Origins of Psychology
1500s - Descartes
- French philosopher
- Cartesian Dualism - suggested body + mind are independent from each
other
1632 - John Locke
- proposed idea of empiricism
- empiricism - idea that all experience can be obtained through senses
- humans inherit neither knowledge/instincts
- forms basis of behaviourism - observing + measuring behaviour
Early 1800s - Darwin
- introduced his evolutionary theory
- idea that all human + animal behaviour has changed over successive generations
- individual stronger + more adaptive
- those with strong genes reproduce
- those with weaker genes - weeded out
- deeply rooted in biological psychology
1879 - Wilhelm Wundt
- opened first experimental lab in Germany
- psychology emerges as its own subject
1900s - Sigmund Freud
- introduced psychodynamic approach
- emphasises influence of unconscious mind
- develops psychotherapy
- focus upon dreams + their meanings
1
1500s - Descartes
- French philosopher
- Cartesian Dualism - suggested body + mind are independent from each
other
1632 - John Locke
- proposed idea of empiricism
- empiricism - idea that all experience can be obtained through senses
- humans inherit neither knowledge/instincts
- forms basis of behaviourism - observing + measuring behaviour
Early 1800s - Darwin
- introduced his evolutionary theory
- idea that all human + animal behaviour has changed over successive generations
- individual stronger + more adaptive
- those with strong genes reproduce
- those with weaker genes - weeded out
- deeply rooted in biological psychology
1879 - Wilhelm Wundt
- opened first experimental lab in Germany
- psychology emerges as its own subject
1900s - Sigmund Freud
- introduced psychodynamic approach
- emphasises influence of unconscious mind
- develops psychotherapy
- focus upon dreams + their meanings
1
