In this essay, the topic ‘The Discipline of Psychology does not stand still, but adapts and develops’ will be analyzed. This essay will compare the various approaches towards human thinking and behavior used by psychologists throughout the discipline of psychology and how they have altered over time. The first topic that will be analyzed is psychology in the mid 1800s & early 1900s in which spiritualism was prevalent, and its take on how the human mind and behaviors worked. The second topic that will be discussed is psychology in the late 1900s to 21st Century and its more scientific method will be contrasted to that of the late 1800s & 1900s.
During 1850s America, spiritualism emerged and rapidly grew to popularity, and continued to grow
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21). During this hardship many people yearned to connect with passed away members to help relieve the suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental difficulties in life (Baker & Ludy, 2014, pp. 21-22). Mediums emerged to aid with the mental issues of loss and they did this by using the practise of speaking to ghosts or spirits whom were supposedly deceased members of the family wanting to reconnect and come to grips with their loss (Baker & Ludy, 2014, p. 20). The practice of the medium in tow with spiritualism started to loose credibility in the 1920s due to many professional mediums revealed as frauds (Baker & Ludy, 2014, p. 22). At the start of the 1900s the ‘New Psychology’ emerged into the psychology scene to address the issues of faux practices of psychology that were not backed by scientific processes (Baker & Ludy, 2014, p. 29). Early practices of …show more content…
In the later part of the 1900s psychologists started to explore more deeply the entire aspect of human behavior. In the 1980s Albert Bandura started this study of the whole spectrum of human behavior and how it would influence the mental problems found in patients (Devonis & Kaufman, 2014, p. 169), this study conducted by Bandura looked at aspects such as observational learning, cognitive regulators and self- regulatory behavior to name a few (Devonis & Kaufman, 2014, p. 169). The modern world has seen talking therapies becoming the main premise of psychologists by following the model of cognitive behavioral therapy to address and interpret mental health issues (Chung & Hyland, 2012, p. 288). An issue with modern psychology is the use of anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs with the intent to cure mental health issues but many of these drugs simply suppress these issues, in which the main goal is to cure mental health issues not suppress them (Chung & Hyland, 2012, p.
Psychology comprises of two words originally used by the ‘Greeks’, ‘psyche’, defining the mind, soul or spirit and lastly ‘logos’ being study. Both words define together the ‘study of the mind’. Psychology perspectives evaluate the normal and abnormal behaviour and how persons’ deal with different concepts of issues and problems. Psychology theories’ are based on ‘common sense’, but its scientific structure, everything needs to be evaluated and tested, therefore, promoting different psychological theories’.
Historically psychology was derived from philosophy. From the works of Aristotle to Plato and the others that followed, has played a part in the inception of this behavioral science. The concepts that were developed during that time has been built on and explained in greater volume. Today, many theories that was identified before has been improved into better understanding for readers, students and the wider public. Some are known under a new name while others hold their authentic name and rooted meaning. Such a theory is psychoanalysis, which is the unconscious processing as causes of mental illness (Hergenhahn 2013). There were many theorists who made contributions towards the development of this theory,
A situation can drastically affect a person’s behavior, motivation and overall attitude. There have been many psychological studies that demonstrate the strong influence a situation has on a person’s behavior. Economy, living conditions, education and treatment can have an enormous impact on an individual’s conduct and demeanor. The ever-changing situations of the 19th century in America posed a challenge for various groups of people. People were often put in demanding situations and most reacted according to their current environment.
Rationalism and empiricism were two philosophical schools in the 17th and 18th centuries, that were expressing opposite views on some subjects, including knowledge. While the debate between the rationalist and empiricist schools did not have any relationship to the study of psychology at the time, it has contributed greatly to facilitating the possibility of establishing the discipline of Psychology. This essay will describe the empiricist and rationalist debate, and will relate this debate to the history of psychology.
The birth of psychology was in December of 1879, at Germanys University of Leipzig (Myers, 2014, p.2). In 1960, Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener defines psychology as “the science of mental health” (Myers, 2014, p.4). However, two provocative American psychologists, John Watson and B.F Skinner, redefined psychology in 1920. They redefined psychology as “the scientific study of observable behavior” (Myers, 2014, p.4). The problem arose when psychologists realized people could not observe feeling or thought so they needed to come up with a new definition for psychology. We define psychology today as “the science of behavior and mental processes” (Myers, 2014, p.4). Psychology includes many subfields such as human development, social behavior,
The term psychology has many meanings to different people, even to those who work within the psychological field. The word psychology derives from two Greek roots; 'psyche' refers to 'soul' or 'mind' and logo refers to 'the study of'. A more update definition of the word psychology can be found from Atkinson, et al (1991) “The scientific study of behaviours and mental processes.” However on Google Definitions the definition of psychology is “the mental characteristics and attitudes of a person” [accessed 16 September 2011], which gives somewhat of a contradiction. In this assignment I will be outlining and evaluating four key psychological perspectives. The psychological perspectives I have chosen are the behavioural approach, biological approach, cognitive approach and the psychodynamic approach.
