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Proposing a Link Between the Mind and Body
Philosopher Rene Descartes (1596-1650) proposed a link existed between mind and body. He reasoned that the mind controlled the body's movements, sensations, and perceptions. His approach to understanding human behavior was based on the assumption that the mind and body influence each other to create a persons experiences. This interaction is still studied today. -
Inheritable Traits
Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911), a nineteenth-century English mathematician and scientist, wanted to understand how heredity influences a person's abilities, character, and behavior. Galton raised the question: Wouldnt the world be a better place if we could get rid of the less desirable people? Thinking that geniuses ran in families. Scientists all over the world recognized the flaws in Galtons theory. Concluding that a person's heredity and their enviornment interactions produced inteligence. -
Firsts for Psychology; Functionalism
William James (1842-1910) taught the first class in Psychology at Harvard University in 1875. James is often called the "father of psychology" in the United States. It took him 12 years to make the first textbook of Psychology (1890). James focused on the functions or purposes of the conscious mind and the goals or functions or purposes of behaviors; these people became known as Functionalists. -
Laboratory of Psychology; Structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) started his Laboratory of Psychology. Because of his efforts to pursue the study of human behavior in systematic and scientific manner, Wundt is generally acknowledged as establishing modern psychology as a separate, formal field of study called being a structualist. -
Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development
Sir Francis Galton, began his work shortly before psychology emerged as an independent discipline, his theories and techniques quickly became central aspects of the new science. in 1883 he published a book, Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development, that is regarded as the first study of individual differences. Galton's writings raised the issue of whether behavior is determined by heredity or environment--a subject that remains a focus of controversy today. -
Behavioral Psychology
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), experimented with a test that proved helpful in behavioral psychology, observing a conditional reflex in a dog. The conditioned reflex was a response provoked by a stimulus other than the on that first produced it. The concept was used by psychologists as a new tool, as a means of exploring the development of behavior. Using this tool, they could begin to account for behavior as the product of prior expierence. -
Behaviorist
Psychologists who stressed investigating observable behavior became known as behaviorists. Their position was formulated by John B. Watson (1878-1958), was that psychology should concern itself only with the observable facts of behavior. Watson further maintained that all behavior, even apparently instinctive behavior, is the result of conditioning and occurs because the appropriate stimulus is present in the environment. -
Free Association
While the first psychologists were interested in understanding the conscious mind, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), a physician who practiced in Vienna until 1938, was more interested in the unconscious mind. Freud used a new method for indirectly studying unconscious processes. In this technique, known as free association. Where the patient was instructed not to edit or censor their thoughts. Freud's role, that of psychoanalyst, was to be objective. -
Reinforcement
Although it was Watson who defined and solidified the behaviorist position, it was B.F. Skinner (1904-1990), who introduced the concept of reinforcement. Reinforcement is a response to a behavior that increases the likelihood the behavior will be repeated. Skinner attempted to show how his laboratory techniques might be applied to society as a whole, in his classic novel, Walden Two. -
Cognitive Psychology
Since 1950, cognitive psychology has benefited from the contributions of people such as Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky, and Leon Festinger. These people were known as Cognitivists. Cognitivists focus on how we process, store, and use information and how this information influences our thinking, language, problem-solving, and creativity. They believe that behavior is more than a simple response to a stimulus. -
Humanistic Psychology
Humanists such as Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Rollo May described human nature as evolving and self-directed. It differs from behaviorism and psychoanalysis in that it does not view humans as being controlled by events or the environment. The humanistic approach emphasizes how each person is unique and has a self-concept and potential to develop fully. This potential for personal growth and development can lead to a more satisfying life.
