Chapter One
Evolution of Psychology
I) History & Roots
A) Wilhelm Wundt
1) Founder of psychology as a discipline.
2) Focused on conscious experience and its building blocks.
3) Trained many early psychologists.
B) Edward Titchener
1) Chief proponent of structuralism.
2) Used introspection to tap human consciousness.
3) Had troubles with verification of data and replicability.
C) William James
1) Founder of American Functionalism.
2) Viewed behavior in terms of its adaptive value for the organism.
3) Focused on the flow of consciousness rather than its structure.
D) John Watson
1) Founder of Behaviorism.
2) Confined psychology to the study of observable stimuli & behavior.
E) B. F. Skinner
1) Extended behaviorism, examined the effects of reinforcement on
behavior.
E) Sigmund Freud
1) Founded psychoanalysis, focused on unconscious thoughts in
determining behavior.
F) The Gestaltists
1) Considered the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
2) Suggested perception was more than the individual sensations
involved.
G) The Humanists
1) Considered each human unique, argued people strive for
"self-actualization."
2) Generally not empirically testable.
H) Modern Views
1) Modern psychologists are eclectic -- approach problems from
multiple perspectives.
2) Believe behaviors have multiple causes.
II) Related Links
