How did the object of study in psychology change over the history of the field since the 19 th century?

One of the earliest schools of thought in psychology, structuralism, emerged in the late 19th century. It was mainly pioneered by Wilhelm Wundt, who is often regarded as the 'father of psychology.' Structuralism focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components. Advocates of this approach used methods like introspection, a systematic examination of one's own emotional states and mental processes, to explore the inner structures of the mind.

Understanding Through Introspection

Structuralists believed the best way to understand the mind was through introspection, where an individual would report their conscious experiences in reaction to stimuli. Despite its initial prominence, structuralism was critiqued for its reliance on introspection, which proved to be highly subjective. Over time, other schools of thought, such as functionalism and behaviorism, overshadowed structuralism partly due to their more objective approaches to studying the human psyche.

Behaviorism became the dominant perspective in psychology during the first half of the 20th century. Figures like John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner were at the forefront of this movement. They argued that psychology should be the science of observable behavior, because thoughts and feelings are too subjective.

The Rise of Observable Measures

Behaviorists believed the environment shapes behavior through conditioning. They conducted experiments on learning using reinforcement and punishment, which led to the development of operant conditioning theory. This approach had a substantial impact on psychology, influencing areas such as education, childcare, and even animal training. Because behaviorism focused on measurable and observable behavior, it set a precedent for empirical rigor in psychological research and paved the way for the cognitive revolution.

Cognitive psychology became increasingly influential in the latter half of the 20th century, as researchers began to focus more on the inner workings of the mind. This field studies functions like thinking, problem-solving, memory, and language.

The Mind as an Information Processor

Cognitive psychologists view the brain as an information processor, much like a computer. They study how people understand, diagnose, and solve problems, emphasizing the role of mental processes, which they believe can be inferred from behavior. Innovations in technology, such as brain imaging and computing models, have propelled cognitive psychology forward. It marked a shift away from the external focus of behaviorism, bringing an understanding of the mental processes that underpin behavior, and it paved the way for fields like cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence.