Historical Progression of Psychology Quiz

Early Approaches to Psychology

• Structuralism was the first approach to psychology, established by Wilhelm Wundt in 1879, which combined physiology and philosophy to understand behavior.
• Structuralists believed that breaking down the mind into elements was necessary to understand brain functions, using introspection (looking inward) to understand thoughts and emotions.
• However, structuralism was unreliable due to varied results from person to person.

Functionalism

• Functionalism emerged to understand how the conscious mind affects behavior, with functionalists such as John Dewey wanting to know how the mind influences actions.
• This approach marked a shift from studying the unconscious and conscious mind to a more science-based study of observable events.

Behaviorism

• Early Behaviorism, led by John Watson, focused on the study of observable events and behaviors, rather than the conscious mind.
• Watson's experiment with an 11-month-old boy and a white rat demonstrated classical conditioning, where the boy learned to associate the rat with fear.

Gestalt Psychology

• Gestalt Psychology proposes that the whole is different from the sum of its parts, focusing on the mind and behavior as a whole rather than individual components.
• Examples of Gestalt principles will be discussed in further detail in Unit 3.

Psychological Approaches

• Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic approach focuses on the study of the unconscious mind, with Sigmund Freud as a key figure, believing that behavior is determined by past experiences.
• Humanistic approach emphasizes human free will and growth, striving for individuals to reach their greatest potential.
• Evolutionary approach uses evolutionary biology to explain human behavior, studying how natural selection promotes the survival of genes.
• Biological perspective states that behavior is based on physical processes, such as brain functions and hormones.
• Cognitive approach proposes that thought processes impact behavior, with cognitive psychologists studying how emotions affect thinking.
• Biopsychosocial perspective considers biological, psychological, and social factors to understand behavior.
• Sociocultural approach studies how thinking and behavior vary across cultures and situations.

Subfields of Psychology

• Biological psychology focuses on physical processes shaping behavior, such as the role of hormones in emotional responses.
• Clinical psychology assesses and treats mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Test your knowledge on the early theoretical approaches and key figures in the historical development of psychology, including Structuralism and its significance in psychology. Explore the foundational concepts that laid the groundwork for modern psychology.