Lesson 2 - Psychological School of Thoughts - History- Development- and Evolution of Psychology

Introduction to Psychology

  • Author: Jasper Ann P. Sta. Maria, RPm, MAEd

  • Institution: Lyceum de San Pablo

Intended Learning Outcomes

  • Differentiate and compare schools of thought used in Psychology.

  • Identify different theoretical fields of psychology.

Psychological Schools of Thought

  • Key Concepts in Psychology:

    • Various schools of thought focus on different aspects of mental processes and behaviors.

Different Schools of Psychology

  1. Cognitive Psychology:

    • Studies mental processes.

  2. Behaviorism:

    • Focuses on observable behavior.

  3. Humanistic Psychology:

    • Emphasizes individual free will.

  4. Psychoanalysis:

    • Examines the unconscious mind.

  5. Gestalt Psychology:

    • Studies the mind and behavior as a whole.

Details of Major Schools of Thought

Structuralism

  • Focused on reducing mental processes to their basic elements.

  • Utilizes introspection to analyze the inner processes of the human mind.

  • Wilhelm Wundt: Founder; established the first experimental psychology lab.

Functionalism

  • A reaction to structuralism, focusing on the purpose of consciousness and behavior.

  • Influenced by William James; examines how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments.

Behaviorism

  • Stresses observable behaviors over internal mental states.

  • Pioneers include John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner.

  • Behavior is shaped through environmental interactions, emphasizing conditioning.

Psychoanalysis

  • Founded by Sigmund Freud, focuses on the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior.

  • Key components include the id, ego, and superego, and theories of psychosexual development.

Humanistic Psychology

  • Developed as a response to behaviorism and psychoanalysis; significant figures include Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.

  • Focuses on self-actualization and personal growth.

Cognitive Psychology

  • Emerged in the 1950s, studying how people think, perceive, remember, and learn.

  • Links to other disciplines such as neuroscience; examples include Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Comparison: Structuralism vs. Functionalism

  • Structuralism: Focuses on breaking down mental processes into the smallest elements.

  • Functionalism: Focuses on how mental processes function in various situations, analyzing the purpose behind them.

Gestalt Psychology

  • Definition: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts—looks at experiences as unified wholes rather than isolated parts.

  • Key figures include Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler.

Key Principles of Gestalt Psychology

  • Good Figure: Objects grouped together are perceived as a single figure.

  • Similarity: Similar objects are perceived as grouped.

  • Proximity: Near objects are grouped together.

  • Continuation: Perception tends to see objects as uninterrupted.

  • Closure: The mind fills in gaps to create whole forms.

  • Symmetry: Symmetrical shapes are perceived as unified.

Behaviorism Theories

Classical Conditioning

  • Learning through associating a neutral stimulus with a naturally triggering stimulus.

  • Example: Pairing a bell sound with food.

Operant Conditioning

  • Learning based on rewards and punishments; emphasizes consequences of behavior.

Psychoanalysis: Key Concepts

  • Id, Ego, Superego: Core structures of personality; id seeks pleasure, ego deals with reality, and superego holds morals.

  • Psychosexual Stages: Development stages characterized by specific erogenous zones.

Dream Analysis in Psychoanalysis

  • Analyzes dreams for insights into unconscious motives.

    • Manifest Content: What the dreamer remembers.

    • Latent Content: The hidden meaning of the dream.

Humanistic Theories

  • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Motivations arranged in a pyramid from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

  • Carl Rogers' Person-Centered Therapy: A non-directive approach focusing on client growth and self-acceptance.

Cognitive Approach

  • Personality differences arise from varying information processing methods and perceptions.

Biological Psychology

  • Studies how biological factors like genetics and brain chemistry affect mental processes.

Historical Contributors to Psychology

  1. Sigmund Freud: Developed psychoanalysis and explored the unconscious.

  2. William James: Founded functionalism emphasizing the mind's purpose.

  3. Wilhelm Wundt: Launched the first psychology lab focused on structuralism.

  4. B.F. Skinner: Pioneer of behaviorism and operant conditioning.

  5. Jean Piaget: Known for work on cognitive development in children.

Conclusion

  • Psychology incorporates multiple perspectives and schools of thought, each contributing to the understanding of human behavior and mental processes.

  • These foundations continue to influence modern psychological practices and theories.