...A History of Modern Psychology Why is the understanding the history of psychology important? A psychologist and historian (E.G. Boring, 1963) once said, “The seats on the train of progress all face backwards: You can see the past but only guess about the future. Yet a knowledge of history, although it can never be complete and fails miserably to foretell the future, has a huge capacity for adding significance to the understanding of the present” (see chapter 1). Every course that you have taken on history has shown that we never learn anything from our past mistakes, and that looking back cannot guarantee our future in setting stone. But psychology is important to learn because it teaches us a few things: one, it would help psychologist become more critical thinker and be able to help people better, and can help measure those “evolutionary breakthroughs” because of the initial excitement that usually comes with the beginning of anything. Two, it could bring every psychologist closer together because of so many diverse field, we share a common ground. Psychology history does not date back far; in fact many would claim to say that it is in childhood stage for it is no older than 125 years (see Chapter 1). Robert I. Watson was a clinical psychologist with a passion for history, created an organization by calling psychologist from an article he wrote,” History of Psychology: A Neglected Area” (Watson, 1960). Watson found people with similar goal from the American Psychological...
Words: 815 - Pages: 4
...Q1: Darwin's Origin consisted of two parts. The first described observations in support of common descent, the second a mechanism to explain how it was the case. Provide examples of the observations Darwin used (1 page). ‘On the origin of species by means of natural selection : or, The preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life’ by Charles Darwin (1860) was the first book to put forward the scientific theory that populations evolve over a period of generations by the process of natural selection. The first part of the book described observations in support of common descent. One such observation is that of the homologous structures possessed by a wide variety of animals. Darwin used the fact that lizards, bats, whales, birds, frogs cats and even humans all contain a pent dactyl limb to support his theory that all life is descended from one common ancestor. As he says himself , “What can be more curious than that the hand of a man, formed for grasping, that of a mole for digging, the leg of the horse, the paddle of the porpoise, and the wing of the bat, should all be constructed on the same pattern, and should include the same bones, in the same relative positions?”(Darwin 1860) Another observation of common descent from the first part of Darwin’s book is that of convergence of form. This is the presence of similar biological traits in members of different species. Darwin illustrated this using the example of the finches. He observed a variety of forms encountered...
Words: 1114 - Pages: 5
...have, you certainly are not alone. Charles Darwin spent much of his life trying to answer that question. In 1859, when Darwin published his book The Theory of Origin he gave us one of the most widely accepted theories on how life developed on earth. His findings changed science forever and still has lasting effects today. Verlyn Klinkenborg New York Times essay Darwin at 200: The Ongoing Force of His Unconventional Idea illustrates many of the reasons why Darwin was such an important and revolutionary person. Charles Darwin’s essay Natural Selection was ahead of its time when it was published in the 19th century. Darwin discussed animals and the traits that are passed on from generation to generation. Through his observations Charles Darwin came to the conclusion that animals compete for resources and that the animal with the most desirable trait will be more likely to survive and pass on their genes. He also stated that because of this, it helps explain all of the variation within each different species of living things. Darwin also discussed that his theory of Natural Selection doesn’t only apply to animals but also to plants. He observed that only plants that had the best ways to distribute their pollen would be able to reproduce. Charles Darwin’s ideas still live on over 150 years after his publication of The Origins of Species. In Verlyn Klinkenborg New York Times essay Darwin at 200: The Ongoing Force of His Unconventional Idea he discussed how revolutionary Darwin’s observations...
