Psychology

The History of 20th Century Western Psychology

By alanD

  • 1879 – Wilhelm Wundt founds the first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany. The event is considered the starting point of psychology as a separate science. He is sometimes called the 'father of psychology'.

    1879 – Wilhelm Wundt founds the first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany. The event is considered the starting point of psychology as a separate science. He is sometimes called the 'father of psychology'.
    More on Wundt here
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    History of Modern Psychology

    A more detailed timeline can be found here

  • 1885 - Herman Ebbinghaus published his famous work Memory. A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. In the work, he describes his learning and memory experiments that he conducted on himself.

    1885 - Herman Ebbinghaus published his famous work Memory. A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. In the work, he describes his learning and memory experiments that he conducted on himself.
    More on Ebbinghas here

  • 1886 – Sigmund Freud begins providing therapy to patients in Vienna, Austria.

    1886 – Sigmund Freud begins providing therapy to patients in Vienna, Austria.
    More on Freud's early therapy here

  • 1890- William James publishes Principles of Psychology.

    1890- William James publishes Principles of Psychology.
    More on William James here

  • 1898 - Edward Thorndike develops the Law of Effect. This is a key feature in the development of Skinner's radical BEHAVIOURISM.

    1898 - Edward Thorndike develops the Law of Effect. This is a key feature in the development of Skinner's radical BEHAVIOURISM.
    More on Thorndike here

  • 1900 – Sigmund Freud publishes Interpretation of Dreams.

    1900 – Sigmund Freud publishes Interpretation of Dreams.
    Read Freud's original book here- don't print it though (212 pages)
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    Psychodynamic Perspective dominates psychology, particularly in the USA. The main assumption of the psychodynamic perspective is that all behaviour can be explained in terms of the inner conflicts of the mind. For example, in the case study of Little Hans

    More on the Psychodynamic perspective here

  • 1901 - The British Psychological Society is formed

    1901 - The British Psychological Society is formed
    More on the BPS here

  • 1905 - Alfred Binet publishes the first intelligence test New Methods for the Diagnosis of the Intellectual Level of Subnormals.

    1905 - Alfred Binet publishes the first intelligence test New Methods for the Diagnosis of the Intellectual Level of Subnormals.
    More on Binet and the development of IQ testing here

  • 1906 - Ivan Pavlov publishes his findings on classical conditioning.(This is the start of BEHAVIOURISM)

    1906 - Ivan Pavlov publishes his findings on classical conditioning.(This is the start of BEHAVIOURISM)
    More on Pavlov here

  • 1909- Sigmund Freud publishes his detailed case study of Little Hans and the Oedipus Complex ‘Analysis of a phobia of a five-year-old boy’. [Core study 1]

    1909- Sigmund Freud publishes his detailed case study of Little Hans and the Oedipus Complex ‘Analysis of a phobia of a five-year-old boy’. [Core study 1]
    Find out more here
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    The Developmental Approach to psychology emerges and grows in popularity as Freud focuses on the importantance of childhood experiences. Developmental psychology is the scientific study of the psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings

    More on Developmental Psychology here

  • 1912 - Edward Thorndike publishes Animal Intelligence. The article leads to the development of the theory of operant conditioning.

    1912 - Edward Thorndike publishes Animal Intelligence. The article leads to the development of the theory of operant conditioning.
    More on Thorndike here

  • 1913 – Carl Jung begins to depart from Freudian views and develops his own theories, which are eventually known as analytical psychology.(Psychodynamic Perspective)

    1913 – Carl Jung begins to depart from Freudian views and develops his own theories, which are eventually known as analytical psychology.(Psychodynamic Perspective)
    Find out more about Jung and the Psychodynamic Perspective here

  • 1913- John B. Watson publishes ‘Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It’. The work helped establish behaviourism, which viewed human behaviour arising from conditioned responses.

    1913- John B. Watson publishes ‘Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It’. The work helped establish behaviourism, which viewed human behaviour arising from conditioned responses.
    Learn more about Watson and BEHAVIOURISM

  • 1915 – Sigmund Freud publishes work on repression.

    1915 – Sigmund Freud publishes work on repression.
    Find out more on repression here

  • 1920 - Watson and Rosalie Rayner publish research the classical conditioning of fear with their subject, Little Albert.(BEHAVIOURISM)

    1920 - Watson and Rosalie Rayner publish research the classical conditioning of fear with their subject, Little Albert.(BEHAVIOURISM)
    More on Little Albert here
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    The Individual Differences approach to psychology starts with early attempts to use psychometric tests to measure intelligence. The main assumption of the individual differences perspective is that to understand the complexity of human behaviour and exper

    More on the Individual Differences approach here
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    The Behaviourists dominate psychology. Behaviorism was the main theory in psychology between 1920s to 1950 and is based on a number of underlying assumptions regarding methodology and behavioural analysis:* Psychology should be seen as a science. Theorie

    Chomsky on SkinnerAlthough difficult to say when the Behaviourist influence faded in psychology, Noam Chomsky's 1967 review of Skinner's Verbal Behaviour was a key turning point against the Behaviourists

  • 1932 - Jean Piaget becomes the foremost cognitive theorist with the publication of his work The Moral Judgment of Children.

