Wolfgang Bringmann, “The German physician, philosopher, and psychologist Wilhelm Maxine Wundt (1832-1920) was a seminal figure in the emergence of psychology as a modern science during the second half of the nineteenth century. Growing up, Wundts troubled childhood was not what you would think to be suitable for such an intelligent former psychologist. Wundts relationship with his parents was very troubled and unhealthy. Wundt spend hours staring at blank pages while day dreaming in class. He struggled through most of his schooling, but after he graduated, he went on to later be founded as the first psychologist as an independent science. Wundt was given credit when he established “the first scientific laboratory dedicated to the study of psychology” (Nevid 4). Wundt had many interest of studies after graduating with experience in medicine and psychology, he went on to practice studying mental experiences with his clients. Wundt used a method called introspection that would help break down his studies in different categories that would make each part easier and interesting to annualized. Wilhelm Wundt was a remarkable man, whose methods of introspection led to the establishment of the first scientific laboratory and bridged the gap between ancient and present psychology.
Wilhelm Wundt was born at Neckarau, a suburb of Mannheim, Germany on August 16th, 1832. Wundt and his family decided to moved after four years to a small town in Heidelsheim. He spend most of his childhood here without peer companionship, but instead attracted the attention of “sympathetic adults who helped shape his character and interest”( Rieber and Robinson 4). Wundts father, Maximillian (1787-1846) was a pastor, and for the most part raised him as an on...
... middle of paper ...
...tain outcomes to do with experimental psychology. When Wundt was becoming famous in Germany, America had already out numbered research laboratory in Germany. Wundt was not the only experimental psychologist at Leipzig, but the Americans and other foreign students admired Wundts work and attended any of his lectures and followed his books and studies, “ Some students would complete their observations and work under Wundt, done in the Leipzig Institute for Experimental Psychology”(Haupt 206). The American students would return to the United States and where they would then conduct experiments bases on things they had learned while under Wundt. Some of the famous psychologist that was inspired by Wundt was Stanley Hall, Mark Baldwin, and Edward Titchener. Wundt went on to have many more laboratories built, so many more students could follow and learn under his teaching.
Otto von Bismarck was born on April 1st 1815, in Schonhausen, Northwest of Berlin in the district of Magdeburg. His father was an upper class, land owning Prussian more commonly known as a Junker. (World Book, 1999, p. 381) (German News, 1998, p.1)(Passant, 1966, p.45)(Godesky, 1997, p.1)(Compton's Encyclopedia, 1999, p.1) During his early education Otto von Bismarck studied law at the universities of Berlin and Gottingen.
Rationalism and empiricism were two philosophical schools in the 17th and 18th centuries, that were expressing opposite views on some subjects, including knowledge. While the debate between the rationalist and empiricist schools did not have any relationship to the study of psychology at the time, it has contributed greatly to facilitating the possibility of establishing the discipline of Psychology. This essay will describe the empiricist and rationalist debate, and will relate this debate to the history of psychology.
The field of psychology is a discipline, originated from many branches of science. It has applications from within a complete scope of avenues, from psychotherapy to professional decision-making. The flexibility and versatility of this field reflects its importance and demands in-depth analysis. Psychology was a division of philosophy until it developed independent scientific disciplines. The history of psychology was a scholarly study of the mind and behavior that dates back to the beginning of civilization. There are important details from previous theory psychologist, research have contributed to behaviorism approaches and have contributed towards specific current behavioral practices. Contemporary behavior therapy began to emerge into distinct practical and core learning theories concerning the needs and knowledge engaging cultural and professional differences.
Hothersall, David. (1995). History of Psychology. 4th ed. McGraw Hill Co: New York, New York.
Even if Wilhelm’s position of power is often questioned he is one of the most recognisable and influential figures in the first World
Rieber, R. W. (2001). Wilhelm Wundt in history: the making of a scientific psychology. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
...experiment, felt that the experiment made such a deep impression on him that he became convinced that “social sciences and psychology, are much more important in today’s world.'; One can only imagine the inner conflicts that were running through his head. After the experiment, he described the mood, “I did want to stop at that time. I turned around and looked at [the experimenter]. I guess it’s a matter of…authority.';
Buchanan, R. D. (2011). Research report: Doing a biography of Hans J. Eysenck. History Of Psychology, 14(2), 210-213. doi:10.1037/a0023481b
Although the experimental model pushed psychology into a more advanced period, it still had its own issues that could ultimately ruin experiments. For a long time, research was conducted at colleges and universities by students who were participating just for class credit. In addition, the participant pool mostly consisted of white males. That creates a problem - a WEIRD problem. These participants were WEIRD: Western, educated, and from industrialized, rich, and democratic
The development of psychology like all other sciences started with great minds debating unknown topics and searching for unknown answers. Early philosophers and psychologists such as Sir Francis Bacon and Charles Darwin took a scientific approach to psychology by introducing the ideas of measurement and biology into the way an indi...
The psychological genre as it relates to sociological and medicinal matters has gained an increasing amount of scientific approval. Impartiality and the scientific method are both integral components to a psychologist’s mode of practice. However, even the most esteemed of psychologists can only speculate at what makes human beings act the way they do. Absolutes play no function in psychology. Everything is relative and open to conjecture. Theologians give us their visions or thoughts about life. In the field of psychology, there have been many different regions of interest and speculation.
Psychology started, and had a long history, as a topic within the fields of philosophy and physiology. It then became an independent field of its own through the work of the German Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of experimental psychology and structuralism. Wundt stressed the use of scientific methods in psychology, particularly through the use of introspection. In 1875, a room was set-aside for Wundt for demonstrations in what we now call sensation and perception. This is the same year that William James set up a similar lab at Harvard. Wilhelm Wundt and William James are usually thought of as the fathers of psychology, as well as the founders of psychology?s first two great ?schools? Structuralism and Functionalism. Psychologist Edward B Titchner said; ?to study the brain and the unconscious we should break it into its structural elements, after that we can construct it into a whole and understand what it does.? (psicafe.com)
Boneau, C. A., Kimble, G. A., and Wertheimer, M. (1996) Portraits of Pioneers in Psychology, Volume II. Washington D.C. and Mahwah, NJ: American Psychological Association & Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Psychology is the study of the mind, its biology, and behavior if the individual. The father of psychology, Wilhelm Wundt, used objective measurement and controlled analyzing to find and emphasize separation between psychology and philosophy (McLeod). Wundt opened the Institute for Experimental Psychology at the University of Leipzig in Germany in 1879, using his background in physiology to study reactions and sensations (McLeod). There is no doubt that he, along with the later help of Sigmund Freud, launched what is now modern psychology. Psychology and its research helped the world understand the inner workings of the mind and how it affects everyone around us.
This essay will begin by defining key terms such as science and is psychology a science. It will further look at the efforts academics make to establish the discipline of psychology as a science. Thereafter, a conclusive conclusion will be made based on the salient points drawn from the discussion.