Words: 661 - Pages: 3
...movement of the species toward greater self-awareness and strength. Shaw described this process in his play Man and Superman. Freud also utilized the concept in his libido theory. Horney interpreted the process as a psychic response to the intense societal pressures to succeed. A linkage of interdependence and progression of these ideas emerges as the world continues to evolve. What allowed dance forms such as ballet to develop at this time? Ballet is a formalized form of dance with its origins in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th and 16th centuries. It quickly spread to the French court of Catherine de' Medici where it was developed even further. In the late 17th century Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Musique (the Paris Opera) within which emerged the first professional theatrical ballet company, the Paris Opera Ballet. Discuss the significance of Darwin and Darwinian theory on modern scientific thought. In short, it is horribly antiquated. If you read "Origin" you will see that Darwin fully expected someone to find the transitional fossil record linking man with beast. That has not and will not happened. Moreover, if you research Darwin's life, he disputed his own theory before he passed away. Finally, scientists today, while remarkably smart and advanced (thankfully), still overlook/dismiss the gap in the fossil record and extrapolate their answers from a false beginning. The scientific community for the most part, therefore, lacks a faith lest...
Words: 297 - Pages: 2
...Charles Darwin. Darwin is best known for his contributions in science; his famous theory of evolution. He also contributed to the market and command economy with his belief, "survival of the fittest." Charles Darwin's contribution to science has been a very controversial one. He stated that each generation will improve adaptively over the preceding generations, and this gradual and continuous process is the source of the evolution of species. Natural selection is only part of Darwin's theory. He also introduced the concept that all related organisms are descended from common ancestors. His theory was first announced in 1858 in a paper. Darwin's complete theory was published in 1859, in On the Origin of Species. This book is often referred to as "the book that shook the world. The Origin sold out on the first day of publication and subsequently went through six editions. Charles Darwin also contributed to the Market economy with his belief "survival of the fittest." In a free enterprise system, it is believed that the best will survive while the less efficient will collapse if the market is allowed to work without government interference. In a market economy, since the government has very little control of the businesses, the companies must work their hardest and come out with good products that will outsell the ones of their competition. Social Darwinism basically means that the strong will control the weak. Social Darwinism comes from the laws of natural selection as Darwin...
Words: 326 - Pages: 2
...The Evolution of Compassion The evolution of compassion as a part of human nature has been a long standing debate topic. It is typically ignored when analyzing our evolutionary process, and if considered is viewed as some sort of emotional unreliability, and something that hinders out ability to evolve. However, compassion is an innate part of human nature that has evolved from thousands of years of survival. There are three evolutionary arguments for compassion. The first is that within the vulnerable offspring argument, sympathy is thought to have risen as the full of feeling component of a caregiving framework, intended to help raise powerless posterity to the time of feasibility (accordingly guaranteeing that qualities will probably be imitated). Human posterity are conceived more rashly and more reliant than whatever other well evolved creature, requiring uncommon care to achieve the period of freedom and conceptive engagement (Mikulincer and Shaver, 2003). Caring people were favored in mate choice procedures, and are still considered to be preferred when picking a partner today. Dating sites, speed dating, and formal dating all use kindness as a factor when deciding whether a date is going well or not. Finally, a third developmental contention sets that the caring inclinations of others are a vital rule in the arrangement of helpful relations with non-kin (Axelrod, 1984). It is suggested that empathy (sensitivity in his phrasing) advanced inside a mind boggling arrangement...
Words: 963 - Pages: 4
...first became aware of the capability of this theory when he studied variation in plants and animals during a five-year voyage around the world in the 19th century. He noticed whilst in the Galapagos Islands that the habitat of certain finches on the island changed their physical characteristics. Darwin mainly focused on the shape of the finches beak according to their habitat, concluding that even though the finch had a common ancestor, their beak shaped evolved according the foods that they ate in their habitat. He continued the development of this theory by studying hundreds more plants and animals than on his voyage. He developed this theory in 1858 after a thirty year period of study. The theory was published in a book titled ‘On the Origin of Species.’ His theory of Natural Selection has endured centuries of controversy, particularly as many reasons it conflicts with religious explanations of the world’s creation, as well as the organisms that inhabit it. Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection has a process with four components: Variation Each organism within populations has a difference in appearance in behaviour, such as body size, hair colour and number of offspring. In contrast, some have little to no variation among the population, for example, number of eyes in vertebrates. Colour, particularly in the palatability and appearance of foods, can determine one’s choice of food. Foods that are red give the perception that the food is...
