Theory Contributions for Modern Psychology Development

Theory Contributions for advanced mental acquisition DevelopmentContribution of varied burn upes to psychological science for the development of newfangled psychological scienceCharunya RajakarunaDifferent go aboutes to psychological science contributed immensely for the development of upstart psychology. Psychology is a large ara of study with its branches in numerous separate(prenominal) houses. redbrick definition of psychology is the scientific study of behavior and amiable processes. However the study of psychology existed even during the times of ancient civilizations, chthonian a philosophical line of study. Now it is a current science that has matured in diverse ways throughout the years. Many approaches of psychology and schools of thought lead to the development of modern psychology.Primeval people had legion(predicate) different theories about mental illnesses. These psychological problems were viewed as punishments from god, possession by demon or as caused by spiritual mystic forces.The induce of modern science led to the emergence of modern psychology in the 1800s.Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920), a German scientist, opened the frontmost experimental psychology science lab in Leipzig in 1879, paving the way for a scientific while in the history of psychology. As it established psychology as a science separate from biology and philosophy, arguments all over definition and interpretation of the instinct and behavior appe atomic number 18d (cite).This resulted in unlike(a) schools of thought arising during this period.Schools of thought are heterogeneous aspects of assessing human behavior. Psychologists use a range of viewpoints when assessing how globe behave or think. These are approaches or perspectives of psychology. These perspectives or schools of thought attention psychologists to approach different problems, find new final results or treatments for psychological problems and analyze behavior of people.The first scie ntific and systematic school of thought, emerged from Wundts snip, was structuralism. It cogitate on the expression or the basic elements mind, consciousness, sensations and ideas. The procedure used in structuralism was self-examination. According to Wundt psychology is the study of immediate experiences. A student of Wundt, Edward B. Tichener, officially established structuralism, even though later on he deviate from Wundts ideas. Structuralism was an important milestone in the development of psychology because it was the first proper school of thought in psychology and because of its ferment on experimental psychology.Founded by William James, functionalism came up as a counterweight to structuralism. This approach focused on the purpose of the mind rather than the organise. And how people adapt to their environment. The Principles of Psychology (1890) by James was viewed by many as the first textbook of modern psychology. Functionalism had an touch on educational psych ology in regard to John Deweys theories. Furthermore it influenced on various aspects of modern psychology such as evolutionary psychology, behaviorism, educational psychology and Industrial or organizational psychology.Criticisms of structuralism gave way to other approach in the field of psychology. Wertheimer, Kohler and Koffkas gestalt approach emphasized that the intact is more than the sum of its parts. Gestalt psychology influenced on perception and learning. Mario Polito, an Italian psychologist verbalize Gestalt theory is focused on the experience of contact that occurs on the hither now. It considers with interest the space of teachers as well as students (Gelph n.d.).Criticisms of structuralism, functionalism and gestalt theory brought transport behaviorism. Based mostly on the work of Ivan Pavlovs work, behaviorism was proposed by John B. Watson. According to Pavlov, behavior is learned- conditioned. Watson argued psychology should study apparent behavior, not int ernal events (consciousness). The concept of tabula rasa- ones mind is a blank state when born- arose under this approach. Behaviorism had a major impact on development of modern psychology. Gender role development, behavioral therapy, scientific method, aversion therapy, moral development, phobias are exclusively some of the areas in modern psychology that have been influenced by this approach (McLeod 2007).Sigmund Freuds psychoanalytical approach stood opposed to Watsons behaviorism, emphasizing on the importance of unconscious motives and archean childhood experiences. Under psychoanalytical approach Freud presented the structure of psycheality (Id, ego and Superego), defense mechanisms and psycho inner stages of personality development. And he introduced free companionship as a form of therapy. This approach has made many contributions towards the growth of other psychotherapies. SigmundFreud, in his influential theory of the unconscious, gave a new direction to psycholog y and laid the groundwork for the psychoanalytic