Psychology pt.2 (The History)

 

387 BC

Plato was the first philosopher to truly ponder where thoughts and emotions stemmed from. He thought that thoughts and feelings were in the head. While emotions and righteousness came from the heart. Of course he had no scientific data to prove this but still, he opened a door to what we now know as Psychology.

335 BC

Plato's student Aristotle took further his teachers study on emotions and thought that the heart as the center of man and controlled all knowledge and emotions. Again, these theories stemmed from an interest in the inner workings of man. When thinking about the early stages of Psychology, understand that its not always about finding the answer but asking the questions that create interest to find the answer.

Fast Forward

There is a big time gap in major advancements of psychology due to the fact that there was no understanding of it causing studies on our thoughts and emotions to subside. There was also not time to conduct research on this because people were more concerned with making a living then with useless philosophy.

1800s

Willhelm Wundt was the first man to create a lab dedicated to psychological research. He is considered the Father of psychology. This man was truly the first to establish  a field of study to psychology.

William James developed the theory of functionalism which is basically the idea that the brain functions develops ones behavior. And that our Behavior is unique to us.

1900s

Edward Titchener expanded upon James's theory and developed his own theory, Structuralism. This theory states that every behavior can be traced back to our feelings and thoughts.

Sigmund Freud started psychoanalysis. He believed every life experience influenced our personality. Psychoanalysis involved him listening to people recount their past life experiences. 

John Watson established the bond between behavior and environment. This thought led to the theory of conditioning.

2000's

While there have been no noticeable people, much advancements have been made such as identifying mental diseases along with an abundance of procedures to try to attain the best result. Sadly, some treatments people try are wrong and some people have a bitter taste of psychology. Some diseases of the mind are exaggerated and much lies are spread about human behavior. However, psychology still has a huge role in how we live our lives.

1. Who was the first philosopher to consider where thoughts and emotions originate from, and what were his beliefs about their sources?
2. How did Aristotle's views on the heart and mind differ from those of his teacher, Plato?
3. What caused a gap in the major advancements of psychology following the era of Plato and Aristotle?
4. Who is considered the Father of Psychology and what significant contribution did he make in the 1800s?
5. What is the theory of functionalism, and who developed it?
6. How did Edward Titchener expand upon William James's theory to develop his own, and what is the name of this theory?
7. Describe Sigmund Freud's contribution to psychology and the core principle of psychoanalysis.
8. What key concept did John Watson introduce that linked behavior to the environment?
9. What advancements in psychology were made in the 2000s, despite the absence of notable individuals?

Discuss the challenges and misconceptions faced by the field of psychology in the modern era.