Today is Feb. 28, 2005. I'm writing a paper on the history of American Psychology and I was wondering what would be some things i should emphasize on. Any specific events/happenings/findings any of you would recommend be mentioned in my paper. thank you -sho

-- victor lopez (vivalasho@gmail.com), February 28, 2005

Answers

Naturally this is an enormous question. You should look to some of the many history of psychology textbooks for more detailed answers. I would think you would want to look at things like the dozens of American students who studied in the Leipzig laboratory of Wilhelm Wundt (as well as other Germans of the late 19th century). I would think you would want to look at William James, how his approach to psychology differed from that of the Germans, and what influence he had on the Americans returning from their studies in Germany. You probably want to look at the American emphasis on evolution, development, individual differences, psychological activity and function, and applied psychology, all of which are quite different from the German model. See especially people such as Dewey, Angell, J.M. Cattell, Thorndike, Woodworth, Hall, Jastrow, Baldwin. For a contrast see how the Englishman, E.B. Titchener, also a student of Wundt's, approached psychology from his Cornell stronghold. See also the work of Münsterberg, the German who came to run the Harvard lab, and how he "out-Americaned" even the Americans with his emphasis on and popularization of psychological application (in industry, school, the courts, etc.). Then, of course, there's the rise of behaviorism. That ought to get you started.

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), March 01, 2005.

thank you, I know i asked a vast question, but i was just wondering for any major turning points that i should emphasize on. I will look into those names you mentioned. thank you -sho

-- victor lopez (vivalasho@gmail.com), March 01, 2005.

Hi Victor, You could organize your paper based on either schools, perspectives, revolutions, or new areas of investigation (or some combination of them), and then place them in crude chronological order. For example: Functionalism, Behaviorism, Humanistic Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Evolutionary Psychology, and Brain Science. I hope this helps. Paul

-- Paul Kleinginna (prk@frontiernet.net), March 05, 2005.