This section covers the following topics

The history and development of psychology

The major approaches to psychology

Notable figures in psychology

Modern applications of psychology

Section Summary

The origins of psychological study go back to 1879, when Wilhelm Wundt opened the first laboratory to study psychology in Germany. He pioneered the practice of introspection and supported structuralism. William James published the first psychology textbook and supported functionalism. As time went on, many different theories about psychology have emerged, including behaviorism, cognitive theory, psychoanalysis, humanism, evolutionary theory, and biopsychology, among others. Most modern psychologists adopt an eclectic approach in which they combine multiple approaches to treat clients. Today, there are many applications of psychology, from clinical psychology to psychiatry.

History of Psychology

Beginnings

People have been inquisitive about the human mind, thoughts, and behavior for thousands of years. In the beginning, philosophy had a major influence on psychology and its study. Now, psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. There are several notable people and approaches that have shaped psychology.

Structuralism

In 1879, Wilhelm Wundt, known as the “father of psychology,” established a laboratory to study psychology in Leipzig, Germany. He used the practice of introspection, in which he asked subjects to report their thoughts in response to stimuli. Through this process, he sought to understand the way humans think.

Wundt, along with his student Edward Titchener, supported the psychological school of thought called structuralism. Structuralism investigates the way the mind works and how the mind will combine sensations, information, and emotion into cohesive thoughts and ideas. This school of thought emphasizes the processes of the mind.

Functionalism

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