Foundation of Psychology
The Foundations of Psychology
Jennifer Moser
582521
PSY301
Every since the beginning of Psychology, we have been faced with many
questions. Psychology did not emerge as it’s own field until the late 1800’s. Psychology
was first seen as a study of the human consciousness. The study of behavior of the mind
dates all the way back to the Ancient Greeks.
The formal founding of psychology had many developments in the early schools
of thought. One of the first early schools of thought was Structuralism. Structuralism was
based around basic components that focused on the breaking down of mental processes.
Introspection was a technique used to analyze the inner processes of the human mind.
One of the major thinkers of Structuralism was Wilhelm Wundt. Wundt was often
considered as the Father of Psychology. Wundt helped divide psychology from
philosophy by analyzing the workings of the human mind in a more “structured” way.
Wundy created the new branch of science, Psychology, by combining philosophy and
physiology.
Another early school of thought is Functionalism. There are many theorists
involved in functionalism, like many other schools of thought. One of them had theories
that heavily influenced functionalism—William James. James brought forth
functionalism by studying structuralism. Functionalists were interested in the role the
mental processes in structuralism play. He was one of the most influential philosophers
and he was labeled as “the American Father of Psychology.” James also proposed a
theory known as, “James-Lange Theory of Emotion.” It was proposed with a physiologist
known as Carl Lange. This theory involves focusing on what kind of emotions occur,
after interpreting physical actions that take place. "My thesis on the contrary is that the
bodily changes follow directly the PERCEPTION of the
Jennifer Moser
582521
PSY301
Every since the beginning of Psychology, we have been faced with many
questions. Psychology did not emerge as it’s own field until the late 1800’s. Psychology
was first seen as a study of the human consciousness. The study of behavior of the mind
dates all the way back to the Ancient Greeks.
The formal founding of psychology had many developments in the early schools
of thought. One of the first early schools of thought was Structuralism. Structuralism was
based around basic components that focused on the breaking down of mental processes.
Introspection was a technique used to analyze the inner processes of the human mind.
One of the major thinkers of Structuralism was Wilhelm Wundt. Wundt was often
considered as the Father of Psychology. Wundt helped divide psychology from
philosophy by analyzing the workings of the human mind in a more “structured” way.
Wundy created the new branch of science, Psychology, by combining philosophy and
physiology.
Another early school of thought is Functionalism. There are many theorists
involved in functionalism, like many other schools of thought. One of them had theories
that heavily influenced functionalism—William James. James brought forth
functionalism by studying structuralism. Functionalists were interested in the role the
mental processes in structuralism play. He was one of the most influential philosophers
and he was labeled as “the American Father of Psychology.” James also proposed a
theory known as, “James-Lange Theory of Emotion.” It was proposed with a physiologist
known as Carl Lange. This theory involves focusing on what kind of emotions occur,
after interpreting physical actions that take place. "My thesis on the contrary is that the
bodily changes follow directly the PERCEPTION of the
References: 1) Espinoza. Interdisciplinary Humanities. Spring 2010, Vol. 27 Issue 1, p28-36. 9p. 2) Sharpe. Understanding psychoanalysis. 2008.