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Running head: FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHT 1

Foundational Thought

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FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHT 2

There are several notions that seek to explain the thoughts of people, their feelings or why

their behaviors are most of the time angled towards specific patterns. Psychology can be defined

as a scientific exploration of the intellectual activities of the brain and the way they influence how

people act. In order to comprehend the foundational thoughts of psychology, one needs to first

have knowledge on the theories that played a pivotal role in shaping the world of psychology in

the modern world (Baker, 2017). Several individuals put forward different theories interpreting

psychology in the contemporary world. This paper, however, will focus on three of those theorists

whose theories greatly impacted the foundational thoughts of psychology. These include John

Locke, Wilhelm Wundt, and William James.

John Locke was an expert in philosophy in the seventeenth century and is known for putting

forward cognitivism as a school of thought in psychology. His contribution in the foundation of

psychology is explained in his theory of empiricism in which he hypothesized that individuals

have an inborn mind that is empty, but learns and accumulates knowledge over time (Baker, 2017).

This accumulation of knowledge he attested to be due to life experiences an individual goes

through in his or her life. In relation to modern psychology, Locke's theory has been used by

scientists to explain the role genetics plays in how people act in general in biological psychology.

Another theorist who played a major role in the foundational thoughts of psychology is

William James. He pioneered the functionalism as a school of thought in psychology which put its

emphasis on how the mind functions. His contribution is also noted in his coining and description

of the notion pragmatism (Mandler, 2011). He is further applauded for his contribution in being

the first individual to publish a book on psychology, "The Principles of Psychology." His book

explores psychology in practicality. In addition, William James is noted for his role in the

establishment of the first lab in American history that was used in the study of psychology. His

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contributions have guided the paths of modern theorists in their attempts to come up with theories

that further seek to explain the foundations of psychology.

Wilhelm Wundt is known as the “Father of Psychology.” He was a German professor who

brought forward the theory of structuralism which explores the mind in a plain manner to

comprehend its intricate structure. Wilhelm was primarily focused on studying the simple

components of the intellectual activities which led to the development of his school of thought

(Mandler, 2011). His theory is believed to have laid the foundation for the first step towards

foundational thoughts in psychology. He also established a psychology lab where to examine

people in his home country. His contributions paved the way for replicate labs to be established in

the modern world in order to study the mental processes, similar to his introspection.

Despite their major contributions to the development of psychology, these theories created

unresolved issues which were left to be handled by modern psychology (Cherry, 2016). For

instance, John Locke’s theory of empiricism brought with issues which opposed the idea that

human experiences adequately explain the entirety of human life. Modern psychologists, however,

employ computer-run programs to analyze and conceptualize human experiences acquired. The

structuralism theory also faced criticism from the functionalism theory (Mandler, 2011). However,

modern psychology has seen the invention of medical equipment such as MRI machines which are

put to use to study the structure of brains. Finally, the issue of pragmatism as studied in the

foundation of psychology created fails to give a clear description. Modern psychology has however

made available therapists and psychologists who play a major role in the identification of the truth

in practical and beneficial manner.

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References

Baker, D., & Sperry, H. (2017). History of Psychology. Retrieved from

http://nobaproject.com/modules/history-of- psychology

Cherry, K. (2016). A quick timeline of modern psychology. Retrieved June 14, 2017, from

https://www.verywell.com/timeline-of-modern-psychology-2795599

Mandler, G. (2011). A history of modern experimental psychology : from james and wundt to

cognitive science. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.library.capella.edu

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