School of Thoughts
School of thoughts refers to a group of people who shares same kind of opinions on a particular subject. There are five major school of thoughts in psychology.
- Structuralism
- Functionalism
- Behaviorism
- Psychoanalysis
- Gestalt psychology
- Humanistic psychology
School of Thoughts
Structuralism:
Developed by Wilhelm Wundt, often considered the “father of psychology,” Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) was a German psychologist, philosopher, and pioneer in the field of experimental psychology. He is widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern psychology. Structuralism aimed to analyze the basic elements of consciousness through introspection.
“Introspection is the process of examining one’s own thoughts, feelings, and mental experiences. It involves reflecting inwardly and observing one’s own conscious thoughts and emotions.”
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Wundt believed that by breaking down conscious experiences into their elemental parts, one could understand the structure of the mind.
Wundt’s emphasis on experimental methods and his establishment of the first psychology laboratory had a profound influence on the development of psychology worldwide.
His students and followers, known as the “Wundtians,” spread his ideas and methodologies to universities across Europe and the United States, shaping the direction of psychological research and education for decades to come.
Wilhelm Wundt’s pioneering work laid the foundation for the emergence of psychology as a scientific discipline separate from philosophy and physiology. His emphasis on empirical methods and systematic experimentation paved the way for the development of various schools of thought within psychology and contributed to the growth and expansion of the field in the 20th century.
Functionalism:
William James (1842–1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist who made significant contributions to both fields
Functionalism is led by William James, considered as the founder of functional psychology. Functionalism focused on the functions and purposes of consciousness and behavior. James emphasized the adaptive functions of mental processes and argued that psychology should study how the mind operates in real-life situations. James introduced the concept of the “stream of consciousness,” which refers to the continuous flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensations experienced by an individual. He believed that consciousness is constantly changing and dynamic, rather than static or fixed.
Behaviorism:
Founded by John B. Watson and later advanced by B.F. Skinner, behaviorism emphasized the study of observable behavior rather than internal mental processes. Behaviorists believed that behavior could be explained by environmental stimuli and reinforcement, rejecting the use of introspection and focusing on objective, measurable behavior.
”Stimuli are external events or cues that evoke a response in an organism. These can be sensory inputs from the environment, such as sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches, which trigger reactions or behaviors in individuals or organisms.”
“Reinforcement: Reinforcement refers to the process of increasing the likelihood that a behavior will occur again in the future. It involves providing a consequence, such as a reward or punishment, immediately following a behavior, which strengthens the association between the behavior and its consequences. Reinforcement can be positive (adding something desirable) or negative (removing something undesirable), both of which serve to reinforce behavior.”
Psychoanalysis:
Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis focused on the role of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping personality and behavior. Freud’s theory emphasized the importance of unconscious conflicts, defense mechanisms, and the psychosexual stages of development.
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory is the concept of the unconscious mind, where repressed thoughts, desires, and memories reside, influencing conscious thoughts and behaviors.
Freud believed that unresolved conflicts from early childhood experiences shape personality development and contribute to psychological disorders.
Psychoanalysis as a school of thoughts aims to bring these unconscious conflicts into conscious awareness through techniques such as:
- Free association
- Dream analysis
- Transference
By exploring the patient’s unconscious thoughts and feelings, psychoanalysts help individuals gain insight into their behavior and underlying emotional issues.
Freud’s work laid the foundation for many subsequent developments in psychology and psychotherapy.
Humanistic Psychology:
Humanistic psychology was emerged as a significant school of thought in psychology during the mid-20th century.
IT was particularly in response to the perceived limitations of behaviorism and psychoanalysis.
It was influenced by figures such as Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Rollo May. These psychologists emphasized the importance of subjective experience, personal growth, and self-actualization.
Humanistic psychology emphasizes the holistic view of human beings, focusing on their potential for growth, self-awareness, and fulfillment.
Unlike behaviorism, which focused on observable behavior, and psychoanalysis, which emphasized unconscious conflicts, humanistic psychology emphasizes conscious experiences and the individual’s capacity for self-determination.
Abraham Maslow proposed a theory of human motivation centered around the concept of self-actualization, the innate drive to realize one’s full potential. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests that individuals must satisfy basic physiological and safety needs before they can pursue higher-level needs such as love, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Client-Centered Therapy:
Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy, also known as person-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness in the therapeutic relationship. Rogers believed that individuals possess the capacity for self-healing and growth and that the therapist’s role is to provide a supportive environment for clients to explore their feelings.
Thinkers such as Rollo May and Viktor Frankl, explores themes of meaning, choice, freedom, and responsibility in human existence. Existential psychologists emphasize the importance of grappling with life’s fundamental questions and confronting existential anxiety and despair.
While humanistic psychology offered valuable insights into human nature and emphasized the importance of subjective experience, it has also been criticized for its lack of empirical rigor and scientific methodology. Some critics argue that humanistic psychology’s focus on individual growth and self-actualization may overlook social and cultural influences on behavior.
Despite these criticisms, humanistic psychology has had a lasting impact on the field, contributing to the development of positive psychology, humanistic therapy approaches, and the study of subjective well-being and flourishing. It continues to influence various areas of psychology, counseling, education, and personal development.
Gestalt psychology:
It emerged as a prominent school of thought in psychology during the early 20th century, particularly in response to the structuralist and behaviorist approaches dominant at the time.
Gestalt psychology was founded by Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka, who were German psychologists. It emphasized the importance of holistic perception and the organization of experience.
Gestalt focused on how individuals perceive and organize sensory information into meaningful wholes. They argued that perception is not just the sum of individual sensory elements but is influenced by the organization of these elements into patterns and configurations. Gestalt psychologists proposed several principles to explain how individuals perceive and organize sensory information, including:
- Figure-Ground: The tendency to perceive objects as distinct figures standing out against a background.
- Proximity: The tendency to perceive objects that are close together as belonging to the same group or pattern.
- Similarity: The tendency to perceive objects that are similar in appearance as belonging to the same group.
- Closure: The tendency to perceive incomplete figures as whole or complete.
- Continuity: The tendency to perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous elements.
Insight Learning: Wolfgang Köhler’s research with chimpanzees on problem-solving and insight learning contributed to Gestalt psychology. He demonstrated that animals could solve complex problems by suddenly realizing the solution, suggesting that problem-solving involves insight and understanding rather than trial and error.
Gestalt psychology made significant contributions to the understanding of perception, problem-solving, and the organization of experience. However, it faced criticism for its lack of emphasis on empirical research and its focus on subjective experiences. Nevertheless, Gestalt principles continue to influence various areas of psychology, including cognitive psychology, perception, and problem-solving, as well as fields such as design, art, and visual perception. Gestalt psychology’s emphasis on holistic perception and pattern recognition remains influential in understanding how individuals organize and interpret sensory information.
Over time, the landscape of psychological schools of thought has evolved, incorporating new ideas and expanding its scope. Each generation of psychologists builds upon the foundations laid by their predecessors, enriching the field with fresh perspectives and insights. As new research emerges and societal values shift, the school of thoughts within psychology adapts accordingly, integrating additional concepts and methodologies. This dynamic evolution reflects the ever-changing nature of human understanding and the continuous quest for knowledge. Within this dynamic interplay of ideas, the school of thoughts serves as a guiding framework, providing a rich tapestry of theories and approaches that shape the study and application of psychology across diverse contexts.
