Important Initial Concepts and Pioneers

Wilhelm Wundt

Focus on conscious experience

Method: Introspection

Aim: Analyze the structure of the mind

Key People: Edward Titchener (brought it to USA)

Sigmund Freud

Founded psychoanalysis; emphasized unconscious mind, childhood experiences, dream analysis, Id-Ego-Superego, defense mechanisms.

Wilhelm Wundt

Established first psychology lab (1879); founder of structuralism and experimental psychology; used introspection

Edward Titchener

Student of Wundt; brought structuralism to the US; emphasized introspective analysis of mental structures

William James

Father of American psychology; founded functionalism; focused on purpose of mental processes and adaptation

John B. Watson

Founder of behaviorism; rejected introspection; emphasized observable behavior and environment-based learning.

Law of Prägnanz

We perceive the simplest and most stable form possible; core of Gestalt principles.

Cognitive Maps

Organisms form mental representations of space; behavior is goal-directed

Drive Reduction Theory (Clark Hull)

Motivation arises from biological drives; learning reduces drive states

Indigenous Psychology

Native concepts of mind, culturally rooted theories, e.g., Indian traditions

Evolutionary Psychology

Behavioral traits as adaptations evolved for survival and reproduction

Girindrasekhar Bose

Indian psychoanalyst; interacted with Freud; emphasized indigenous understanding of mind

Charles Spearman

Two-factor theory of intelligence (g and s factors); early psychometrician

Charles Darwin

Inspired functionalism and evolutionary psychology; emphasized adaptation and survival mechanisms

Ulric Neisser

Coined term “Cognitive Psychology”; focused on mental processes: attention, memory, perception

Kurt Koffka

Co-founder of Gestalt school; emphasized perception and learning; applied Gestalt ideas to child development

Wolfgang Köhler

Gestalt psychologist; insight learning in chimpanzees; problem-solving as sudden reorganization

Max Wertheimer

Founder of Gestalt psychology; perception as organized wholes; studied phi phenomenon (motion perception)

Edward Thorndike

Law of Effect; behaviors followed by rewards are strengthened; foundation for operant conditioning

Law of Effect

Rewarded behaviors are strengthened; basis of operant learning

Id, Ego, Superego

Freud's structure of personality: instincts (Id), reality (Ego), morality (Superego)

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious strategies used by ego to manage anxiety (e.g., repression, projection)

Free Association

Psychoanalytic method to access unconscious thoughts through spontaneous speech

Clark Hull

Proposed Drive Reduction Theory; behavior = drive-based + habit strength