Psy300

There are many ideas regarding why humans think, have the feelings, or behave in the way that they do. Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context This paper will work to identify the major schools of thought in psychology and examine their major underlying assumptions. This paper will also work to identify the primary biological foundations of psychology linked to behavior.

Psychology first came to be in the 1800’s. Doctors found it interesting that people suffering from severe head trauma were affected by memory and language difficulty. This showed there is a connection between one’s brain and his or her behavior. According to Kowalski and Westen (2009), William Wundt, often described as the "father of psychology" opened the first psychological laboratory in 1879, in Leipzig, Germany (Chapter 1). One of Wundt's most common methods was introspection. Introspection is "a method in which trained subjects verbally reported everything that went through their minds when presented with a stimulus or task" (Kowalski & Westen, 2009, Chapter 1).

Edward Titchener, a student of Wundt, began the first school of thought known as structuralism. Structuralism “attempted to use introspection as a method for uncovering the basic elements of consciousness and the way they combine with each other into ideas” (Kowalski & Westen, 2009, Chapter 1). Ticthener had a very scientific outlook toward psychology. He believed that the only way to understand the psychology was through experimentation.

The second early school of thought was known as functionalism. According to Kowalski and Westen (2009), functionalism is the theory that all aspects of a society serve a function and are necessary for the survival of that society. (Chapter 1). William James, one founder of functionalism wrote the first textbook in psychology in 1890., He believed that knowledge about psychology could come from many...