ACCTG 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Comparative Psychology, Spiritualism, Animal Cognition
Document Summary
Task 6 from thinking animals to behaviourism. Perception of psychology in the usa at the beginning of the 20th century. Scientific psychology expanded rapidly in the usa: many laboratories were established at universities, the apa was founded and two important journals were invented. Meanwhile psychology changed to address concerns prevalent in american society (adaptation to the environment, practical usefulness) led to functionalism. At the same time the position of the psychology laboratories was precarious: They were mostly part of philosophical institutes (rather than science faculties) and the public at large did not associate psychology with science but with phrenology, mesmerism and spiritualism. This created pressure to enhance the scientific status of psychology. Phrenology view that mental functions are localised in the brain and that the capacity of a function corresponds to the size of the brain part devoted to it. Gave rise to personality assessment by means of analysing bumps on the skull.
