History of Psychology

psychology

the study of the mind and human behavior

biology, philosophy

fields of study that psychology is based on

empirical

tested and proven through experimentation, observation, and research

only the existence of the self is provable

meaning of “I think therefore I am”

nature vs. nurture

argument of the origin of personality and intelligence

Wilhelm Wundt

first person who conducted psychological experiments, creating the field of psychology

psychophysicist

a person who studies the connection between the mind and the body

introspection

tool used in Wundt’s experiments; perceiving an object and reporting conscious experiences (ex. smell a rose, report related emotions, memories, etc.)

Edward Titchener

Wundt’s student; brought psychological theories to the U.S.; created the school of structuralism

structuralism

first branch of psychology; the theory that there is a universal structure of the mind

questions asked by structuralism

what are the parts of the mind? what do they do?

Charles Darwin

created the Theory of Evolution (including “survival of the fittest”)

reproduction

motivation to survive according to survival of the fittest

fit (survival of the fittest)

highest likelihood to reproduce (survive as an individual, then attract a mate)

William James

first American professor of psychology; heavily influenced by Darwin; created the school of functionalism

functionalism

early branch of psychology; the idea that it is better to study the function of consciousness, rather than the structure of it

questions asked by functionalism

what behaviors are common? what is their purpose?

stream of consciousness

the theory that consciousness is continually moving and never breaks

Dorothea Dix

founded the first asylums for the treatment of mental disorders

G. Stanley Hall

first president of the APA; started the first American Psychology Lab at Johns Hopkins

Mary Whiton Calkins

first female president of the APA