History of Psychology Second Hour What is Psychology

History of Psychology Second Hour -What is Psychology? What are the historical roots of psychology as a discipline? A few words about history in general Pre-Experimental Psychology as a Science • Structuralism - Wundt and Titchener • Functionalism - James • Behaviorism - Watson • Gestalt Psychology • Psychoanalysis

PSYCHOLOGY: • The scientific study of behaviour and it’s underlying emotional states and mental processes. BEHAVIOUR: • Observable action of an individual person or animal EMOTIONAL STATES AND MENTAL PROCESSES: • Sensations, perceptions, memories, thoughts and other subjective experiences

Original definition of the term “Psychology” PSYCH: • From the Greek for soul, spirit or self. OLOGY: • A branch of knowledge

More recent definition of the term “Psychology” PSYCHO: • Mind LOGY: • Science

Pre-Experimental Psychology The Philosophical Roots of Psychology • Rationalism -Rene Descartes • Empiricism -John Locke “Tabula Rasa” or Blank Slate

Experimental Psychology Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt • Founder of the first psychology laboratory Introspection • A tool to study consciousness Edward Titchener • The founder of “Structuralism” • The study of the structure of consciousness by way of introspection

Functionalism • A direct attack on structuralism • The study of the function of behaviour William James • The founder of “Functionalism” and author of “The Principles of Psychology” John B Watson • Founder of “Behaviourism” The study of observable behaviour

Behaviourism • A direct attack on structuralism • The study of the function of behaviour John B Watson • Founder of “Behaviourism” The study of observable behaviour

Gestaltism • An attack on all previous schools of psychology: Structuralists, Functionalist and Behaviourists • The study of the “Whole” Wolfgang Kohler • The founder of “Gestalt Psychology”. • The study of the whole

Psychoanalysis • The study of psychopathology and the unconscious mind Sigmund Freud • The father of psychoanalysis