.jpg)
What Is Psychology?
Briefly
discuss early Schools of Psychology
Defining
Psychology:
1.
The word "psychology" is
the combination of two terms - study (ology) and soul (psyche), or mind. The
derivation of the word from Latin gives it this clear and obvious meaning.
Psychology is the STUDY OF MIND.
―Psychology
is the study of the mind and behavior.‖
Psychology evolved out of both philosophy and
biology. Discussions of these two subjects date as far back as the early Greek
thinkers including Aristotle and Socrates.
Psychology
as a Separate Science:
The
emergence of psychology as a separate and independent field of study was truly
born when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology lab in
Leipzig, Germany in 1879.
·
Wundt's work was focused on describing
the structures that compose the mind.
·
This perspective relied heavily on
the analysis of sensations and feelings through the use of introspection.
·
Introspection is a highly
subjective process in which properly trained individuals would be able to
accurately identify the mental processes that accompanied feelings, sensations
and thoughts.
Schools
of Thought
Throughout psychology's history, a
number of different schools of thought have formed to explain human
thought and behavior. These schools of thought often rise to dominance for a
period of time. While these schools of thought are sometimes perceived as
competing forces, each perspective has contributed to our understanding of
psychology. The following are some of the major schools of thought in
psychology.
· Structuralism
· Functionalism
·
Humanism
· Cognitivism
Structuralism
1.
Structuralism was the first school
of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic
components.
2.
Researchers tried to understand
the basic elements of consciousness using a method known as introspection.
3.
Wilhelm Wundt, founder of the
first psychology lab, was an advocate of this position and is often considered
the founder of structuralism.
4.
Despite the fact that it was his
student, Edward B. Titchener who first coined the term to describe this school
of thought.
5.
While Wundt's work helped to
establish psychology as a separate science and contributed methods to
experimental psychology and Titchener development of structuralism helped
establish the very first "school" of psychology, the
structuralism did not last long beyond Titchener's death.
Major
Structuralist Thinkers
2.
Edward B. Titchener
Criticisms
of Structuralism
1.
By today’s scientific standards,
the experimental methods used to study the structures of the mind were too
subjective—the use of introspection led to a lack of reliability in results.
2.
Other critics argue that structuralism
was too concerned with internal behavior, which is not directly observable and
cannot be accurately measured.
Strengths
of Structuralism
1.
Structuralism is important because
it is the first major school of thought in psychology.
2.
Structuralism also influenced
experimental psychology.
Functionalism
1.
Functionalism formed as a reaction
to the structuralism and was heavily influenced by the work of William James
and the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin.
2.
Functionalists sought to explain
the mental processes in a more systematic and accurate manner.
3.
Rather than focusing on the
elements of consciousness, functionalists focused on the purpose of
consciousness and behavior.
4.
Functionalism also emphasized
individual differences, which had a profound impact on education.
Major Functionalist Thinkers
· William
James
Criticisms of
Functionalism
· "It
is literature. It is beautiful, but it is not psychology," said Wilhelm
Wundt of
Strengths of Functionalism
1. Influenced behaviorism and applied
psychology.
2.
Influenced the educational system,
especially with regards to John Dewey’s belief that children should learn at
the level for which they are developmentally prepared.
Defining
Psychology:
1.
The word "psychology" is
the combination of two terms - study (ology) and soul (psyche), or mind. The
derivation of the word from Latin gives it this clear and obvious meaning.
Psychology is the STUDY OF MIND.
2.
American Psychological Association
define it as:
―Psychology
is the study of the mind and behavior.‖
Psychology evolved out of both philosophy and
biology. Discussions of these two subjects date as far back as the early Greek
thinkers including Aristotle and Socrates.
Psychology
as a Separate Science:
The
emergence of psychology as a separate and independent field of study was truly
born when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology lab in
Leipzig, Germany in 1879.
·
Wundt's work was focused on describing
the structures that compose the mind.
·
This perspective relied heavily on
the analysis of sensations and feelings through the use of introspection.
·
Introspection is a highly
subjective process in which properly trained individuals would be able to
accurately identify the mental processes that accompanied feelings, sensations
and thoughts.
Schools
of Thought
Throughout psychology's history, a
number of different schools of thought have formed to explain human
thought and behavior. These schools of thought often rise to dominance for a
period of time. While these schools of thought are sometimes perceived as
competing forces, each perspective has contributed to our understanding of
psychology. The following are some of the major schools of thought in
psychology.
· Structuralism
· Functionalism
·
Psychoanalysis
·
Behaviorism
·
Humanism
· Cognitivism
Structuralism
1.
Structuralism was the first school
of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic
components.
2.
Researchers tried to understand
the basic elements of consciousness using a method known as introspection.
3.
Wilhelm Wundt, founder of the
first psychology lab, was an advocate of this position and is often considered
the founder of structuralism.
4.
Despite the fact that it was his
student, Edward B. Titchener who first coined the term to describe this school
of thought.
5.
While Wundt's work helped to
establish psychology as a separate science and contributed methods to
experimental psychology and Titchener development of structuralism helped
establish the very first "school" of psychology, the
structuralism did not last long beyond Titchener's death.
Major
Structuralist Thinkers
1.
Wilhelm Wundt
2.
Edward B. Titchener
Criticisms
of Structuralism
1.
By today’s scientific standards,
the experimental methods used to study the structures of the mind were too
subjective—the use of introspection led to a lack of reliability in results.
2.
Other critics argue that structuralism
was too concerned with internal behavior, which is not directly observable and
cannot be accurately measured.
Strengths
of Structuralism
1.
Structuralism is important because
it is the first major school of thought in psychology.
2.
Structuralism also influenced
experimental psychology.
Functionalism
1.
Functionalism formed as a reaction
to the structuralism and was heavily influenced by the work of William James
and the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin.
2.
Functionalists sought to explain
the mental processes in a more systematic and accurate manner.
3.
Rather than focusing on the
elements of consciousness, functionalists focused on the purpose of
consciousness and behavior.
4.
Functionalism also emphasized
individual differences, which had a profound impact on education.
Major Functionalist Thinkers
· William
James
·
John Dewey
·
Harvey Carr
·
John Angell
Criticisms of
Functionalism
· "It
is literature. It is beautiful, but it is not psychology," said Wilhelm
Wundt of
functionalist
William James’ The Principles of Psychology.
Strengths of Functionalism
1. Influenced behaviorism and applied
psychology.
2.
Influenced the educational system,
especially with regards to John Dewey’s belief that children should learn at
the level for which they are developmentally prepared.
0 comments:
Post a Comment