusing on innate human goodness and potential.
• Maslow developed the hierarchy of needs, highlighting self-actualization.
• Rogers created client-centered therapy, emphasizing empathy and unconditional positive regard.

The Cognitive Revolution

• By the 1950s, psychology shifted attention back to the mind, influenced by linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science.
• Noam Chomsky criticized behaviorism’s limitations and promoted cognitive psychology.
• The cognitive sciences developed as interdisciplinary collaborations across fields.

Feminist Psychology

• Psychology’s early history was shaped by white male biases, marginalizing women and minorities.
• Naomi Weisstein critiqued psychology’s gender biases in 1968, sparking feminist psychology.
• Feminist approaches include re-evaluating women’s contributions and examining gender differences.

Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology

• Psychology had over-relied on studying WEIRD societies, leading to limited applicability.
• Multicultural psychologists study diverse groups within one country; cross-cultural psychologists compare across countries.
• Key figures: Francis Cecil Sumner (first African American psychology PhD), George I. Sanchez (challenged biased testing), Mamie and Kenneth Clark (doll studies in desegregation).

Women in Psychology

• Margaret Floy Washburn was the first woman awarded a psychology PhD.
• Mary Whiton Calkins completed PhD work but was denied the degree due to gender.
• Mary Cover Jones pioneered early learning research.
• Martha Bernal and Inez Beverly Prosser made significant contributions in educational psychology.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Structuralism — School focusing on components of consciousness.
• Functionalism — School studying the purpose of mental processes in adaptation.
• Psychoanalytic Theory — Perspective focusing on the unconscious mind and early experiences.
• Behaviorism — School emphasizing observable behavior over inner experience.
• Humanism — Perspective highlighting human potential and self-actualization.
• Gestalt Psychology — Approach emphasizing wholes in perception rather than parts.
• Cognitive Revolution — Shift back to studying mental processes in psychology.
• Feminist Psychology — Approach addressing gender biases and promoting women’s perspectives.
• Multicultural Psychology — Study of psychological diversity within a society.
• Cross-Cultural Psychology — Comparative study of psychological phenomena across cultures.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review the major schools of thought and their founders.
• Study Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in detail.
• Read about the contributions of women and minorities in psychology for deeper understanding.