Schools of thought in Psychology What is school of thought?  A school of thought is a collection or group of people who share common characteristics of opinion or outlook of an idea.  A particular way of thinking

SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN PSYCHOLOGY

1) Structuralism: THE ELEMENT OF EXPERIENCE. Founder : Wilhem Wundt  Wundt saw the mind as a natural event that could be studied scientifically like light, heat and flow of blood.

 Wundt called psychology the “study of conscious experience” which can be broken down into three elements  a) objective sensation (such as sight or taste), b) subjective feelings (such as emotional response, will)  c) mental images (like memories or dreams).  Mind functions by combining the entire three components.

Method of Study  Wundt used “introspection” to try to discover the basic elements of experience.  They used to try to look inwards as objectively as possible to describe their sensation and feelings when presented with various signs and sounds.

Introspection  The examination of ones own mental and emotional processes.  Like self report

Criticism  Dissatisfaction with introspections as the key to unlock fundamental elements of mind.  Conscious could not be analyzed in mental units or elements.  Introspection was not truly scientific technique

2) Functionalism: making Psychology a habit  Founder :William James  American scholar, broadened the horizon of Psychology  Included topics like religious experience, abnormal behavior  Famous book “ Principles of Psychology” gave Psychology a sound basis as a scientific discipline.

Thought of James  Consciousness is fluid and continuous. It cannot be broken down into elements  Focused how mind functions to help us survive ad adapt.  They looked at how our experience and behavior help us function more adaptively in our environment.

 Influenced by Survival of the fittest theory.  Maladaptive behaviors are drop out, adaptive behavior are repeated and become “habits”.  “Habit” is the enormous flywheel of the society. Habits keep the engine of civilization running (society is run by habits).

 Gave new fields to Psychology like patterns of development in children, effectiveness of educational practices, differences between males and females etc.

Methods of study  Introspection  In addition to introspection they used tests, Explanation and surveys.

Criticism:-  Did not explain functions of mind/consciousness.  Only focused on repeated behaviours.  Could not describe relationship of body and mind.

Structuralism vs. Functionalism Structuralism: broke consciousness into elements Functionalism: described consciousness as a stream or flow, NOT as elements

3) BEHAVIORISM  John Broadus Watson.  Focuses on learning observation /overt behavior.  Psychology as the scientific study of behavior not of behavior and metal processes.  Mental processes cannot be measured accurately so they should not be subject matter of psychology.

 Behaviors can be taught if reinforced (rewarded).  Made Psychology "hard" science; rigorous, objective and explanation.

Method of study  Experimental method-measurement, observation.

Criticism  Behavior learning is active and purposeful, not responsive and mechanical as in Watsons’s view.  Learning is accomplished by “Insight”. (depends on personal thinking and perception)

Gestalt Psychology  Gestalt Psychology is the school of thought that looks at human mind and behavior as a whole.  Gestalt: Shape/form  Founder : Max Werthimer Kurt Kofka Kholar We perceive things as a unified wholes. PERCEPTION: GIVING MEANING TO STIMULI In oppose to Structuralism Notion: whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Criticized the notion of “elements of behavior”

Criticism:  Gestaltists performed only in the area of perception.  They did nothing about unconscious processes which makes 3/4 th of our cognitive processes.  Their approaches were not purely scientific.

Psychoanalysis:  Founder: Sigmund Freud  Our behaviour is determined by unfulfilled desires, childhood conflicts.  Most of the mind is unconscious- home of conflicting impulses, urges and wishes.  Gives insight into learning about deep-seated conflicts of the patients and finding socially acceptable ways of expressing wishes and gratifying needs.

Parts of Mind:  1. Conscious  Self aware part.  2. Sub-Conscious  Capable of being brought to conscious  3. Un-Conscious  Not available to awareness by simple growing of attention

Method of study:  Free association  Catharsis  Dream analysis  “dreams are royal road towards unconscious mind”

Criticism:  Not a truly scientific technique.  Freud’s Psychic structures are unscientific.  No clean demonstration between conscious, preconscious and unconscious.