Early Psychological Theories Essay

Following the reading of chapter two from the psychology class textbook, students were asked to choose two early psychological theories and discuss which research methods were most likely used to reach the hypotheses. Out of the early psychological theories I chose to discuss phrenology and psychoanalysis. The first of which I would like to discuss is phrenology. To briefly summarize, phrenology (Greek for “study of the mind”) Inspired by Joseph Gall, is a theory that different brain parts are responsible for specific character and personality traits, which could be “read” from bumps on the skull which were examined by the phrenologists themselves. As far as the research method used for their work, I believe case studies were more likely used. Case studies are detailed descriptions of a particular individual based on careful observation or on formal psychological testing. I belive case studies were the more likely used research method for phrenologists because they had to examine and observe a person’s skull physically. Phrenologists also observed their behavior on top of that to determine if the bumps on their skull matched the phrenologists’ brain chart and the associated behavior for that part of the brain and skull. The second early psychological theory I would like to discuss is psychoanalysis. Even though very similar as both early theories are studies of the mind, psychoanalysis is the idea that emotional problems spring from unconscious conflicts and focuses on behavioral therapy whereas phrenology was more of a physical observation. Now as far as the most likely used research method for psychoanalysis, I believe they used several to reach a hypotheses; not just one. I believe psychoanalysis patients were subject to case studies, tests, and also surveys. I believe this because case studies describe individuals based on observation and gather information about a person’s childhood, dreams, fantasies, and experiences. Tests measure and