Psychology History - class 1

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It provides a practical understanding of what we do and a powerful way of thinking.
It aims to be scientific; the Internet can spread misinformation, which psychology seeks to debunk.

$1879$ : Wundt establishes the first psychology lab and is considered the founder; psychology should be a science modeled after physics and chemistry and should study the mind and conscious experience.
$1890s$ : Structuralism; $1900s$ : Psychoanalysis; $1910s$ : Behaviorism and Gestalt psychology.
$1950s$ : Skinner advances Behaviorism; $1950s$ : Rodgers & Maslow develop Humanism.
$1960s$ : Rise of cognition and biological perspective/neuroscience.
$1980s$ : Rise of evolutionary psychology; $2000s$ : Rise of positive psychology.

Note: You will not have to know the years for the exam.

Structuralism — Edward Titchener: The task is to analyze consciousness into basic elements and investigate how these elements are related; focus on sensation and perception.
Functionalism — William James: Psychology should investigate the function or purpose of consciousness, not its structure; focus on mental testing and behavioral differences between sexes.

Sigmund Freud: Attempted to treat mental disorders through psychoanalysis; the unconscious influences behavior.
Unconscious: The mental content below conscious awareness that still influences us.
Psychoanalytic theory sparked debate and is controversial.

John B. Watson: Scientific psychology should study only observable behavior; abandon the study of consciousness; behavior is dictated by the environment.
B. F. Skinner: Extended behaviorism with the Skinner Box; trained animals; claim that environments control behavior and free will is limited.

Max Wertheimer: Disagreed with structuralism; the whole is greater than the sum of the parts; look at patterns to understand the world as a whole; big-picture psychology.

Carl Rodgers & Abraham Maslow: Critique of dehumanizing schools; emphasis on self-concept; basic need to grow and fulfill potential; focus on unique human qualities.