Foundations of Psychology Essay - 813 Words

When psychology first emerged as a science, the process of explaining the human mind and human behavior began. In this essay we will present a brief synopsis of what psychology is and introduce the reader to the primary biological foundations of psychology that are linked to behavior as well as introducing the reader to the major schools of thought in psychology. In Kowalski and Westen Fifth Edition of Psychology, psychology is define as â€Å"the scientific investigation of mental processes such as; thinking, remembering, feeling, and behavior. Understanding a person requires attention to the individual’s biology, psychological experience, and cultural context.†(Kowalski Weston, 2009, p. 4). Each component is necessary in formulating who†¦show more content†¦It is worth noting that when our brain and neurotransmitters link together they have a major impact or influence on our thoughts, feelings and behavior. This brings us to our first school of thought whi ch is known as structuralism. Structuralism, our first major school of thought was developed by Edward Titchener and the primary focus of structuralism is the breaking down of mental processes into one basic component. In that regard, introspection was a primary element Titchener used to reveal elements of consciousness and to analyze inner processes of the mind. Shortly after this school of thought made an entrance into the psychological world, other schools of thoughts were formulated and functionalism was one of those schools. Functionalism looked at explanation of psychological processes in terms of their role or function in helping the individual adapt to the environment. Darwin was the scientist noted for formulating and bringing into existence the functionalism theory. According to Functional Psychology (2011), â€Å"Functionalism arose in the U.S. in the late 19th century as an alternative to structuralism.[2] While functionalism never became a formal school, it built on structuralisms concern for the anatomy of the mind and led to greater concern over the functionsShow MoreRelatedFoundations of Psychology771 Words   |  4 PagesFoundations of Psychology Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. There is some tension between scientific psychology (with its program of empirical research) and applied psychology (dealing with a number of areas). Psychologists attempt to explain the mind and brain in the context of real life. In contrast neurologists utilize a physiological approach. Psychologists study such phenomena as perception, cognition, emotionRead MoreFoundation of Psychology773 Words   |  4 PagesFoundation of Psychology Psychology is the study of human behavior and mind. 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