Unit 1- Foundations of Psych

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud played a vital role in the development of psychology. He emphasized the importance of the unconscious mind governs behavior to a greater level than people expect. Additionally, Mr.Freud was a co-founder of the psychoanalytic school of psychology. This was what was known as the study of the unconscious (as mentioned above). He also emphasized that childhood experiences also affect our behavior.

Jean Piaget

The Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget, was well know for his studies on cognitive development in

Wilhelm Wundt

Wilhelm Wundt is known as the father of psychology. He set a part psychology from philosophy and biology and was the first person to call themselves a psychologist. He is known for setting up the first laboratory dedicated to Psychology. He researched the mind by attempting to measure the body. Many other psychologists branched off of Wundt's ideas on the studies of the mind. Additionally, Wilhelm Wundt wrote the first textbook of psychology stating the principles of the social science.

B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner was known for his influence on the concept of behaviorism. He developed the theory of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is the idea that behavior is determined by its consequences. This is done by the reinforcements of the consequence that influences whether or not the behavior will repeat. He executed his studies by placing animals in the "Skinner Box". This box identified three types of responses , or operant that can follow the behavior.

Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers was a humanistic psychologist who focused on the development of humans and relationships. He formed the psychological approach called client centered. This involves concepts that develop the personality of the people. This helps people see life in a positive perspective. Mr.Rogers also developed learner center approaches that is seen in learning today.

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin focused on evolutionary psychology. This was the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind , using principles of natural selection. Darwin's development on the idea of behavior genetic was the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. He felt strongly about the argued idea that natural selection shapes behaviors and even bodies. His evolutionary ideas are studied throughout all science and psychology. Evolutionary psychology explained how humans are similar because of their common biology and history. Behavior genetics is what explains the difference in individuals because of the unique genes we each carry.

Dorothea Dix

Dorothea Dix impacted the perception of mentally ill patients. She changed the way mentally ill patients were treated. Ms.Dix was the first person to create mental hospitals across the US and Europe. Mental illnesses are commonly studied in psychology. Dorothea Dix changed the significance of mental illness in psychology when she altered the way patients are treated.

G.Stanley Hall

Granville Stanley Hall was the first president of the American Psychological Association. His main interests were evolutionary psychology and child development. Hall spent a lot of time comprehending adolescent development in the area of aggression. He formed two different ideas of aggression in adolescence. One way was relational aggression while the other was physical aggression. Due to his interests in child development, he became known as "the father of adolescence". Also, Hall stated that embryonic stages of an organism reflect the development of the organism's evolutionary ancestors. However, to this day the theory is rejected by most evolutionary psychologists.

Ivan Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov is best known for his discovery of classical conditioning. His studies on a dogs digestive system showed that dogs naturally salivated upon presentation of food. Ivan Pavlov's work on classical conditioning was seen as a form of learning. Mr.Pavlov has contributed to the field by being a vital role in the development of behaviorism. Although Ivan Pavlov was not a psychologist himself, his studies had a major influence on the development of behaviorism.

Margaret Floy Washburn

Margaret Floy is well known for her many contributions and accomplishments in the field of psychology. She was the first woman to earn a Ph.D in psychology. She did extensive research on animal behavior in her published book "The Animal Mind". She also studied the motor development theory. This meant learning how mental stages reveal visible behavior.

Mary Whiton Calkins

Mary Whiton Calkins was the first woman president of the American Psychological Association. She became a role model for other females in the field of psychology. She introduced the idea of "self-psychology". Ms.Calkins noted that every experience should be treated from an atomistic and the self standpoint. Her focus is concentrating on the self's relationship to objects in the external environment.

John B.Watson

Mr.Watson viewed psychology as the scientific study of behavior. Due to his behaviorist views, he promoted change in the field of psychology. Along with psychologist B.F. Skinner, Watson redefined psychology as the study of "observable behavior". He is known for his research on the conditioning process as well as the Little Albert experiment. The Little Albert experiment that a child could be conditioned to fear a previously neutral stimulus.

William James

William James is the founder of functionalism. Mr.James is also known for writing the principles of psychology. As a functionalist, William James studied why brain-controlled thinking and the nose dealt with the smell. He studied down-to-earth emotions, memories, habits, and willpower. His ideas moved family, friends and his students. Henry Holt offered him a contract for a textbook on the new science of psychology. This was an honor for William James because his ideas would become the fundamental understanding of early psychology.