Schools of thought in psychology

Structuralism: was the first school of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components. Researchers tried to understand the basic elements of consciousness using a method known as introspection. Wilhelm Wundt, founder of the first psychology lab, was an advocate of this position and is often considered the founder of structuralism, despite the fact that it was his student, Edward B. Titchener who first coined the term to describe this school of thought.

Major Structuralist Thinkers:

Wilhelm Wundt

Edward B. Titchner

Functionalism: formed as a reaction to the structuralism and was heavily influenced by the work of William James and the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. Functionalists sought to explain the mental processes in a more systematic and accurate manner. Rather than focusing on the elements of consciousness, functionalists focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior. Functionalism also emphasized individual differences, which had a profound impact on education.

Major Functionalist Thinkers:

William James

John Dewey

Harvey Carr

John Angell

Behavioral psychology: also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states.

Major Thinkers in Behaviorism:

Ivan Pavlov

B. F. Skinner

Edward Thorndike

John B. Watson

Clark Hull

Gestalt psychology: is a school of thought that looks at the human mind and behavior as a whole. Originating in the work of Max Wertheimer, Gestalt psychology formed partially as a response to the structuralism of Wlilhem Wundt. The development of this area of psychology was influenced by a number of thinkers, including Immanuel Kant, Ernst Mach and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Major Gestalt Psychologists:

Max Wertheimer

Kurt Koffka

Wolfgang Kohler

Psychoanalysis: Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic approach to psychology. This school of thought emphasized the influence of theunconscious on behavior. Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements: the id, the ego and the super ego.

Major Thinkers Associated With Psychoanalysis:

Sigmund Freud

Anna Freud

Erik Erikson

Humanistic psychology: was instead focused on each individual’s potential and stressed the importance of growth and self-actualization. The fundamental belief of humanistic psychology was that people are innately good, with mental and social problems resulting from deviations from this natural tendency 

Major Thinkers in Humanistic Psychology

Abraham Maslow

Carl Rogers

Cognitive psychology: is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember and learn. As part of the larger field of cognitive science, this branch of psychology is related to other disciplines including neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics.

Important People in the History of Cognitive Psychology

Gustav Fechner

Wilhelm Wundt

Edward B. Titchener

Hermann Ebbinghaus

William James

Wolfgang Kohler

Edward Tolman

Jean Piaget

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