The History of Psychology

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Recommended: Introduction to Erikson and Sigmund Freud theory

The History of Psychology In order to discuss Psychology's history, it is important to

understand that psychology still does not have one unifying approach

unlike the natural sciences; even the definition of Psychology and

what it truly means is still undecided. However I shall attempt to

review chronologically its philosophical origins, include how the

science of Physics and Biology were placed in history and how they

influenced research and determined the development of Psychology as

its recognised today.

Beginning with the philosophers Plato and Aristotle (between 428- 347)

in ancient Greece, they began to ask questions on learning,

motivation, memory, dreaming and perception. Reluctant to measure,

Plato and Aristotle believed the truth could be discovered through

self-analysis.

Aristotle describes his theory as “enlightenment” an idea that the

mind influences the body but the body cannot influence the mind.

This self-analytical experience is named introspection and introduces

us firstly to Structuralism and the future of Psychology.

One of the first psychology laboratories was founded in the late

1870's, by Wilhelm Wundt. He suggested that all human experience could

be viewed as simple processes based on controlled experiments of

self-observation and behaviour and this method was termed

“Introspection”.

Structuralism and the Introspection technique attempted to analyse

conscious mental experience and reduce it into elements of sensations

and feelings, i.e. thoughts, ideas, and perception.

At this time during the 19th century, physics ...

... middle of paper ...

...cience discoveries have

provided very important contributions to Psychology. Biology, Physics

and chemistry have furnished this discipline with a huge variety of

answers in assisting the human condition and the future of Psychology.

Bibliography

http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/james

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cognitive-science/#Rep

http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/freud.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbodymind/html

http://www.psych-central.com/

http://www.bps.org.uk/

Re

Reference Books

R. Gross “Psychology The Science Of Mind And Behaviour” 5th Ed, Pub:

Hodder Arnold

E. Cox “Psychology AS Level” Pub: Oxford

N. Hayes “A First Course In Psychology” 3rd Ed, Pub: Thomas Nelson

N C. Benson “Introducing Psychology” Pub: Icon

Ref Dates: 31/10/05 – 7/11/05

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