History of Psychology

Wundt & Structuralism  

Viewed psychology as a scientific study of conscious experience, and he believed that the goal of psychology was to identify components of consciousness and how those components combined to result in our conscious experience.  

A German scientist who was the first person to be referred to as a psychologist 

Wundt

Wundt believe in the notion of

voluntarism

Wundt pioneered using

controlled experiments

Introspection

a process by which someone examines their own conscious experience as objectively as possible, making the human mind like any other aspect of nature that a scientist observed.

Example of introspection

when you notice you're feeling stressed during exams and pause to ask, "Why am I stressed?" then realize it's due to study pressure and the fear of failure, allowing you to acknowledge the feeling and understand its source, rather than just reacting to it

Structuralism:

Aimed to understand the conscious mind by breaking down mental experiences into their most basic elements (sensations, images, feelings)

What does structuralism use

used systematic introspection to break down consciousness into basic elements (sensations, feelings, images), aiming to find universal mental building blocks,

Functionalism

Views mental processes in terms of their adaptive purpose, focusing on why we think/feel, not just what the elements are 

What does functionalism focus on

how mental activities helped an organism fit into its environment. 

Example of functionalism

emotions (fear prompts escape), language (communication for survival), learning (reinforcement encourages useful behaviors like B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning), and memory (retaining useful info) 

Sigmund Freud 

Austrian neurologist that created theories include the unconscious mind, the Oedipus complex, and the id/ego/superego model of the psyche. Defense mechanisms.

What did Sigmund Freud believe

He believed that childhood experiences shape adult lives, and that irrational forces guide both normal and abnormal behavior.  The unconscious mind was a repository of feelings and urges of which we have no awareness. 

Psychoanalytic Theory

focuses on the role of a person’s unconscious, as well as early childhood experiences, and this particular perspective dominated clinical psychology for several decades 

Drew Westen (1998) argues that many of the criticisms of Freud’s ideas are

misplaced, in that they attack his older ideas without taking into account later writings. 

Gestalt Psychology

Deals with the fact that although a sensory experience can be broken down into individual parts, how those parts relate to each other as a whole is often what the individual responds to in perception. 

three German psychologists who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century to escape Nazi Germany. credited with introducing psychologists in the United States to various Gestalt principles.  

Wertheimer, Koffka, Köhler, and Gestalt Psychology 

founders of Gestalt Psychology

Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler

Gestalt Psychology emphasizing that the

whole is different from the sum of its parts, focusing on how the mind perceives organized wholes (Gestalten) rather than just isolated elements

phi phenomenon

an optical illusion where the brain perceives continuous motion between two or more stationary lights or images that flash on and off in rapid succession, even though no actual movement occurs

Perceptual Organization:

The brain naturally groups stimuli into meaningful wholes using principles

• Proximity: Near objects grouped together. 

• Similarity: Similar objects grouped together. 

• Closure: Completing incomplete figures. 

• Continuity: Perceiving smooth, continuous patterns. 

Psychophysical Isomorphism

A belief that the brain's electrical fields mirror the structure of our conscious experience 

pivotal figures in Behaviorism

Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner 

Pavlov and Watson pioneering

classical conditioning (learning by association/reflexes

Skinner developing

Skinner developing

Ivan Pavlov Focus on

Unlearned (reflexive) responses to stimuli.  Showed how neutral stimuli could trigger learned responses, forming the basis of classical conditioning 

John B. Watson Focus on

Applying Pavlov's ideas to humans, asserting psychology should study only observable behavior. Established behaviorism as a scientific discipline, emphasizing prediction and control of behavior through environmental stimuli.  

B.F. Skinner Focus on

Voluntary behaviors influenced by their consequences (reinforcement/punishment).  Developed operant conditioning, differentiating from classical conditioning by focusing on what happens after a behavior, not before. 

Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs 

A psychological theory outlining five levels of human needs, often shown as a pyramid, where basic needs must be met before higher-level needs, culminating in self-actualization (reaching full potential). The levels, from bottom to top, are: Physiological (food, water, sleep), Safety (security, stability), Love & Belonging (relationships, connection), Esteem (respect, confidence), and finally Self-Actualization (creativity, fulfillment).  

Carl Rogers

A founder of humanistic psychology, firmly believed people are inherently good, possessing a natural tendency to grow, improve, and self-actualize (reach their full potential) unless environmental factors or conditional love thwart this drive, leading to psychological issues. He emphasized that given the right supportive conditions—genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy—individuals can overcome challenges and become "fully functioning".  

Innate Goodness:

People aren't born broken; they have an intrinsic drive for positive growth (the actualizing tendency). 

Self-Actualization:

The core motivation is to become the best version of oneself, a process of fulfilling one's potential. 

Conditions for Growth

Therapeutic success hinges on the therapist providing: 

• Genuineness: Being real and authentic. 

• Unconditional Positive Regard: Accepting the person without judgment. 

• Empathy: Accurately understanding the client's feelings. 

Person-Centered Therapy:

This belief led to his client-centered therapy, where the client, not the therapist, leads the way to their own solutions, supported by a growth-promoting environment.  

Stanley Milgram  

famous for his shocking obedience experiments showing how ordinary people obey authority figures even against their conscience, revealing profound insights into social influence, conformity, and morality, which led to major discussions on research ethics and our understanding of human behavior in extreme situations like the Holocaust. His work established fundamental concepts in social psychology, explaining how situational factors and social roles can override personal ethics, influencing fields from law to business.  

Obedience to Authority:

His most famous experiments demonstrated that a high percentage of people would deliver what they believed were lethal electric shocks to another person when instructed by an authority figure, challenging beliefs that only "evil" people commit atrocities. 

Situational Factors:

He highlighted how social situations and perceived authority (like wearing a lab coat) profoundly influence individual behavior, overriding personal moral values. 

Agency Theory:

His work supported the idea that individuals feel less responsible for their actions when they believe an authority figure will take responsibility, a concept known as the agentic state.