This assignment will discuss the development in the different type of psychological approaches and why they are important, The different approaches are biological, learning, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, behavioural, social they all have an Positive effect on different understanding of the human behaviour. I have chosen Psychodynamic and cognitive as my two chosen theories which has proven in the health care sector to have a good effect on helping the human behaviour, (NHS Choice 2015) the three theorist of my two chosen theories are Freud Sigmund and Carl Jung who are the founder of the psychodynamic theory the theory focus on the unconscious mind, development, feelings also the emotion of the human. Jean piagat’s is the main founder of cognitive which focuses more on the way human process information, how they learn and think thing, I will also be discussing nature by nurture debate which includes the way human think, feel and behave weather it’s the nature side which is genitally inherited or is it the nurture side, influences by life and environmentally experiences I am also going to explore the importance of attachment in my two chosen theory which identify the importance of the bond with child and caregiver (Lawton J et al 2015).
Science “… assumes that the universe is, as its name implies, a vast single system in which the basic rules are everywhere the same” (Rutherford & Ahlgren, 1990). This quote implies that for a subject to be considered a science, all of its concepts must be of similar origin. For the case of Psychology, this is not true; however, Psychology is, in fact, a mature paradigmatic science which consists of one paradigm and resulted in a revolutionary change. Psychology consists of many different schools of thought which supports the notion, previously mentioned, that reinforces that it is not a very mature science. Behaviorism, Gestalt, Psychoanalysis and Functionalism are the schools of thought of Psychology. Each of these schools of thought demonstrates multidimensional perceptions by which displays the emergent and transformed way of thinking over the years. The schools of thought not only governs the belief of Psychologists but it also exhibits the lack of one absolute way of looking or solving something. Psychology consists of several branches of theories and concepts which leads to complexities, unlike Biology and Chemistry which have one consistent solution. Psychology, nevertheless, has a paradigm: Behaviorism. Cognitive Psychology stems from Behaviorism, which lead to a revolutionary change. The evidence displayed throughout this paper will support this proposition.
I have always been intrigued by the mental processes of humans and animals. As a young child and into adolescence, as a student and teacher and as a caregiver, I have always been interested in psychology in one form or another. This essay will reflect not only the development of my interest in psychology, but the development of myself as a person.
Psychology entails the study of human behavior and mind. It also involves an applied science and an academic discipline that seek to understand groups and individual by establishing general values and researching particular cases. In the field of psychology, professional practitioners known as a psychologist are classified as the behavioral, cognitive, or social scientist. These practitioners attempt to comprehend the role of individual mental functions and their social behavior. The psychologists apply the psychological knowledge when assessing and treating individuals with mental health problems. The process helps in understanding and resolving problems in numerous spheres of human actions. Psychology involves therapeutic role, counseling, or clinical practicing. This research entails detailed discussion pertaining psychology process. It also describes the neural system, and it functions with human being behavior. The study also describes the individual emotional responses from a behavioral perspective and neurobiological basis of emotions.
In this essay I am looking at where Psychology as a discipline has come from and what affects these early ideas have had on psychology today, Psychology as a whole has stemmed from a number of different areas of study from Physics to Biology,
Furthermore, a brief criticism of traditional psychology was illustrated, where its negative points were stressed. These consist of the discipline’s withdrawal from any historical, political and cultural context, as well as the positivistic, individualistic and empiricist approach to knowledge. However, despite its negative characteristics as a methodological approach, social constructionism has much to offer in the discipline of psychology. There is an opportunity to see people not as experimental subjects but as social and dynamic beings, whose issues derive not from inner malfunctions but from social processes, while giving emphasis on matters of power relations and on the active ability of language to construct versions of reality. Thus, the social constructionist approach opens the field for a psychology that will act in favor of and not as a tool against humanity, actively engaging in the struggle against inequality and the violation of human
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.
The central purpose of this essay is to critically discuss the importance of understanding human evolution and the history of psychology for the modern psychologist. For the human evolution, the essay will be addressing on how we and other species descended from our ancestors and how the different environment has helped to us to become more adaptable. Regarding the history of psychology, the essay will be discussing on how psychology branched off from the philosophy approach to become its own science. The essay will then go on discussing how the understanding of both human evolution and history of psychology would be used by modern psychologist.
This book sets off with the ideas of 50 popular psychologists and comprises their development over a century in time. It explores and provides their crucial thoughts and insights into the personality, mind and human nature, bringing together their most influential concepts and theories collected.