Scribd
Upload
5K views1 page

Major Schools of Thought in Psychology

Major schools of thought in psychology emerged as the field developed as a science separate from biology and philosophy. These include structuralism, functionalism, gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanistic psychology, and cognitive psychology. Structuralism focused on analyzing mental processes into basic components, while functionalism emphasized the functions of behaviors. Gestalt psychology viewed experiences as unified wholes rather than isolated parts. Psychoanalysis, founded by Freud, emphasized the unconscious mind's influence. Behaviorism, based on theorists like Watson and Skinner, viewed behavior as explained by environmental causes alone. Humanistic psychology centered on free will, growth, and self-actualization. Cognitive psychology studies mental processes like thinking, memory, and learning.

Uploaded by

Xedo Pingol
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5K views1 page

Major Schools of Thought in Psychology

Major schools of thought in psychology emerged as the field developed as a science separate from biology and philosophy. These include structuralism, functionalism, gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanistic psychology, and cognitive psychology. Structuralism focused on analyzing mental processes into basic components, while functionalism emphasized the functions of behaviors. Gestalt psychology viewed experiences as unified wholes rather than isolated parts. Psychoanalysis, founded by Freud, emphasized the unconscious mind's influence. Behaviorism, based on theorists like Watson and Skinner, viewed behavior as explained by environmental causes alone. Humanistic psychology centered on free will, growth, and self-actualization. Cognitive psychology studies mental processes like thinking, memory, and learning.

Uploaded by

Xedo Pingol
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Major Schools of Thought in Psychology

When psychology was first established as a science separate from biology and philosophy, the debate over how to
describe and explain the human mind and behavior began. The first school of thought, structuralism, was advocated by the
founder of the first psychology lab, Wilhelm Wundt. Almost immediately, other theories began to emerge and vie for
dominance in psychology. The following are some of the major schools of thought that have influenced our knowledge
and understanding of psychology:
Structuralism vs. Functionalism:
1) Structuralism was the first school of psychology, and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic
components. ajor structuralist thinkers include Wilhelm Wundt and !dward Titchner.
2) Functionalism formed as a reaction to the theories of the structuralist school of thought and was heavily influenced by
the work of William James. This school focused on the functions of human behaviors and not their structure.
ajor functionalist thinkers included "ohn #ewey and $arvey %arr. Evolutionary psychology is founded on the
view that the function of all psychological phenomena in human evolution is a necessary perspective to their
understanding.
Gestalt Psychology:
3) Gestalt psychology is based upon the idea that we experience things as unified wholes. This approach to psychology
began in &ermany and Austria during the late '(th century in response to the molecular approach of structuralism. )ather
that breaking down thoughts and behavior to their smallest element, the gestalt psychologists believed that you must look
at the whole of experience. According to the gestalt thinkers, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. ax
Wertheimer is often credited as the founder of this movement.
Psychoanalysis:
*igmund +reud was the found of ) Psycho!ynamic approach. This school of thought emphasi,es the influence of the
unconscious mind on behavior. +reud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements: the id, the ego, and
the superego. -ther major psychodynamic thinkers include Anna +reud, %arl "ung, and !rik !rikson.
"ehaviorism:
#) "ehaviorism became the dominant school of thought during the '(./s. 0ased upon the work of thinkers such as "ohn
Watson, 1van 2avlov, and 0. +. *kinner, behaviorism holds that all behavior can be explained by environmental causes,
rather than by internal forces. 0ehaviorism is focused on o$serva$le $ehavior. Theories of learning including classical
conditioning and operant conditioning were the focus of a great deal of research.
%umanistic Psychology:
&) %umanistic psychology developed as a response to psychoanalysis and behaviorism. $umanistic psychology instead
focused on individual free will, personal growth, and self3actuali,ation. ajor humanist thinkers included Abraham
aslow and %arl )ogers.
'ognitive Psychology:
() 'ognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive,
problem solve, remember, and learn. As part of the larger field of cognitive science, this branch of psychology is related to
other disciplines including neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics. -ne of the most influential theories from this school
of thought was the stages of cognitive development theory proposed by "ean 2iaget. 4ater work in this field was
pioneered by names like Albert !llis and Aaron 0eck.

You might also like