Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, including those affecting behavior. Throughout the history of psychology, definitions and theories have changed and developed, because of differentiating thoughts by different psychologists.
Pioneers in Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt: founded the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 18779. He also conducted many of the first experiments about human behavior.
William James: know for a number of theories in psychology, including the theory of self, the James-Lange theory, pragmatic theory of truth, and the two stage model of free will.
Edward Thordike: designed experiments with animals to better understand how they learn, including using puzzle boxes.
Sigmund Freud: studied the brains of humans and other mammals. He had also specialized in the care and treatment of nervous disorders.
BF Skinner: worked on operant conditioning, which helps explain and alter behaviors.
Margaret Floy Washburn: the first woman to receive a psychology Ph.D. Washburn synthesized animal behavior researcher in The Animal Mind.
Alfred Binet: co-founded the IQ test, which is designed to measure overall intelligence, and has a result in the form of an IQ score. His first attempt to test this was on the intelligence of children.
Jean Piaget: the first psychologist to to make a systematic study of cognitive development. He studied the cognition in children, and the stages of child cognitive development.
John B. Watson: conducted an experiment that demonstrated the conditioned responses on a baby, later called "Little Albert."
Carl Rogers: was elected the President of American Psychological Association, and wrote 19 books autlinging his humanistic theory.