Uses the method of introspection to identify the basic elements or “structures” of psychological experienceĪttempts to understand why animals and humans have developed the particular psychological aspects that they currently possessįocuses on the role of our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories and our early childhood experiences in determining behaviour Table 1.3 The Most Important Approaches (Schools) of Psychology.

Although most early psychologists were men, now most psychologists, including the presidents of the most important psychological organizations, are women. Perhaps most importantly, the field has moved steadily from speculation about behaviour toward a more objective and scientific approach as the technology available to study human behaviour has improved (Benjamin & Baker, 2004). There has also been an influx of women into the field. The approaches that psychologists have used to assess the issues that interest them have changed dramatically over the history of psychology. Table 1.3 and Table 1.4 both represent a selection of the most important schools and people to mention all the approaches and all the psychologists who have contributed to the field is not possible in one chapter. The schools of psychology that we will review are summarized in Table 1.3, “The Most Important Approaches (Schools) of Psychology,” while Table 1.4, “History of Psychology,” presents a timeline of some of the most important psychologists, beginning with the early Greek philosophers and extending to the present day. In this section we will review the history of psychology with a focus on the important questions that psychologists ask and the major approaches (or schools) of psychological inquiry. Outline the basic schools of psychology and how each school has contributed to psychology.List some of the most important questions that concern psychologists.Explain how psychology changed from a philosophical to a scientific discipline.

General thoughts about psychology