Question

3.Give a brief account on the evolution of Psychology

Answer 1

The evolution of psychology was an outcome of ancient philosophy. It later varied with the development of different approaches of psychological study. The formal beginning of modern psychology took place in 1879 with the establishment of an experimental laboratory in Leipzig by Wilhelm Wundt.

The initial approach to study psychology was based on introspection or structuralism in which the individuals were asked to describe their experiences.

It was followed by functionalism that studied the working of the mind and the impact of behaviour upon people’s interaction with their environment.

Gestalt psychology emerged as a reaction to structuralism in the early 20th century and focused on the organisation of the perceptual experiences.

Another reaction was the development of behaviourism that studied behaviour or responses in a measurable and objective form.

This was followed by psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud that viewed human behaviour as a dynamic manifestation of unconscious desires, conflicts and their gratification.

In contrast, the humanistic perspectiveemphasised the free will of human beings and their natural striving to grow and unfold their inner potential.

Further, Cognitive perspective was a combination ofGestalt approach and structuralismand focused on how anindividual perceived the world.

Later, Constructivism viewed human beings as activelyconstructing their minds through the exploration of physical and the social world.

It was followed by Vygotsky’s view that human mind develops through social and cultural processes in which the mind is perceived as culturally constructed by joint interaction between children and adults.

Therefore, the evolution of psychology passed through various stages and levels. Starting from the roots of philosophy, it took a new direction and included numerous theories of structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, constructivism, etc. However, in contemporary era the discipline of psychology has grown into a scientific discipline, which deals with various processes underlying human experiences and behaviours.