Published on 27 October 2021

How Was Psychology Developed?

General Psychology HOW-WAS-PSYCHOLOGY-DEVELOPED-1
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Today, psychology is defined as 'the scientific study of mind and behavior.' The word 'psychology' is derived from two specific Greek words; psyche, which means 'mind,' and logia, meaning 'the study of.' Simply put, psychology means the study of the mind. 

The philosophical interest in the human mind and behavior dates back to the ancient civilizations of Persia, Greece, Egypt, India, and China. Psychology is a relatively novel science, with most advances developing over the past 150 years. However, its origins could be traced to 400 – 500 BC in ancient Greece.

Psychology has developed into an incredibly diverse field over the last century. Its development can be traced back to a long and fascinating history of thought that has taken us from ancient theories of the soul to pioneering experiments by the likes of Wilhelm Wundt, widely regarded as the "father" of modern psychology. Since then, countless other psychologists have contributed to our understanding of behavior and cognitive processes, resulting in numerous applied theories and psychological interventions. 

From Freud's Psychoanalysis and Pavlov's conditioning to Skinner's operant learning and more current cognitive-behavioral therapies, research findings have allowed those working in psychology to develop insights into how we think, feel, and behave, providing heuristics for better health, well-being, and personal/professional relationships.

History Of Psychology

Psychology has a long and fascinating history. It began in the late 19th century with scientists like Wilhelm Wundt, who founded the first psychology lab. From there, the field blossomed into various disciplines, such as cognitive psychology, psychoanalytic approaches, and behavioral psychology, among many others. 

In the 20th century, breakthroughs in IQ testing, linguistics, and neuroscience allowed psychologists to explore how our minds work on a deeper level. 

Nowadays, researchers study everything from addiction to creativity and continue to expand our knowledge of human behavior. Psychology is an ever-evolving science that continues to captivate us with its insights into modern life and how we think!

Frequently Asked Questions

Cognitive psychology focuses on understanding how the mind works, specifically how people acquire, process, store, and use knowledge and information. It examines how we think, perceives, solve problems, and make decisions.
Psychology is the study of its biological bases of it. At its core, psychology examines how natural processes such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain structures influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions.
Social Psychology studies how the presence and actions of other people influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Humanistic Psychology is a movement in psychology supporting the belief that humans, as individuals, are unique beings and should be recognized and treated as such by psychologists and psychiatrists.

The Beginnings Of Psychology As A Discipline

During the 17th century, French philosopher Rene Descartes introduced the concept of dualism, which asserted that the mind and body were two distinct entities interacting to form the necessary human experience.

Two dominant theoretical perspectives on how the brain worked emerged, i.e., Structuralism and functionalism.

Structuralism was the first school of psychology developed by Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920). The theory focused on breaking down the various mental processes into essential components. Structuralism primarily relied on trained introspection, a research method wherein the subjects had to relate what was going on in their minds while performing a particular task.

However, introspection proved unreliable as there were too many individual variations in the experience reports of research subjects. Despite the failure of reflection, Wundt is considered an important figure in the history of psychology as he was the one to separate psychology from philosophy by analyzing and assessing the workings of the mind in a more structured manner, emphasizing objective measurement and control. 

In 1879, he also opened the first laboratory dedicated to psychology, and its establishment is usually thought of as the inception of modern experimental psychology.

Background: Philosophy And Physiology

Even today, several other issues debated by psychologists, such as the relative contributions of nature vs. nurture, are essentially rooted in these early philosophical theories.
So what makes psychology different from philosophy? 

While antecedent philosophers heavily relied on methodologies such as logic and observation, psychologists today utilize scientific methods to study and draw conclusions about human thoughts and behaviors.

Physiology also significantly contributed to the eventual emergence of psychology as a scientific discipline. Early physiological studies on the brain and its behavior had a powerful impact on psychology, ultimately contributing to applying its numerous scientific methodologies to studying psychology.

William James (1842-1910), an American psychologist, developed a theory known as functionalism that disagreed with the roots of Structuralism.

