Psychology Movements Overview

Overview

This lecture explores the major historical movements in psychology, highlighting key figures, schools of thought, and the evolving focus of psychological research.

Wundt and Structuralism

• Wilhelm Wundt established psychology as a scientific discipline focused on conscious experience.
• Wundt used introspection, or "internal perception," to study the components of consciousness.
• Structuralism, developed by Edward Titchener, prioritized analyzing the contents of mental processes.
• Introspection was criticized for being subjective with little agreement between individuals.

Functionalism

• William James led functionalism, focusing on the function of behavior in adapting to the environment.
• Functionalists emphasized studying the operation of the whole mind, influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution.
• Objective measures beyond introspection were also used, including recording devices and physiological study.

Freud and Psychoanalytic Theory

• Sigmund Freud introduced psychoanalytic theory, focusing on the unconscious and early childhood experiences.
• Freud used dream analysis and "slips of the tongue" to access the unconscious mind.
• Psychoanalysis influenced clinical psychology and therapy, though some of Freud’s ideas remain controversial.

Gestalt Psychology

• Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler emphasized understanding the whole of experience rather than parts.
• Gestalt psychology highlighted how people perceive objects as unified wholes.
• Gestalt principles influenced later research in sensation and perception.

Behaviorism

• Ivan Pavlov studied classical conditioning through conditioned reflexes in animals.
• John B. Watson shifted psychology’s focus to observable behavior, establishing behaviorism.
• B.F. Skinner studied operant conditioning, emphasizing reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
• Behaviorism promoted objective, experimental methodologies and influenced therapy and education.

Humanism

• Humanism, led by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, emphasized innate human potential and personal control.
• Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs, with self-actualization at the top.
• Rogers developed client-centered therapy based on unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.
• Humanistic psychology uses mostly qualitative approaches, focusing on holistic human experiences.

The Cognitive Revolution

• The 1950s cognitive revolution, influenced by Noam Chomsky, refocused psychology on mental processes and interdisciplinary approaches.
• Cognitive psychology incorporated ideas from linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science.
• The field now collaborates internationally and across disciplines under "cognitive sciences."

Feminist Psychology

• Feminist psychology addressed biases from the male-dominated history of psychology.
• Naomi Weisstein critiqued the cultural bias and lack of scientific testing in early psychology’s approach to women.
• Feminist approaches re-examined women’s contributions and investigated gender differences.

Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology

• Culture shapes psychological processes, and "WEIRD" societies have been overrepresented in research.
• Multicultural psychologists study diversity within countries; cross-cultural psychologists compare populations across countries.
• Francis Cecil Sumner, George I. Sanchez, and the Clarks (Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark) made significant contributions to challenging bias and segregation in psychology.

Women in Psychology

• Margaret Floy Washburn was the first woman awarded a psychology PhD.
• Mary Whiton Calkins completed PhD requirements but was denied the degree due to gender.
• Mary Cover Jones, Martha Bernal, and Inez Beverly Prosser made important contributions, especially relating to learning and education.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Introspection — examining one’s own conscious experience.
• Structuralism — analyzing the basic components of mental processes.
• Functionalism — studying the function of behavior and mental processes.
• Psychoanalytic Theory — focus on the unconscious mind and early experiences.
• Gestalt Psychology — studying the whole of experience rather than parts.
• Behaviorism — scientific study of observable behavior.
• Classical Conditioning — learning via association between stimuli.
• Operant Conditioning — learning through reinforcement and punishment.
• Humanism — perspective focusing on human potential and self-actualization.
• Cognitive Revolution — shift back to studying mental processes.
• Feminist Psychology — approach addressing gender bias in psychology.
• Multicultural/Cross-Cultural Psychology — studying psychological processes across different cultures.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review the contributions of key psychologists (Wundt, James, Freud, Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, Maslow, Rogers).
• Read further on the cognitive revolution and feminist psychology as assigned.
• Study the impact of culture and gender on psychological research and practice.