To do: In pairs or 3s match up the school of thought to the correct definition.

School of Definition
thought

Structualism The 1st school of psychology. The main focus was on breaking down mental processes
into the most basic components. Used techniques such as introspection to analyze the
inner processes of the human mind. Major thinker(s): Wilhelm Wundt

Functionalism Formed as a reaction to the theories of the structuralism. Instead of focusing on the
mental processes themselves, was interested in the role that these processes play.
Describes thoughts and what they do without asking how they do it. The mind
resembles a computer, and to understand its processes, you need to look at the
software (what it does), without having to understand the hardware (the why and how
underlying it). Major thinker(s): William James
Gestalt Based upon the idea that we experience things as unified wholes. Formed as a reaction
Psychology to the molecular approach of structuralism. Instead of breaking down thoughts and
behaviour to their smallest elements, this school believed that you must look at the
whole of experience (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts).
Major thinker(s): Fritz Perls
Psychoanalysis Emphasises the influence of the unconscious mind on behaviour. The human mind was
composed of three elements: the id (-ive), the ego (middle/reality) and the superego
(+ive). The interaction of these 3 elements was what led to all of the complex human
behaviours. This school of thought was enormously influential, but also generated a
great deal of controversy. Major thinkers: Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Erik Erikson.
Behaviourism Suggests that all behaviour can be explained by environmental causes rather than by
internal forces. Focused on observable behaviour. Theories of learning including
classical and operant conditioning and were the focus of a great deal of research in this
school (typically experiments with animals, such as rats and pigeons). Believe in this
school that observing behavior, rather than attempting to analyze the inner workings of
the mind itself, provides the key to psychology.
Major thinker(s): B. F. Skinner, Pavlov, John Watson and Edward Thorndike.
Humanistic Developed as a response to psychoanalysis and behaviourism. Focused on individuals
and their motivations. Instead focused on individual free will, personal growth and the
concept of self-actualisation. The "hierarchy of needs" is a system of needs, such as
food, love and self-esteem, determines a person's behaviour to various extents.
Meeting these needs leads to a sense of self-satisfaction and solves psychological
problems. While earlier schools of thought centred on abnormal human behaviour, this
school put an emphasis on helping people achieve and fulfil their potential. Still quite
influential today, and on other areas such as positive psychology.
Major thinker(s): Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.
Cognitive Follows behaviourism by understanding the mind through scientific experimentation,
however, differs by accepting that the internal workings and mental processes of the
mind can be studied. Interested in how people think, perceive, remember and learn.
Major thinker(s): Jean Piaget (also Developmental!).