Psychology subject is an academic discipline that benefits humans. It benefits from a thorough understanding of the human mind, behaviour and cognitive processes. Moreover, this academic discipline is not emerged at once; rather, from various academic disciplines, such as philosophy and physiology. To understand how psychology became an independent academic discipline today, it is vital to understand the history of the emergence of psychology. It is significant to learn who the founder of this field is as well. This article by a top coursework writing firm will explore the history of psychology subject as an academic discipline.
Understanding Academic Discipline
Academic Discipline refers to a branch of knowledge and theory. It is, in fact, a well-known area of study. This area of study has an impressive contribution to knowledge, practice and research. Higher education teaches and allows conducting research on this area of knowledge. Academic Discipline has a formal recognition status. The recognition is in the form of a separate department in an institute. The department provides education or training to a number of people in this field. After completing education and training, it leads to an actual practising profession. An effective academic discipline is the one in which many people desire to get an education through.
Academic Disciplines Worldwide in Higher Education
The common Academic disciplines worldwide in Higher Education are as follows;
- History
- Law
- Language and Literature.
- Psychology
- Political Science.
- Sociology
- Biology
- Chemistry
What is Psychology?
Psychology is an academic discipline that refers to studying the human mind and behaviour. The word psychology derives from two Greek words. One word is “Psyche”, meaning “soul”, while the second word is “logia”, meaning “the study of”. In simple words, psychology is the study of human minds and their processes. Moreover, it evaluates mental functions and emotional processes of human beings. The underlying aim behind this academic discipline is to benefit society as a whole. It benefits from an in-depth understanding of the mind, its health as well as illness. Hence, Psychology is a critical thinking of the human mind.
History of Psychology Subject as an Academic Discipline
The history of psychology as an academic discipline goes back to ancient civilization. This field exists in Egypt and Greece civilization under a branch of philosophy. Moreover, it came under the science of physiology in the late 1800. A German Physiologist “Wilhelm Wundt” in 1873, wrote a book. The book titled “Principles of Physiological Psychology” outlines the interrelationship between physiology and psychology. Wundt later inaugurated a psychology lab in 1879. The lab is at the University of Leipzig. In this lab, hundreds of students were pursuing a degree in this field. About 17000 students attended his lectures on psychology. The researcher, Wundt, is known as the “Father of Psychology for his contribution in this field.
It emerged as a separate academic discipline in the 1870s. After the 1870s, Academic Discipline encouraged psychological studies and discoveries in this field. Moreover, top researchers began to apply an application of psychology in real life. For instance, in World War 1, psychologists argued that survivors were` experiencing brain damage. Charles Mayo, in 1915 referred to this brain damage as shell shocks. These shell shocks were found due to excess blasts and torture during the war. It was damaging the wisdom and human mind of survivors. Later, this theory was rejected. Now modern psychologists agreed with the term shell shock. Shell shock nowadays is well known as “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”. After this, psychology subject as an academic discipline continues to grow.
Behaviourism Psychology
By the 1920s, psychologists began to denote this field as a science of behaviourism. Founders of the behaviourism concept argued that psychologists should only study the observable behaviour of people. They should not study any cognitive behaviour of humans. Yet, this concept has ignored the cognitive process, it still broadened the subject. It enabled psychologists to study animals and their reproduction. The era of behaviourism science dominated the US from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Humanistic Psychology
In the 1960s, humanistic psychology emerged as a response to cognitive process neglect. In the 1970s, cognitive psychology emerged with computer technology’s contribution. It enabled research on the human mind and its information processing system.
Neuroscience
In the 1980s, this field broadened and embraced neuroscience. This field of study provided key information about humans’ behaviour and mental processes. With the help of this field, scientists can perform brain scanning.
Today, these concepts, as well as fields of psychology, co-exist. The coexistence of psychology is useful in many ways. Now this academic discipline carries substantial theories, practice, and research.
Why Psychology Subject is well-known as Hub Science?
Psychology explores human mental processes in detail. They include their perception, brain functioning, or behaviour. It may include cognition, emotion and interpersonal relationships. The outcome from these activities assists in treating the mental illness of humans. Psychology links with humanities’ subject during psychological research. Also, it links with medicine as well as natural sciences. The linkage of psychology with other academic disciplines is well-known as Hub Science.
Classification of Psychologists in the field of a Study
The classification of psychologists can be in the social field. It can be in the cognitive and behavioural fields as well. Psychologists study biological foundations. They study change and development over time in humans. They study mental well-being and its potential dysfunctions. Psychologists understand the role of mental and social factors on humans. They understand the physiological process that leads to cognitive action in humans. They identify how factors of psychology act together with other factors. The other factors are biological and social-cultural factors. The combination of these factors influences individual development as a result. Hence, psychology influences individual development with biology and social-cultural. Psychology is interacting with biology and socio-cultural factors in influencing individual development.
Final thoughts
Academic Discipline of psychology concerns the behaviour and mental process of humans. It studies humans’ mental process that is affected by one’s internal and external factors. The internal factors entail biological and mental states. The external factors entail human upbringing.