Today in the History of Psychology (Term Paper Sample)

Today, in the History of Psychology Student Name Department Course Name and Number Professor Due Date Name: Date: January 11th 1842 Summary of Event The year 1842, on January 11, marks the day William James was born. He was a renowned philosopher and psychologist then and believed in psychology as a field of distinct disciplines (Ruhl, 2022). James was critical in establishing the Harvard Psychology Department during this period (Ruhl, 2022). William James studied psychology intensely in his time, contributing to shaping the American psychological framework (Ruhl, 2022). He was an esteemed psychology teacher in the United States and contributed to compiling and writing several psychology books. One of the significant contributions is writing the psychology books Psychology: Briefer Course and The Principles of Psychology (Ruhl, 2022). James also developed the concept of functionalist psychology, which remained one of the most influential formulations in psychology in the drive to understand the consciousness aspect of psychology (Ruhl, 2022). James is one of the modern founders of psychology, and his contributions have been very beneficial (Ruhl, 2022). Influence in Psychology 1. As the modern founding father of psychology, James formulated the functionalist school of psychology, which has influenced psychology by stressing the biological processes underlying human consciousness's functions or purpose (Ruhl, 2022). Therefore, other than focusing on understanding the various tenets of a given inner workings of thinking, functionalism psychology encourages psychologists in the current setting to consider the reasons for the different points of thought. The functionalist aspect of psychology encourages psychologists to emphasize the wholeness of a particular event with the consideration of the environment's impact on an individual's behavior. Therefore, rather than using introspection to break down mental events into various, more minor elements, James encourages using introspection as a more effective way of understanding the elements of consciousness that people always get to experience. Within the psychological field, functionalism remains one of the most crucial systematic approaches directed at understanding the mental processes pertinent to behavior and consciousness. 2. James's Lange theory of emotion was an influential contribution to psychology in which events are attributed to trigger physiological reactions. Therefore, understanding people's emotions requires a psychologist first to interpret the associated physiological reactions (Ruhl, 2022). This theory influenced the interpretation of emotions in three vital ways: action perception, body changes associated with the perceptions, and recognizing that subjective feelings and emotions stem from perceived body changes. In psychology, the James-Lange theory of emotion remains one of the most effective approaches and conceptual frameworks to explore the root causes of emotions within an individual (Ruhl, 2022). Furthermore, before the formulation of the given theory, the psychologist's point of perception was that emotions were people's cognitive reactions to perception. However, this changed with the formulation of the theory establishing those physiological responses happen first and are later followed by emotions, creating a significant impact on the understanding of emotions within psychology. 3. James's understanding and knowledge of psychology, in line with the written psychological courses and textbooks, have been vital in teaching the foundations of psychology in schools such as Harvard (Ruhl, 2022). Additionally, the knowledge continues to be crucial in teaching psychology and its application in clinical and other significant psychological fields. With the book's publication on the principles of psychology, psychology began gaining popularity in the United States in the last half of the 19th century. The book played a crucial role in shaping and strengthening psychology in the Country. Further, the book also contributed to the study of the cerebrum and the evolution of brain function due to the concepts of stream of consciousness that were included in the book. Different from a majority of the aspects covered in the book may not be used in the current psychological setting or modern psychology, they play a critical role in shaping research based on various aspects, such as the streams of consciousness, will, habit, and emotions. Date: March 9th 1983 Summary of Event On March 9, 1983, the first American Psychological Association Journal of Comparative Psychology was published. During the journal's publication, Jerry Hirsch became a journal editor (Beran, 2018). In line with the journal was its creation and behavioral neuroscience by the initially established 'Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology' initialed as the JCPP. One of the most fascinating aspects is that back in 1921, the Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology was initially published under the Journal of Comparative Psychology (Beran, 2018). The given journal published original content in terms of empirical research and theoretical research. These researches include content on social relationships, such as cognition perception, behavior, and diverse species. Different psychology researchers have submitted many authentic works to the Journal of Comparative Psychology since its first publication (Beran, 2018). The studies included in the journal were either descriptive or experimental, involving human and non-human species, all of which positively contribute to the field of psychology. Influence in Psychology 1. The Journal of Comparative Psychology has influenced psychology by promoting comparative perspectives (Beran, 2018). The journal has published original content from theoretical and empirical research on comparative perspectives associated with psychological aspects such as cognition, the diverse species' social relations, behavior, and perception (Beran, 2018). This aspect has encouraged psychologists to explore and implement the comparative approach to psychological studies and research to develop an essential understanding of different psychological phenomena (Beran, 2018). Further, the journal has shaped the principles of psychological practice based on findings and research by encouraging the submission of articles and documentation of numerous data sets from diverse species, settings, and experimentations (Beran, 2018). This content is used for references within the psychological field to explore different psychological problems and develop robust solutions (Beran, 2018). The data and article collection have been influential in guiding future research in psychology (Beran, 2018). The journal collection is expected to continue to impact psychological research in years to come positively. 2. The Journal of Comparative Psychology influenced psychological practice by providing diverse data sets on important and original content on psychological experiments, theories, and concepts. The publication allows for submitting articles with multiple varied data sets of various psychological settings and subjects (Beran, 2018). These submissions have largely and positively contributed to a more diverse and prosperous data set within psychology and practice. The given findings establish a robust contribution to the field of psychology. For instance, the submissions on comparative research have been crucial in developing knowledge on the evolution of animal and human behavior (Beran, 2018). The given publications have helped psychologists understand that humans substantially share various characteristics with other species, such as behavior, viral traits, and psychological or mental mechanisms associated with the given behaviors (Beran, 2018). This has contributed mainly to psychologists and researchers within psychology to develop a deeper understanding of why different animals and humans behave in the way they do. 3. The Journal of Comparative Psychology has significantly influenced psychological practice policy and public opinion (Beran, 2018). For instance, the journal has evolved for many decades, shaping different psychological practices and policies of practice with notable advancements and improvements (Beran, 2018). Other than shaping practice and developing policies within psychology, the journal's contents have influenced public opinion on psychology and the scientific reals of comparative psychology over the years (Beran, 2018). The journal has also been crucial in providing guidelines for psychological practice, such as the theoretical framework that has been vital in developing behavioral and psychological conceptualizations with their respective objective definitions. These aspects ensured that psychological practice was constant and adhered to the ethical standards required for effective establishment (Beran, 2018). Nonetheless, other than positively contributing to understanding the comparative perspective of psychology and practice, the journal has continued to be a precious resource for practitioners and researchers in psychology. Date: June 6th 1876 Summary of Event June 6, 1876, marked the founding and establishment of the American Association on Mental Deficiency (Milligan, 1961). The Pennsylvania Training School in Elwyn held the establishment of the given Association. This foundation occurred during the American Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia during the given period (Milligan, 1961). Initially, the name used to refer to the Association was "The Association of Medical Officers of American Institutions for Idiots and Feeble-Minded Persons." This organization was crucial and remains significant with the assembly of professionals from different national organizations that are more concerned with mental aspects such as mental retardation (M...