The nature of man was studied back in the ancient and middle ages, by great scientists, as part of the natural sciences. Aristotle, Avicenna, Plato offered their vision of mental health and understanding of the foundations influencing human behaviour. As a scientific discipline, psychology began to be considered in the 19th century, Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychological laboratory. During the period from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 21st century, psychology separated from physiology, neurology, psychiatry and philosophy and became completely independent. Among the many psychologists, it is possible to single out those whose achievements in psychology gave a great impetus to its development, and theories in remain relevant nowadays.
Wilhelm Wundt – founder of experimental psychology
Wundt became the founder of experimental psychology. The psychologist developed methods for studying the psyche, relying on elementary physiology. In his opinion, all manifestations of consciousness are based on the experience gained earlier, the cultural characteristics of the people and physiology. His main contribution to the development of psychology is that in 1879 he opened the first laboratory engaged in experimental research of Human psychology. It is this event that is considered fundamental in the separation of psychology from other natural sciences. This contributed to the formation of the basic concepts of studying human consciousness. The list of his achievements is not limited only to this, throughout his life he published works on philosophy, physiology, physics and psychology. He was a versatile person who achieved worldwide recognition, an asteroid even was named in his honour.
Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis. Despite the fact that his methods of studying consciousness and finding a solution based on the past of man, caused controversy in the scientific community. Even in our time, Freud’s theories gather great discussions around him. Based on his teachings appeared:
- freudism;
- psychoanalytic approach;
- psychodynamic approach.
In the opinion of the great psychoanalyst, all problems leading to mental disorders hide in a person’s life, in his childhood, parents and sexual relations. Most of the pathologies of a psychological nature can be solved simply by finding the primary source leading to such behaviour and perception of the world.
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His writings formed the basis of further theories, although some of the psychologists nowadays consider him to be a charlatan and a businessman, who simply caught the wave at the time of atheism and the decline of moral norms. But at the same time his research is based on several theories that give an understanding of the essence of the formation of human consciousness, they are used in classical and pathological psychology. Help to direct the development of the personality in the right direction, just by correcting several errors.
Carl Jung – the founder of analytical psychology
Contemporary and Freud’s disciple Carl Jung as a psychologist at first did not approve part of the teachings of the great psychoanalyst. Karl Gustav Jung is the ancestor of analytical psychology. It is based on the concept of the collective unconscious. He introduced into psychology such concepts as
- archetype;
- the collective unconscious;
- synchronicity;
- complexes.
His main theory is that the person is born complete and the formation of the psyche is proceeding from the abilities and opportunities initially set. In this case, the development of the personality occurs under the influence of others, who can only push it in a given direction but do not exert pressure on it directly. He believed that there is a hereditary model of the psyche, which sets us the right direction of development, knowing it, we can more correctly and objectively adjust our own self-development. The unconscious was divided into several types:
- family;
- national;
- race;
- collective.
His treatment is more capacious than that of Freud, not only by analysis but also by actions that allow the subconscious to be released and integrated into it the psychological components of the personality.
Jean Piaget – child psychologist
Jean Piaget became famous for his profound study of child psychology. He paid special attention to the development of children’s thinking and intellect, which underlie the formation of the personality of any adult. Jean Piaget studied such approaches:
- features of the child’s psyche;
- adaptive nature of intelligence;
- development of intelligence structures;
- development of the child’s thinking.
Before him, the child’s mind was considered a primitive structure, gradually growing and gaining experience, Piaget proved that everything is much more complicated. The general theory of the stages of development helped to understand the formation of the thinking of a small child at different ages and to understand why they commit the same actions, mistakes and how they help the personality to form. In addition, the deviations and the ways of their treatment were considered. He developed the technique of conversation and diagnosis, a list of questions that will help to detect the symptoms of developmental disorders, as well as to identify the causes of their occurrence. Proceeding from the received data, the psychologist develops actions for adaptation and restoration of the child.
Kurt Levin is a social psychologist
Kurt Levin is a great psychologist, born and raised in Germany, but because of his Jewish background, he had to immigrate to America. Here he created the ideas that formed the basis of social psychology. Its main achievement is field theory, it proves that a person living in a society subconsciously does not control his actions and most of it he does base on the kind of society he is in and growing up.
Kurt Levin conducted many practical studies based on the development of human social behaviour. The list of issues that he dealt with in the future became the foundation for many professionals:
- level of aspiration;
- dynamics in the group;
- game situations;
- a temporary perspective;
- field theory;
- striving for success.
The work of this psychologist allowed to unite the behaviour of others, to allocate norms for each person, and also to develop the basis for solving emerging problems, starting from the behaviour in society.
