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History of Psychology: Useful Insights for Students Planning to Pursue Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Psychology is a fascinating area of study. Studying psychology helps students understand human behaviour and mental processes.  It allows them to better understand how people think, feel and act. As an academic discipline it is quite unique as it straddles between sciences (natural and social) and the humanities. If you are planning to study B.A. Psychology, knowing how the subject evolved can be quite interesting. Here we share with you some useful insights on the history of psychology:

1. Psychology is as old as human civilisation
   The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, China, India, and Persia engaged in the philosophical study of psychology. Ancient Egyptian medical texts mention depression and mental disorders. Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle wrote immensely on the workings of the mind.
2. Wilhelm Wundt is considered as the Father of modern psychology
   Wilhelm Wundt is considered as the father of psychology, although many before him have made significant contributions to the field of psychology.  He launched the world’s first experimental psychology lab. This made psychology to be seen as a separate and distinct science.
3. It was Wundt who came up with the concept of structuralism
   Wundt viewed psychology as a scientific study of conscious experience. He used controlled methods, such as introspection, to break down consciousness to its basic elements. This came to be known as structuralism. In other words, structuralism refers to studying an object as it is defined by the set of relationships it has and not by the qualities possessed by them.
4. William James shifted the focus from structuralism
   William James was the first American psychologist who advocated a different perspective on psychology.  He used Darwin’s theory of evolution to explain that natural selection leads organisms to adapt to their environment. This came to be known as functionalism. According to functionalism, mental states are identified by what they do rather than by what they are made of.
5. Freud came up with psychoanalysis
   A highly influential figure in the history of psychology, Sigmund Freud founded psychoanalysis. According to his theory, most problems arise from the unconscious mind. This theory talks about the role of a person’s unconscious and childhood experiences. Freud’s clinical approach is seen in current practices in psychotherapy.

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