A history of Modern psychology - Research Paper Example

A history of Modern Psychology A history of Modern Psychology The origins of modern psychology can be traced to the works of ancient Greeks. Before the 1800s, psychology was never studied as a separate discipline and it was not until the late 19th century that scholars started to study it as a discipline, which was distinct from the others. One of the earliest philosophers who developed the discipline of psychology was Frenchman Rene Descartes who came up with the notion of dualism. Based on this idea, the body and the mind could be categorized as entities that were distinct and different from one another.

The interaction between these two entities is what gave rise to human experience. In addition, the philosophical traditions of these times were also based on the role played by nature and nurture in human development. Thus, modern psychology can be regarded as an age old discipline whose origin is rooted in the works of early philosophers (Shiraev, 2011). During the 19th Century, psychology underwent massive changes that brought a revolution in this field. In 1879, the first psychology laboratory was opened by Wilhelm Wundt in Germany.

It is the establishment of this laboratory that led to the introduction of psychology as a discipline in academics. The introduction of this laboratory brought massive changes that improved the study of psychology in Europe and other parts of the world. Another scientist who contributed to the development of modern psychology was G. Stanley Hall. Hall was Wundt’s student; he introduced a laboratory for experimental psychology in the United States, in 1883. The introduction of this laboratory at John Hopkins University improved the study of psychology in the entire United States (Shiraev, 2011).

Psychology as a discipline developed with the establishment of the American Psychological Association. The association was founded by G. Stanley Hall; with his contribution, there was emergence of two psychology journals. These journals included the Journal of Applied Psychology, as well as American Journal of Psychology. The discipline of psychology further improved in 1896 with the advent of various perspectives and schools of thought. One of these schools included functionalism, which was developed by John Dewey and William James.

This perspective emphasizes more on the functions of the mind and its acts than the internal contents that make up the mind (Shiraev, 2011). The other discipline that developed around this period included psychoanalysis, which was founded by Sigmund Freud. Based on the arguments of Freud, there are unconscious drives that motivate the actions of people. The introduction of dream analysis and free association strengthened the notion of psychoanalysis. The emergence of structuralism also played a critical role in the development of psychology as a discipline.

With regard to structuralism, the combination of elements that can be regarded as simple improves the understanding of mental experiences. The opening of the first psychology clinic at Pennsylvania University was a milestone to the development of psychology. Psychology further developed with improvements in how dreams can be interpreted. More changes in the field of psychology took place as a result of the developments of notions such as behaviorism (Shiraev, 2011).ReferencesShiraev, E. (2011).

A history of psychology: A global perspective. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.