Understanding Psychology's History
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Understanding Psychology’s 1 History ❖ What you are, we once were. What we are, you will be. —An inscription in the Crypt of Capuchin monks in Rome LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter, you should be able to: • Understand what knowledge is and distinguish among its several types • Understand psychology’s development as inseparable from society and history • Appreciate the complexities and controversies of the historiography of psychology • Apply psychology’s historiography to contemporary issues and modern challenges Confucius Aristotle Confucius Aristotle Ibn Sina Ibn Sina Augustine Augustine S. Freud S. Freud 551–479 BCE, Chinese 384–322 BCE, Greek551–479 BCE, Chinese 384–322 BCE, Gree980–1037,k Persian 980–1037, Persian F. A. Mesmer F. A. Mesmer 354–430, Roman 354–430, Roman R. Descartes R. Descartes1856–1939, Austrian 1856–1939, Austrian Brings a moral Builds background Brings a moral Builds backgroundStudies medical aspects Studies medical aspects 1734–1815, German 1734–1815, German Brings a moral Brings a moral 1596–1650, French 1596–1650,Studies French unconscious Studies unconscious dimension for scientific study dimension for scientific studyof human experience of human experience Believes in “psychic” Believes in “psychic” dimension to dimension to Understands the soul as a Understandsdimensions the soul of as a M. Calkins dimensions of M. Calkins to psychology of the soul to psychology of the soul energy energy psychology psychology machine machine psychology 1863–1930, American psychology 1863–1930,S. Milgra Americam n S. Milgram First female First female1933–1984, American 1933–1984, American president presidentConducts the Conducts the of APA A. Maslow of APA famous experimentsA. Maslow on famous experiments on 1908–1970, American obedience1908–1970, in 1963 American obedience in 1963 Studies humanistic Studies humanistic dimensions of dimensions of psychology psychology 600 BCE 500 BCE 400 BCE600 BCE 300 BCE 500 BCE 300 400 BCE 400 300 BC900E 1000300 400 900 1000 1500 1600 1700 1500 1800 1600 1900 1700 1910 1800 1920 19001930 19101940 1920 1930 1940 Scientific Tradition ScientificGestalt Tradition Psychology Humanistic PsychologyGestalt Psychology Humanistic Psychology Non-Western Traditions Non-Western Traditions Spiritual Tradition Spiritual Tradition Structuralism StructuralismPsychoanalysis Cognitive Psychology Psychoanalysis Cognitive Psychology Functionalism FunctionalismBehaviorism Theoretical and AppliedBehaviorism Research Theoretical and Applied Research Roman Tradition Roman Tradition Evolutionary Theories Evolutionary Theories Other Theories Other Theories Greek Tradition Greek Tradition J. Locke J. Locke D. Kahneman D. Kahneman 1632–1704, English 1632–1704, English W. Wundt, W. Wundt, b. 1934, Israeli-American b. 1934, Israeli-American Emphasizes the Emphasizes the 1832–1920,German B. F. Skinner 1832–1920,GermanG. Miller B. F. Skinner First psychologist to winG. Miller the First psychologist to win the primacy of individual primacy of individual Founds first experi- 1904–1990, American Founds first1920–2012, experi- America1904–1990,n AmericaNobeln Prize (2002) 1920–2012, American Nobel Prize (2002) experience experience mental psychological Studies behavioral mental psychologicalStudies cognitive Studies behavioral Studies cognitive laboratory dimensions of laboratory dimensions ofdimensions of dimensions of psychology psychology psychology psychology 2 ©SAGE Publications Chapter 1 Understanding Psychology’s History ❖ 3 In human years, psychology as a discipline is just about 18 years old, maybe 19. It is only entering an early period of maturity, when a few accomplishments appear promising, several mistakes could be forgivable, and ambitions seem achievable. Like every young person, psychology once was an infant. Thinkers of the past—philosophers, natural scientists, and doctors—helped young psychology take its first steps. Mathematicians and physiologists guarded psychology during its childhood. Psychology learned the science of experiment and the beauty of measurement. Other disci- plines began to acknowledge their new peer. It gained its own voice. First shy and insecure, the voice of psychology grew stronger with every decade. Psychology began offering practical solutions to human problems. Some of its accomplishments became noticeable. Setbacks were common and obvious. The ambition of beautiful psychological theories was often crushed by the stubborn ugliness of facts. Psychology was sometimes trying to do a lot with too little knowledge and tools. Yet, as in human life, these victories and mistakes have been building psychology’s experience and confidence. In real years, psychology’s history is spread through centuries. Do we really