History of Psychology

Psychology

The scientific study of the mind and behaviour

Structuralism

Uses structure of consciousness which are built of basic building blocks: thoughts, feelings, memories

Functionalism

1. Views the mind as a whole, to understand the functions of the mind

2. Influenced by Darwin (theory of evolution)

Psychoanalytic Theory

1. Focuses on childhood experiences, suppressed memories, and unconscious motives

2. Driven by Freud

Gestalt Psychology

Focuses on the sensory experience & how our senses shapes every individual’s experience differently

Behaviourism

1. Focuses on behaviour, stating that behaviour is learned through reinforcement and can be taught 

2. Driven by Skinner

Humanism

1. States that all humans are inherently good

2. Driven by Maslow & Rogers

Cognitive Revolution

1. Occurred in the 1950s, influenced by the rise in linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science

2. Placed emphasis on the mind and its processes

3. Driven by Chomsky

Feminist Psychology

1. Challenges white & male dominated psychology perspectives

2. Seeks to free psychology of all gender biases, study gender differences, re-evaluate the contribution of women

Multicultural & Cross-cultural psychology

1. Explains for how different events depend on cultural upbringing

2. E.g. eating disorders are more prevalent in North America & Europe

Biopsychology

1. Studies the brain and nervous system

2. Focuses on immediate biological correlates/causes of behaviour

Evolutionary psychology

1. Studies long-term biological mechanisms of behaviour

2. E.g. common behaviours across human cultures = common genetic cause (smiling correlates with positive emotions)

Sensation and perception

1. Focuses on how our senses influences how we interpret the world

2. E.g. what we see can impact our auditory system, even if the sound remains the same (YANNY vs LAUREL)

Cognitive psychology

1. Understanding the mind and mental process behind behaviour

2. Studies cognitions, thoughts, and their relationship to our experiences and our actions

Developmental psychology

1. Study of development across of lifespan focusing on psychological traits/behaviours 

2. Studies cognitive skills, moral reasoning, social behaviour, and other psychological attributes

3. Driven by Piaget

Personality psychology

1. Focuses on patterns of thoughts and behaviours that make each individual unique

2. Involves traits like OCEAN or Big Five

Social psychology

1. Focuses on how we interact with and relate to others

2. Explains of our own behaviour and others, prejudice, attraction

3. Driven by Milgram (Shock experiment)

Clinical psychology

1. Focuses on diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders

2. Involves thoughts, behaviours, and emotions

3. Driven by Freud (psychoanalytic) and Rogers (client-centered)