schools of psychology

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what are the schools of psychology

-- valeriano flor (val_joan12@yahoo.com), July 05, 2004

Answers

Most history of psychology textbooks will tell you in their chapter names. An especially good older text is Heidbreddder's _Seven Psychologies_. Normally the "schools" are thought to be Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt, Behaviorism, (often) Psychoanalysis, (and sometimes Cognitivism, though its origin is well past the "age of schools").

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), July 05, 2004.

Hi Valeriano, You might also want to know what it means to be eclectic (sometimes called systematic)with respect to theory or techniques, since so many clinical psychologists today consider themselves eclectic rather than belonging to a single school or orientation. I hope this helps. Paul

-- Paul Kleinginna (pkleinginna@georgiasouthern.edu), July 05, 2004.

Hello Valeriano.

Here's my take on the classical *schools* and systems:

http://www.comnet.ca/~pballan/Systems.htm

The "eclectic" approach (mentioned by others above) is also reflected in *experimental psychology* --which from the time of R.S. Woodworth and Norman Munn has attempted to adopt a 'middle of the road' approach to the methodological divides which marked these classic attempts to define and empirically study psychological subject matter.

For my take on the strengths and limitations of Woodworth's efforts in this regard see:

http://www.comnet.ca/~pballan/Woodworth.htm

Good luck, Paul F. Ballantyne

-- Paul F. Ballantyne (pballan@comnet.ca), July 06, 2004.


Hi Valeriano and Paul B., I agree with Paul B. that people like Woodworth helped make many experimental psychologists eclectic in methodology. Some also became more eclectic in theoretical orientation due to Woodworth. Maybe the strong desire among many researchers to get both accurate and practical research results, also contributed to increased flexibility in theories, research methodology, and applied techniques (i.e., a what-ever-works attitude). I hope this helps. Paul K.

-- Paul Kleinginna (pkleinginna@georgiasouthern.edu), July 06, 2004.

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