He argued that the mind is volatile, and looking for the elements and structure of conscious experience is fatuous. Instead, he proposed to focus on the purpose of consciousness and behavior, i.e., how and why an individual does something.

James further suggested that psychologists should seek the underlying cause of behaviors and their mental processes. This emphasis on the implicated causes and consequences of thoughts and behavior has markedly influenced contemporary psychology.

The Perspectives Of Psychology

Since then, the theories of Structuralism and functionalism have been replaced by several influential and dominant psychological theories, each bolstered by a shared set of hypotheses of what individuals are like, what's important to study, and how to do it.

Psychoanalysis, developed by Freud, was the original psychodynamic theory; however, the psychodynamic approach resulted in much contention.

Behaviorists were the ones to adopt classic contemporary perspectives on scientific strategies in psychology. They were known for relying on controlled laboratory experiments and renouncing unseen/unconscious factors as causes of behavior.

The humanistic approach later became the 'third force' in psychology and proposed the importance of subjective experience and individual growth.

Psychology Today

As time goes by, the field of Psychology is progressing exceptionally. Psychology helps people primarily as it can explain why people behave the way they do. 

With this kind of expert insight and understanding, psychologists can help people improve their stress management, decision-making, and behavior based on understanding past behaviors to predict future behaviors better. This can help people have happier and healthier lives by attaining better relationships, self-confidence, successful careers, and communication.

Experimental And Psychoanalytic Foundations

Experimental and psychoanalytic foundations are the most critical aspects when exploring neuroscience. Broadly, empirical science involves manipulating elements of the environment to observe their effects on behavior. At the same time, psychoanalytic research relies on uncovering hidden motivations to better understand a person's actions. 

Together, these approaches provide essential information about how our brain works and can be used in conjunction with each other to gain an even deeper understanding of human behavior at a neurological level.

Overview Of Francis Galton And Wilhelm Wundt's Contributions 

Francis Galton and Wilhelm Wundts are two famous figures in the history of psychology, both of whom made immense contributions to the field. Galton is credited with developing the concept of correlation and introducing scientific selection to the study of humanity, thereby helping to inaugurate the field of psychometrics. 

Wundt, meanwhile, established one of the first psychological laboratories where he conducted pioneering experiments on reaction times and sensory perception. Both thinkers were highly influential in shaping our understanding of how people behave and think: using objective criteria to measure mental functions and processes and expanding ideas about how we learn about ourselves through introspection.

Analysis Of The Psychoanalytic School Of Thought

The psychoanalytic school of thought revolves around the notion that our behavior is often motivated by unconscious means. It explores how past experiences and our early childhood relationships with parents and other authority figures can shape us in adulthood, often leading to neuroses or psychological problems. 

Proponents of this theory believe that understanding and working through these issues can lead to healing and meaningful life. The key components here are self-exploration, deep insight into your innermost thoughts, and connecting current behavior patterns and those from the past. 

Psychoanalysis is a popular form of therapy that often lasts longer but can provide excellent results if given the time. It's a great way to delve deeper into conscious and unconscious motivations!

Behaviorism

Behaviorism, also known as the behavioral perspective, is an area of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors instead of inner thoughts and feelings. 

This approach focuses on how environmental events or stimuli shape and influence our behavior using principles such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. It suggests that organisms are driven by external rewards and punishments rather than any internal processes or drives. 

As such, it has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of how humans learn certain behaviors over time. Generally speaking, behaviorism is viewed as a practical strategy for managing behavior in professional settings such as Education and healthcare. However, it can also be used in casual settings such as parenting or self-improvement.

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Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

Psychology has come a long way since the ancient Greeks first pondered the inner workings of the human mind. Early founders laid the foundations for modern scientific psychology as we know it today.

Over time, psychologists have developed numerous theories and techniques to help us better understand ourselves and our behavior. From classical behaviorism to cognitive behavioral therapy, psychology continues to evolve to meet our ever-changing understanding of humanity. 

This scientific field has given us more profound insights into human development and created countless practical applications to improve our lives, from psychological therapies to identifying risk factors for mental health issues. 

In short, psychology has been instrumental in helping us better comprehend how humans think, feel, and act in our complex world one thought at a time.