Words: 1779 - Pages: 8
...Darwin’s thought on publishing his own theory of evolution, without knowing that his theory was almost identical to Darwin’s theory (Evolution.Berkely). At first Darwin was hesitant to tell his theory due to religion, he knew publicizing his theory meant that it would probably backlash, but everything changed when Darwin received the letter from Wallace regarding his own theory of evolution. Darwin went to his friends in the science community for help since he didn’t deal with repercussions of plagiarism. Both men were given credit after a meeting for the Linnaean Society. As for why Charles Darwin is more known than Wallace since they both have credit for the theory? Well, Charles Darwin started the game before Wallace and he published Origins of Species, which became science’s most influential book. Thanks to Darwin and Wallace, the theory of evolution is one of the greatest scientific findings in our...
Words: 637 - Pages: 3
...Curiosity is a common human instinct that has lead to the beginning of many revolutions in the scientific world. As we advance as a population and team up with diverse individuals worldwide, we are able to piece together new information that can help us understand how all the diverse organisms on earth arose. One of the most astonishing populations of organisms that seems to continuously baffle scientists is the Drosophilia fly. This Drosophilia has been said to have branched from one species of fly into over 800 native,diverse species seen in Hawaii alone. These species are said to still be undergoing speciation due to genetic mutations and adaptations that result upon reproduction. A major player in the results of this diversity has been a result of adaptive radiation. Adaptive radiation is defined as a time of evolutionary divergence in which some organization of organisms is capable of establishing new species that are better adapted fulfill any niches or roles in their neck of the woods. This often occurs in small populations where competition is scarce and organisms have some evolutionary modification suited to the environment, such the islands of Hawaii. Due to the fact that Hawaii formed relatively recently, it is packed with narrow geographic areas that are not as nearly as inhabited as other islands, therefore it has far less competition and is the perfect housing environment for organisms trying to become adapted. The adaptive radiation allows animals to become more...
Words: 482 - Pages: 2
...Science is all about the facts, and in most instances that is all you need to believe in the results that you are being given. With this ease in compatibility with others upon results, naturally friendships are made between scientists. Yet there are just about as many natural arguments between scholars in science as their are friendships. This argument or friendship can skip generations for those in the same study, scientists often being compatible with those who worked before them and brought inspiration. This basic concept is seen in the compatibility and differences between Charles Dawkins and Richard Dawkins. These two scientists both have a long recorded history of progress in terms of evolution, but there are details and specifics in the study that the two aren’t compatible with. To note and truly appreciate these differences there has to be an understanding of their lifelong work and beliefs, anything that related to science. In analyzing the Dawkins and Darwin, there are their fundamental theories that they share, the ones that aren’t as compatible, and how the two exceed one another. There is the initial analysis point that looks at what ideas the two men share in their opinions of nature and man. Each man is extremely similar to the other; not to mention that they are both scientists of similar studies. Darwin obviously came before Richard Dawkins, but the time difference makes little difference in the two being different in views; there is the basic fact that Dawkins...
Words: 912 - Pages: 4
...Natural selection, a concept conceived by Charles Darwin, is one of the most important ideas about the natural world. It states that environmental variables decide the course of life and its evolutions to produce constituents with the most favorable traits. It is prevalent and intangible; it is trial and error in its most beautiful form. However, natural selection is not just limited to the agrarian world, its patterns can be observed in society too. In the process of natural selection, there is a losing side. Extinct animals and archaic ideas are the victims of natural selection and end up on the losing side of history. This ensures that the most appropriately adapted organisms or ideas prevail. Sudden events and gradual changes shape the...
