While Freudian thought and the tenets of behavioralism were still a prevalent part of the last half of the 1900’s, several new schools of thought were emerging that began to reshape the science of psychology in the 21st century. Scientists began to question why neither psychoanalytic theory nor behavioralism focused any attention on behaviors that were peculiar only to human beings. Research methods improved and scientists looked for ways to learn about human behavior that did not involve experimentation with laboratory animals. The science of psychology developed increasing credibility and took its place along side of other scientific fields.
A new approach to studying the human mind called Humanism took its place alongside of other existing psychological constructs. The cognitive school of thought developed at about the same time and championed the revolutionary idea of studying the relationship between thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and behaviors. Still later, researchers would begin to turn new attention toward seeking to understand how the physiology and chemistry of the brain could impact psychological constructs and treatment protocols. Modern constructs of psychological thought were emerging and paving the way for psychology in the 21st century.
Humanism
The Humanistic movement championed self-love, self-consciousness, and self-actualization as hallmarks of a new breed of psychologists who looked specifically at human beings to find their uniquenesses, both in attributes and in potential problems.
Proponents of the Humanistic movement believed that human beings were all capable of altruistic motives and, given the opportunity, could make good choices and seek the best interests of not only themselves, but of others. Humanism is in direct conflict with evangelical theology that teaches that mankind is inherently evil and incapable of redemption apart from the plan of God.
Carl Rogers popularized the idea that therapy could offer clients the opportunity to reach their highest potentials while flourishing under the attentive care of a clinician who valued positive regard and empathy. His work raised the bar and standard for recognizing those qualities in a therapist that lend themselves toward the optimal client-therapist relationship.
Maslow is best known for his “Hierarchy of Human Needs” in which he outlined his perspective on the stages that a human being must go through in order to finally self-actualize (reach his greatest potential).
May’s work, while following the same lines as those of Maslow and Rogers, focused particularly on a more existential perspective on human suffering, the human potential for cruelty, human creativity, and the experiential.
Humanistic psychology was well-grounded by the late 1980’s and continues to permeate the philosophy and mechanics of modern day psychology. Today’s humanistic psychology concerns itself with social reform, many New Age philosophies, personal enlightenment, the gay rights movement, self-help recovery programs, and Noetics (a metaphysical field of theoretical study that focuses on the impact of conscious thought on the physical. [i]
Cognitive
The Cognitive School of Psychology had its beginning in the Gestalt school of thought by men like Wolfgang Kohler who studied problem solving abilities in apes and Jean Piaget who postulated a theory of the stages of childhood development.
In the mid 1950’s a psychologist named Albert Ellis developed an early form of cognitive therapy called Rational Emotive Therapy (RET). He believed that by helping individuals examine their thoughts, beliefs, and actions, that negative patterns of behavior could be replaced with healthier ones. He founded the Albert Ellis Institute in 1959. His approach to cognitive therapy remains widely used today.
The school of cognitive thought uses scientific methods to study how people learn, process new information, and retain it in their memory banks. Because of cognitive psychology’s experimental focus, early structuralists and functionalists (example of functionalist perspective) like Wilhelm Wundt, Edward Titchener, and William James are all considered to be early contributors to its development.
Aaron Beck is perhaps the most significant contemporary psychologist to have influenced the development of cognitive theory and its therapeutic interventions. He is the founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a therapeutic approach that recognizes that thoughts form the basis for feelings and actions. The basic premise of cognitive behavioral therapy is that by changing distorted thought processes and unhealthy patterns of thinking the resulting behavior and emotions will also be healthy.
Beck’s cognitive approach is distinctive from many other therapeutic approaches because he has developed his own qualitative and quantitative tests and measurements to determine his therapy’s successfulness. His better known tests include the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a broad construct that encompasses Rational Emotive Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. [ii]
Neuropsychology and Biopsychology
Neuropsychology is the study of how the physiology of the brain impacts thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Scientists who focus on this field of psychology look at brain chemistry and the role of neurotransmitters in carrying chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. Both of these neurotransmitters are believed to be linked to numerous human functions including mood, sex drive, anxiety, OCD, and sleep. [iii]
Neuropsychologists study the density, neural activity, synaptic responses, and the presence of biomarkers in an effort to unlock the mysteries behind mental illnesses that are believed to be genetic such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Biopsychologists also study the effects of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, when released into the body. Studies have shown that elevated levels of these hormones can become toxic and contribute to higher levels of anxiety and even panic attacks.
The fields Neuropsychology and Biopsychology are mere infants in the further development of the school of psychology. Scientists hypothesize that continued study in these field will unlocks answers to better managing and even preventing some forms of neuroses as well as illnesses that have both a physiological and a mental disease process.
References:
[i] http://www.ahpweb.org/aboutahp/whatis.html
[ii] http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/09/02/a-profile-of-aaron-beck/
[iii] http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=12999&cn=5