    1932 - Jean Piaget becomes the foremost cognitive theorist with the publication of his work The Moral Judgment of Children.
    More on Piaget here

  • Egas Moniz carries out the first human lobotomy

    Egas Moniz carries out the first human lobotomy
    More on lobotomies here
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    The rise of Physiological Psychology. This approach to psychology believes that behaviour and experience can be explained by physiological changes. This approach investigates the brain, the nervous system and other biological factors such as hormones.

    More on Physiological Psychology herehttp://www.holah.co.uk/core-studies/physiological/

  • 1938- B.F Skinner publishes ’The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis’ which sets out the theory and methods of operant conditioning and his ‘radical’ behaviourism.

    1938- B.F Skinner publishes ’The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis’ which sets out the theory and methods of operant conditioning and his ‘radical’ behaviourism.
    More on Skinner and BEHAVIOURISM here
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    The rise of Humanistic Psychology in psychology. Humanism is a psychological approach that emphasizes the study of the whole person. Humanistic psychologists look at human behavior not only through the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the per

    More of Humanistic Psychology here

  • 1942 - Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy and publishes Counseling and Psychotherapy. His approach encourages respect and positive regard for patients.

    1942 - Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy and publishes Counseling and Psychotherapy. His approach encourages respect and positive regard for patients.
    More on Rogers here

  • Cyril Burt publishes his first twin study on the genetic influence on intelligence.

    Cyril Burt publishes his first twin study on the genetic influence on intelligence.
    More on the case of Cyril Burt here

  • John Bowlby publishes his classic research on the effects of maternal deprivation with 44 juvenile thieves. Bowlby is a key contributor to the DEVELOPMENTAL Approach in psychology.

    John Bowlby publishes his classic research on the effects of maternal deprivation with 44 juvenile thieves. Bowlby is a key contributor to the DEVELOPMENTAL Approach in psychology.
    More on Bowlby here

  • Alfred Kinsey publishes 'Sexual Behavior in the Human Male'

    Alfred Kinsey publishes 'Sexual Behavior in the Human Male'
    Alfred Kinsey (and his small group of interviewers) carried out over 18,00 self-reports examining sexual behaviour in Americans. His findings in this book (and a later book about female sexuality) revolutionised ideas about sexual behaviour, homosexuality and became an international sensation.
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    Social Psychology becomes very popular, particularly in the USA until ethical guidelines restrict the type of research that can be carried out. Social psychology (or the social approach) is interested in studying individuals in a social context, such the

    More on Social Psychology here
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    Cognitive Psychology (information processing) grows more influential as computers develop. Cognitive psychology studies our mental processes or cognitions. These mental processes that cognitive psychologists focus on include memory, perception, thinking a

    More on Cognitive Psychology here

  • 1952 - The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is first published.

    1952 - The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is first published.
    The history of the DSM

  • 1954 - Abraham Maslow publishes Motivation and Personality, describing his theory of a hierarchy of needs. He also helps found humanistic psychology.

    1954 - Abraham Maslow publishes Motivation and Personality, describing his theory of a hierarchy of needs. He also helps found humanistic psychology.
    Find out more on Humanistic Psychology here

  • 1954- Corbett Thigpen and Hervey Cleckley document the first scientific case study of multiple personality with Eve White/Black ‘A case of multiple personality’ [Core study 11]

    1954- Corbett Thigpen and Hervey Cleckley document the first scientific case study of multiple personality with Eve White/Black ‘A case of multiple personality’ [Core study 11]
    More on Thigpen and Cleckley's research

  • 1955- Soloman Asch carries out his classic research on conformity using a line judgement task and confederate participants.

    1955- Soloman Asch carries out his classic research on conformity using a line judgement task and confederate participants.
    More on Asch and conformity (SOCIAL Psychology)

  • 1957- Daniel Dement and Nathaniel Kleitman find the first objective measurement of the brain activity underlying dreaming ‘The relation of eye movements during sleep to dream activity’ [Core study 7]

    1957- Daniel Dement and Nathaniel Kleitman find the first objective measurement of the brain activity underlying dreaming ‘The relation of eye movements during sleep to dream activity’ [Core study 7]
    More on Dement & Kleitman

  • 1958 - Harry Harlow publishes The Nature of Love, which describe his experiments with rhesus monkeys on the importance of attachment and love.