Words: 315 - Pages: 2
...Darwin's Theory Of Evolution - A Theory in Crisis You are here: Science >> Darwin's Theory Of Evolution Darwin's Theory of Evolution - The Premise Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor: the birds and the bananas, the fishes and the flowers -- all related. Darwin's general theory presumes the development of life from non-life and stresses a purely naturalistic (undirected) "descent with modification". That is, complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural selection." These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism (not just a variation of the original, but an entirely different creature). Darwin's Theory of Evolution - Natural Selection While Darwin's Theory of Evolution is a relatively young archetype, the evolutionary worldview itself is as old as antiquity. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Anaximander postulated the development of life from non-life and the evolutionary descent of man from animal. Charles Darwin simply brought something new to the old philosophy -- a plausible mechanism called "natural selection." Natural selection acts to preserve...
Words: 876 - Pages: 4
...How are the thoughts and feelings presented in the extract from Origin of the Species? Compare to War of the Worlds. The extract from Darwin’s Origin of Species – ‘Recapitulation and Conclusion’ – presents Darwin’s final ideas of Natural Selection and to convince and challenge the scientific community, as well as the general population due to the religious controversy. Similarly to Darwin’s extract, the novel ‘The War of the Worlds’ by H. G. Wells also challenges traditional thinking and presents ideas of Natural Selection. However, indicates a sense of fear and shock at the rate of changing opinions which are presented through language, structure and form. Both the extract and the novel present ideas of change in the fields of science and religion. Darwin presents the idea that science is much more powerful than originally thought. Although, does not dismiss religion, therefore creating a balanced argument, which makes his theologies more accepted by the readers. ‘…not as special creations, but lineal the descendants…’ This quote is representative of Darwin’s controversial ideas as he is disagreeing with past assumptions by suggesting a limit to God’s power – ‘not as special creations...’, highlighting that man or God has...
Words: 769 - Pages: 4
...of evolution, Darwin was not afraid to compare the human race to that of other animals. This analogy caused a lot of the discrimination that he blatantly labeled as scientific fact. In the Descent of Man, “Darwin noted that the inheritance of special tastes and habits, general intelligence, courage, good and bad temper, and so on is evident in dogs and other domestic animals, and that the same pattern is seen in almost every human family” (Paul, 226). Darwin was not afraid to make non-scientific comparisons between the human race and other animals. Although many of Darwin’s findings are scientifically rational, and others simply deny his theories because of their religious faiths, it is difficult to ignore the consequences of his “Origins of Species” or “The Descent of Man” writings. Although Darwin wrote that all men shared a common descent, he used societal observations to pinpoint the differences in mental faculties between races, while contrasting the culture of “the lowest savages” with European civilization. Young Darwin simply wanted a non-religious explanation of how our world came to be. “Evolutionary thinking enabled [Darwin] to rescue the idea of human unity, taking it over from a religion that no longer provided adequate support, and put the...
Words: 2044 - Pages: 9
...I listened to an interview with an evolutionary biologist named Jerry Coyne last week, and a question he was asked was: “If you were to present one piece of evidence for evolution to a non-believer, what would it be?” His answer: “The fossil record.” While I find the fossil record interesting, I find vestigial structures as the most compelling, and best to present to those who are evolution-deniers. Vestigial structures are features of species that have lost ancestral functions, and either have a new use or no use of the feature. Vestigial eyes are common. When animals live in complete darkness they have little to no use for eyes, so through mutations and long periods of time, many species gradually lost their ability to see. One example is the blind mole rat. It lives underground and has a protective layer of skin over its eye (Coyne, 2009). Another animal often cited for vestigiality are whales. If you visited a museum to observe the skeleton of a whale, you would see the hindlimb and pelvic bones separated from the rest of the skeleton. These two features of whales served a purpose in their ancestors, but disconnected when they were no longer needed (Mayer, 2011). Using the tools of science, we can take this information and ask questions, and ultimately answer some of them. For example, if an animal has a vestigial structure, we can ask questions like: Why did it lose its function? Which ancestors had the function? Why is the structure still present and not gone altogether...
Words: 339 - Pages: 2