need to travel that far back in history? What’s the point in remembering things of the past? Studying history is not only about remembering. Yes, by going back, we preserve and publicize the historical record of our discipline. However, we also examine history to better understand and relate to our today’s life; to see a bigger picture in a kaleidoscope of contemporary approaches, theories, and their applications; to be more tolerant to the persuasion of today’s capricious fashions; and maybe to avoid repeating at least some of psychology’s mistakes. Studying history is also about looking forward. And this is probably one of the most exciting features of our journey, which we are about to undertake. What does the history of psychology study? What facts from the history of psychology are preserved? Why do we select some facts and overlook and even ignore others? When studying psychology’s history, do we tradition- ally focus on the Western courtiers and overlook the knowledge accumulated in other parts of the world? What can we do to make our knowledge more inclusive and diverse? Let’s try to answer these questions together. Confucius Aristotle Confucius Aristotle Ibn Sina Ibn Sina Augustine Augustine S. Freud S. Freud 551–479 BCE, Chinese 384–322 BCE, Greek551–479 BCE, Chinese 384–322 BCE, Gree980–1037,k Persian 980–1037, Persian F. A. Mesmer F. A. Mesmer 354–430, Roman 354–430, Roman R. Descartes R. Descartes1856–1939, Austrian 1856–1939, Austrian Brings a moral Builds background Brings a moral Builds backgroundStudies medical aspects Studies medical aspects 1734–1815, German 1734–1815, German Brings a moral Brings a moral 1596–1650, French 1596–1650,Studies French unconscious Studies unconscious dimension for scientific study dimension for scientific studyof human experience of human experience Believes in “psychic” Believes in “psychic” dimension to dimension to Understands the soul as a Understandsdimensions the soul of as a M. Calkins dimensions of M. Calkins to psychology of the soul to psychology of the soul energy energy psychology psychology machine machine psychology 1863–1930, American psychology 1863–1930,S. Milgra Americam n S. Milgram First female First female1933–1984, American 1933–1984, American president presidentConducts the Conducts the of APA A. Maslow of APA famous experimentsA. Maslow on famous experiments on 1908–1970, American obedience1908–1970, in 1963 American obedience in 1963 Studies humanistic Studies humanistic dimensions of dimensions of psychology psychology 600 BCE 500 BCE 400 BCE600 BCE 300 BCE 500 BCE 300 400 BCE 400 300 BC900E 1000300 400 900 1000 1500 1600 1700 1500 1800 1600 1900 1700 1910 1800 1920 19001930 19101940 1920 1930 1940 Scientific Tradition ScientificGestalt Tradition Psychology Humanistic PsychologyGestalt Psychology Humanistic Psychology Non-Western Traditions Non-Western Traditions Spiritual Tradition Spiritual Tradition Structuralism StructuralismPsychoanalysis Cognitive Psychology Psychoanalysis Cognitive Psychology Functionalism FunctionalismBehaviorism Theoretical and AppliedBehaviorism Research Theoretical and Applied Research Roman Tradition Roman Tradition Evolutionary Theories Evolutionary Theories Other Theories Other Theories Greek Tradition Greek Tradition J. Locke J. Locke D. Kahneman D. Kahneman 1632–1704, English 1632–1704, English W. Wundt, W. Wundt, b. 1934, Israeli-American b. 1934, Israeli-American Emphasizes the Emphasizes the 1832–1920,German B. F. Skinner 1832–1920,GermanG. Miller B. F. Skinner First psychologist to winG. Miller the First psychologist to win the primacy of individual primacy of individual Founds first experi- 1904–1990, American Founds first1920–2012, experi- America1904–1990,n AmericaNobeln Prize (2002) 1920–2012, American Nobel Prize (2002) experience experience mental psychological Studies behavioral mental psychologicalStudies cognitive Studies behavioral Studies cognitive laboratory dimensions of laboratory dimensions ofdimensions of dimensions of psychology psychology psychology psychology ©SAGE Publications 4 ❖ A HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Prologue What Do We Study? History is the study of the past. Historians gather, analyze, and interpret facts, then they present them to the reading, listening, and watching world. Historians focus on civilizations, cultures, countries, events, and great individuals. What does the history of psychology focus on? Focusing on Knowledge Describing psychology’s past is first of all undertaking a scientific investigation of psychological knowledge from a historic perspective. Knowledge is information that has a purpose or use. Psychological knowledge, defined broadly, deals with information related to mental phenomena, or as they are commonly labeled, subjective experiences, or activities of the mind. We will learn how people