Psychology - Basic Terms And Some History

Many people talk about psychology and psychotherapy, yet there are but a few who are truly knowledgeable of the formal definitions when it comes to the science of psychology. Clearing out some misconceptions is very important, especially if a person wants to read further about the subject. Psychology, although rooted way back in the past, has only been recognized a separate science for two centuries or so, but has made tremendous progress over that short amount of time. Knowing more about its history would be beneficial to anyone who has thought about pursuing a career there, or anyone who just wants to expand his or her knowledge.
Psychology is defined as a science that defines the behavior of humans. There are several aspects of the human behavior that need to be clarified , in order for this definition to be true. The human behavior consists of cognition , which is how a person thinks and what he thinks. The next important aspect is his emotional state – the way he feels about certain things, and the way his emotions work in general. Last but not least, the third aspect of human behavior is the sum of actions he undertakes. Actions are a direct product of the former two, but are very important and defining for human behavior.
As for the history of psychology, it’s roots can be found way back in ancient Greece , even though the term psychology wasn’t used back then, and it wasn’t declared a separate science, but rather a type of philosophy. Then again, so were most of the other sciences back then. Philosophers such as Thales, Plato and Aristotle are coined to be founders of psychology back in that distant time.
The first psychological laboratory was made by scientists who are said to belong to the school of structuralism. Made by Wilhelm Wundt in the University of Leipzig, one of the oldest universities in Europe, the first steps were made to explore the human mind aside from medicine and philosophy. Structuralism itself was based around decomposing the main mind processes of the human mind.
The reverse theory was later developed by William James, author of the Principles of Psychology, who was striving to find a unified answer , or a combining explanation, like one that exists in other sciences.
A name that you’ve probably heard , and has great importance for psychology, bringing it out of pure theory into practice is Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. Freud has coined so many terms in modern psychology that he cannot go without being mentioned. He was known for dream analysis and also the first attempts at psychotherapy (we Danes use the term lære mere om psykoterapi) – treating patients with psychological problems.
Later on, in the middle of the 20th century, other schools of though emerged – those of behavioral and existential psychology. These would change the world in such a way that would make psychotherapy not only available ,but recommended in certain cases. Once we reach these subsets of psychology, we cannot go without mentioning the names Abraham Maslow and B.F. Skinner.