Key Figures in Psychology
Many people have contributed to the history of psychology, and what has become modern day psychology. Their findings are used in our every day lives, and majority have been elaborated on, to create new ideas and theories.
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Modern Approaches
- Biological Approach - A theory that we are the consequences of our genetics and physiology. It is only approached psychology that examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a biological and physical point of view.
- Cognitive Approach - Revolves around the notion that if we want to know what make people tick then we need to understand the internal processes of their mind.
- Behavioral Approach - It is based on the concept of explaining behavior through observation, and the belief that our environment is what causes us to behave differently or suffer illnesses. The 3 main categories of behaviorism are classical, methodological, and radical.
- Psychoanalytic Approach - Based on the belief that childhood experiences greatly influence the development of later personality traits & psychological problems. From Sigmund Freud’s work.
- Humanistic Approach - An approach which studies show the whole person and the uniqueness of each individual.
- Cross-cultural Approach - Studies the influence of cultural & ethnic similarities & differences
- Evolutionary Approach - Studies how evolutionary ideas, such as adaptation & natural selection, explain behaviors & mental processes
Groundbreaking Methods and Theories
- Pavlov’s Conditioning Dog - Ivan Pavlov created an experiment to determine operant conditioning. Based on his observations, Pavlov suggested that the salivation was a learned response. The dogs were responding to the sight of the research assistant's white lab coats, which the animals had come to associate with the presentation of food. Unlike the salivary response to the presentation of food, which is an unconditioned reflex, salivating to the expectation of food is a conditioned reflex. This experiment is one of the most famous and notable experiments in the field of psychology.
- The Little Albert Experiment - A famous psychological experiment conducted by behaviorist John B. Watson and graduated student Rosalie Rayner. The little Albert experiment was a case study showing empirical evidence of classical conditioning in humans.
- The Asch Conformity Experiment - The Asch conformity experiments were a series of psychological experiments conducted by Solomon Asch in the 1950s.The experiments revealed the degree to which a person's own opinions are influenced by those of groups. Asch found people were willing to ignore reality and give an incorrect answer in order to conform to the rest of the group.
- Harry Harlow’s Social Isolation experiments - In the 1960s, an experiment was done where a young rhesus monkey was taken from his mother two days after he was born. The monkey was left in care of two different mother’s. Both of which not the biological mother. One of the mothers was constructed of cloth fabric, but had no food and the other was made of wire and it supplied food. Later during the experiment Harlow allowed the monkey to explore the room, sometime with their mother and sometimes without. This experiment tested how our minds react to social isolation.
- The Stanford Prison Experiment - In 1971, psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues set out to create an experiment that looked at the impact of becoming a prisoner or prison guard. Zimbardo, a former classmate of Stanley Milgram (who is best known for his famous obedience experiment) who was interested in expanding upon Milgram's initial research. He wanted to investigate further the impact of situational variables on human behavior.The researchers wanted to know how the participants would react when placed in a simulated prison environment.
- Rorschach Inkblot Test - A psychoanalysis test created in 1921 by Hermann Rorschach. It was a projective psychological test consisting of 10 inkblots printed on cards, 5 card of which are in black & white the other 5 in color. The subjects interpretations of these inkblots helped psychologists understand the inner workings and thought patterns of the subjects brain. This test is not commonly used in the psychology field today however.
- Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud) - The method of psychological therapy originated by psychologist Sigmund Freud in which free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of resistance and transference are used to explore repressed or unconscious impulses, anxieties, and internal conflicts in order to free psychic energy for mature love and work
- The Milgram Obedience Experiment - Milgram developed quite an intimidating shock generator, with shock levels starting at 30 volts and increasing in 15 volt increments all the way up to 450 volts. The many switches were labeled with terms including "slight shock," "moderate shock" and "danger - severe shock." The final two switches were labeled simply with an ominous "XXX". Each participant took the role of a 'teacher' who would then deliver a shock to the 'student' every time an incorrect answer was given. While the participant believed that he was delivering real shocks to the student, the student was a confederate in the experiment who was simply pretending to be shocked. As the experiment progressed, the participant would hear the learner plead to be released or even complain about a heart condition. Once they reached the 300 volt level, the learner banged on the wall and demanded to be released. Beyond this point, the learner became completely silent and refused to answer any more questions. The experimenter then instructed the participant to treat this silence as an incorrect response and deliver a further shock
- Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development - Jean Piaget strongly believed that how a child develops is one of the most vital parts in someones life. Piaget proposed four different stages in cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational period. This proposition of childhood development stated that a child mind does not develop entirely smoothly. Instead there are stages that a child hits at different development points in their early development period. In these develop points they gain different knowledge and capabilities