Introduction to Psychology 1/IPSY101/History/History

Physiology seeks to derive the processes in our own nervous system from general physical forces, without considering whether these processes are or are not accompanied by processes of consciousness.

“Psychology has a long past but a short history.” This brief statement by one of the pioneers of psychological research, Herman Ebbinghaus, captures the history of psychology as a discipline. Though it is relatively new as a formal academic subject, the questions it seeks to answer have been around since the beginning of man. In this module, we will review the history of psychology as a discipline, by learning about both its ancient philosophical (“prescientific”) roots and its more recent reincarnation as a “scientific” field of study.

As you progress through the readings and activities on this page, consider how each distinct school of thought may have emerged, at least in part, as a reaction to those that came earlier. The insights of each these different traditions has enriched the study of psychology. As such, you should resist the urge to thinking of a single school of thought as the "correct" one. Instead, notice how well they compliment one another.