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Structuralism
Developed by Max Wertheimer (1880–1943) the theory that elements of human culture must be understood in terms of their relationship to a larger, overarching system or structure. -
Inheritable Traits
Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911), English mathematician and scientist, wanted to understand how heredity, or biological traits passed from parents to children, influences abilities, character, and behavior.Scientists all over the world later recognized the flaws in Galton’s theory: heredity, along with environment, influences intelligence. -
Functionalism
Functionalists studied how animals and people adapt to their environments.William James (1842–1910) speculated that thinking, feeling, learning, and remembering—all activities of the mind—serve one major function: to help us survive as a species. -
Gestalt
A group of German psychologists, including Max Wertheimer (1880–1943), Wolfgang Köhler (1887–1967), and Kurt Koffka (1886–1941), disagreed with the principles of structuralism and behaviorism. They argued that perception is more than the sum of its parts—it involves a “whole pattern” or, in German, a Gestalt -
Psychoanalysis
The analization of how the brain works. Developed by Sigmund Freud (1856–1939). -
Behaviorism
Since 1950, cognitive psychology has benefited from the contributions of people such as Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky, and Leon Festinger. Cognitivists focus on how we process, store, retrieve, and use information and how this information influences thinking, language, problem solving, and creativity. They believe behavior is more than a response to a stimulus. -
cognative
Since 1950, cognitive psychology has benefited from the contributions of people such as Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky, and Leon Festinger. Cognitivists focus on how we process, store, retrieve, and use information and how this information influences thinking, language, problem solving, and creativity. They believe behavior is more than a response to a stimulus. -
Humanistic Psychology
The humanistic approach emphasizes that each person has a unique individual identity and the potential to develop fully. This potential for personal growth and development can lead to a more satisfying life.Humanistic psychology developed as a reaction to behavioral psychology. In the 1960s, humanists such as Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Rollo May. -
Phychobiology
The study how the brain, the nervous system, hormones, and genetics influence our behavior. -
Socioculture
The newest approach to psychology involves studying the influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences in behavior and social functioning. For example, a sociocultural psychologist considers how our knowledge and ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving are dependent on the culture to which we belong. The sociocultural approach is relatively new, with research supporting this approach appearing in the early 1990s. Much of this research is supported by the work of Russian psychologi
