Explore the historical development of psychology as a scientific discipline, including key figures, theories, and milestones that shaped the field.
Evolution of Psychology – Study Notes
| Period | Key Figures | Main Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Structuralism (1879‑1900) | Wilhelm Wundt, Edward Titchener | • First experimental lab (Leipzig) • Introspection to map basic elements of consciousness |
| Functionalism (1890‑1910) | William James, John Dewey, James‑G. Marsh | • Emphasis on purpose of mental processes • Influenced education, applied psychology |
| Psychophysics & Sensation | Gustav Fechner, Ernst Weber | • Quantified relationship between stimulus and perception (Weber‑Fechner law) |
| School | Core Idea | Representative Researchers | Notable Experiments / Concepts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behaviorism | Behavior is learned; internal states are not directly observable | John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, Ivan Pavlov | Classical conditioning (Pavlov), Operant conditioning (Skinner box) |
| Gestalt Psychology | Perception organized as wholes, not sums of parts | Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, Kurt Koffka | Laws of perceptual organization (figure‑ground, proximity) |
| Psychoanalysis | Unconscious drives shape behavior | Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler | Dream analysis, free association, psychosexual stages |
| Humanistic Psychology | Emphasis on free will, self‑actualization | Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers | Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, client‑centered therapy |
| Decade | Shift | Key Figures & Works |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s‑1950s | Reaction against strict behaviorism; interest in mental processes | George Miller – “The Magical Number Seven”; Noam Chomsky – critique of behaviorist language models |
| 1960s‑1970s | Development of experimental paradigms for memory, attention, problem solving | Ulric Neisser – Cognitive Psychology (1967); Herbert Simon & Allen Newell – computer models of cognition |
| 1970s‑1980s | Emergence of information‑processing models; rise of neuropsychology | Donald Broadbent – selective attention; Michael Posner – attentional networks |
Core Concepts Introduced
| Area | Development | Influential Researchers |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Psychology | Linking brain structure/function to behavior | Roger Sperry (split‑brain), Paul Broca, Karl Pribram |
| Evolutionary Psychology | Human behavior as adaptation to ancestral environments | Leda Cosmides, John Tooby, David Buss |
| Social Cognitive Theory | Interaction of cognition, behavior, and environment | Albert Bandura – observational learning, self‑efficacy |
| **Cognitive Neuroscience |