7 Schools of Psychology

Structuralism

Early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titcher; used introspection to reveal the structure of the mind

Functionalism

early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

Behaviorism

the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Psychoanalysis

school of psychology founded by Sigmund Freud. This school of thought emphasized the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior.

Humanistic Psychology

focused on individual free will, personal growth and the concept of self-actualization.

Cognitive Psychology

school of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember and learn.

Gestalt Psychology

A system of psychology that focuses largely on learning and perception, suggesting that combining sensory elements produces new patterns with properties that did not exist in the individual elements.