model. Freudian theory took psychology into such fields as education, anthropology, and medicine, and Freudian research methods became the foundations of clinical psychology (The Colombia electronic encyclopedia 2012).These differences of opinions between the schools of thought had led to many vehement debates among advance(prenominal) psychologists. But these schools of thought or historical approaches contributed greatly for the development of modern psychology and guided the way to the modern or contemporary perspectives of psychology.Modern or contemporary perspectives are the main approaches used in todays field of psychology. Most of them were guided by the historical approaches mentioned earlier.One of the modern approaches is the psychodynamic perspective. It is a modern version of psychoanalysis. Although this rooted from Freuds psychoanalytical theory, psychodynamic approach focused more on self-psychology and the discovery of other motivations behind behaviors rather than sexual motivations. Neo-Freudians like Carl Jung diverted from Freuds ideas and developed concepts of collective unconscious and archetypes. Anna Freud push expanded the theory of defense mechanisms. The attachment theory, transference, resistance and trauma are being studied by other psychologists and merged with their hypotheses and procedures of treatments (American psychoanalytic intimacy n.d.)Behavioral perspective is another approach used in psychological field today and focuses on overt behavior. B. F. Skinners work made behavioral approach important in the modern psychology. twain main processes of people learning has been introduced by this approach classical learn and operant conditioning. In clinical psychology, behavior therapy and behavior modification lay out a major role in the treatment of abnormal behavior.another(prenominal) main approach of psychology is the humanistic approach. This approach rejects behavior ism and argued that humans have their own free will and that people had control over their lives. Psychologist such as Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow introduced concepts such as self-actualization and ideal self. straight off humanistic approach is utilized in areas such as person centered therapy, education, motivation. This perspective shifted the focus of behavior to the individual / whole person rather than the unconscious mind, genes, observable behavior.Biological perspective or biopsychology is another approach of psychology which has contributed immensely to the growth of psychology. Biopsychology emphasizes on biological events such as nervous system, hormones and genetics in relation to behavior. Biological approach has become increasingly important in psychology with the invention of various apparatus for mapping of the brain. The field of neuropsychology bloomed under this approach.One of the major modern approaches of psychology is cognitive perspective. It focuses on the processes of the mind,.mainly researching on memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning. cognitive psychology, derived from Wundts structuralism, has been integrated into various other subfields of psychology such as social psychology , personality psychology , abnormal psychology and developmental psychology ( infinite n.d.)As a relatively new approach of psychology evolutionary perspective focuses on inherited tendencies shaped by evolution. Charles Darwins theories of evolution has been desegregated in this approach. Evolutionary perspective can help interpret dysfunctional behaviors such as anorexia (McLeod 2007)There are various approaches of psychology giving different viewpoints in explaining human behavior. None of the perspectives are greater or more suitable than the other. Earlier psychologist viewed psychological problems only in one way of approach. But nowadays psychologists tend to incorporate more than single approach in finding suitable sol ution to a problem. Today psychology is a modern science. And for the field of psychology to become what it is today the contribution of different approaches of psychology has been immense.List of referencesMcLeod, S. A. (2007). behaviorist Approach online. uncommitted from http//www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.htmlGelph, C. (n.d). Gestalt psychology online. Available from www.slideshare.net/christiangelph/gestalt-psychology-15849804American Psychoanalytic association (n.d.). Contributions of psychoanalysis online. Available fromhttp//www.apsa.org/About_Psychoanalysis/Contributions_of_Psychoanalysis.aspxThe Colombia Electronic Encyclopedia (2012). Psychoanalytical approach online. Available from http//www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/psychology.htmlMcLeod, S. A. (2007). Evolutionary Approach online. Available from http//www.simplypsychology.org/Evolutionary psychology.htmlBoundless (n.d.). Cognitive perspective eonline. Available fromhttps//www.boundless.com/psychology /the-science-of-psychology/history-of-psychology/cognitive-perspective/