    1958 - Harry Harlow publishes The Nature of Love, which describe his experiments with rhesus monkeys on the importance of attachment and love.
    Find out more about Harlow and attachment (DEVELOPMENTAL psychology)

  • 1961 - Albert Bandura (and others) carries out research on observational learning and aggression ‘Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models’ [Core study 3]

    1961 - Albert Bandura (and others) carries out research on observational learning and aggression ‘Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models’ [Core study 3]
    More on Bandura's research here

  • 1963-Stanley Milgram publishes Obedience to Authority, which presented the findings of his famous obedience experiments. [Core study 6]

    1963-Stanley Milgram publishes Obedience to Authority, which presented the findings of his famous obedience experiments. [Core study 6]
    More on Milgram here

  • 1968- Roger Sperry conducts his research on patients with split brains ‘Hemisphere deconnection and unity in consciousness’ [Core study 8]

    1968- Roger Sperry conducts his research on patients with split brains ‘Hemisphere deconnection and unity in consciousness’ [Core study 8]
    More on Sperry's research

  • 1971- Philip Zimbardo carries out one of the most controversial studies in the history of psychology, the Stanford Prison Experiment which showed the situational effects of ‘evil’ environments

    1971- Philip Zimbardo carries out one of the most controversial studies in the history of psychology, the Stanford Prison Experiment which showed the situational effects of ‘evil’ environments
    More on the Stanford Prison Experiment here

  • 1973- David Rosenhan and seven other ‘pseudo-patients’ fake mental illness to see what life is like inside psychiatric hospitals in America ‘On being sane in insane places’. [Core study 12]

    1973- David Rosenhan and seven other ‘pseudo-patients’ fake mental illness to see what life is like inside psychiatric hospitals in America ‘On being sane in insane places’. [Core study 12]
    More on Rosenhan's research here

  • Homosexuality removed from the DSM3, previously it was regarded as a mental illness

    Homosexuality removed from the DSM3, previously it was regarded as a mental illness
    More on psychological explanations of homosexuality

  • 1974- Elizabeth Loftus (& John Palmer) publish their classic research on eyewitness memory ‘Reconstruction of and automobile destruction’ [Core study 14]

    1974- Elizabeth Loftus (& John Palmer) publish their classic research on eyewitness memory ‘Reconstruction of and automobile destruction’ [Core study 14]
    More on Loftus & Palmer here

  • 1984- Judith Samuel and Peter Bryant publish their classic critique of Piaget’s methods ‘Asking only one question in the conservation experiment’ [Core study 2]

    1984- Judith Samuel and Peter Bryant publish their classic critique of Piaget’s methods ‘Asking only one question in the conservation experiment’ [Core study 2]
    More on Samuel & Bryant here

  • 1986- Sue Savage-Rumbaugh publishes her research on the language acquisition of the Bonobo chimps Kanzi and Mulika ‘Spontaneous Symbol Acquisition and Communication Use by Pygmy Chimpanzees’ [Core study 13]

    1986- Sue Savage-Rumbaugh publishes her research on the language acquisition of the Bonobo chimps Kanzi and Mulika ‘Spontaneous Symbol Acquisition and Communication Use by Pygmy Chimpanzees’ [Core study 13]
    More on Savage-Rumbaugh here

  • 1994 –Mark Griffiths carries out research on the thinking patterns of regular gamblers ‘The role of cognitive bias and skill in fruit machine gambling’ [Core study 12]

    1994 –Mark Griffiths carries out research on the thinking patterns of regular gamblers ‘The role of cognitive bias and skill in fruit machine gambling’ [Core study 12]
    More on Mark Griffith's research here

  • 1997- Simon Baron-Cohen (and others) publishes ‘Another Advanced Theory of Mind: Evidence From Very High Functioning Adults With Autism or Asperger Syndrome’ showing how people with these disorders have difficulty reading emotion from other people’s eyes.

    1997- Simon Baron-Cohen (and others) publishes ‘Another Advanced Theory of Mind: Evidence From Very High Functioning Adults With Autism or Asperger Syndrome’ showing how people with these disorders have difficulty reading emotion from other people’s eyes.
    More on Baron-Cohen

  • 2000 –Eleanor Maguire researches the hippocampi of taxi drivers’. [Core study 9]

    2000 –Eleanor Maguire researches the hippocampi of taxi drivers’. [Core study 9]
    More on Maguire's research here

  • Reicher & Haslem (The BBC Prison Study): research into the effects of group identity on tyranny

    Reicher & Haslem (The BBC Prison Study): research into the effects of group identity on tyranny
    Find out more here