Psy300

Foundations for Psychology

Student Name

PSY/300

Date due

Professor’s Name

Abstract

Psychology is the sum or characteristics of the mind or mental states in humans and animals. (dictionary.com, 2014). In the late nineteenth century the field of psychology began. Experimental psychologists worked with philosophers and asked many questions about the mind. At that time the scientific method was the explanation for how the mind works. (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). “Thomas Kuhn, a philosopher of science, studied the history of science and found some remarkable convergences across disciplines in the way schools of thought come and go and knowledge is generated. Kuhn (1970) observed that science does not progress, as many believe, primarily through the accumulation of facts. Rather, scientific progress depends as much or more on the development of better and better paradigms.” (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). These schools of thought are Structuralism, functionalism, Psychodynamic perspective, humanistic psychology, and Gestalt. These theories take a deeper look into the mind and have many different explanations for how the mind works. The primary biological foundations of psychology best linked to behavior are biological counterparts. According to this perspective a person’s behavior is a reflection of what is happening within the body.

Foundations for Psychology

I have examined and will identify the major schools of thought in psychology and will examine their major underlying assumptions. A few major schools of thought are structuralism and functionalism, Gestalt, behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanistic psychology, and cognitive psychology. Structuralism and functionality were the earlier psychological processes. These processes attracted advocates and opponents. From there more thought processes and beliefs of thoughts began to emerge. The nervous system and endocrine system are the primary biological foundations of psychology linked to behavior. According to these...