History and Systems of Psychology (6th Edition) - Softcover

Brennan Ph.D., James F.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 013048119X ISBN 13: 9780130481191

Publisher: Pearson, 2002

Synopsis

Now in its sixth edition, History of Systems of Psychology introduces the complexities of psychology's origins. It provides readers with the context of historical, cultural, social and philosophical developments. Topics covered in the book include Psychological Foundations In Ancient Greece, The Emergence Of Modern Science, and Mental Passivity. For psychologists and others in the psychology field.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Now in its sixth edition, History of Systems of Psychology introduces the complexities of psychology's origins. It provides readers with the context of historical, cultural, social and philosophical developments. Topics covered in the book include Psychological Foundations In Ancient Greece, The Emergence Of Modern Science, and Mental Passivity. For psychologists and others in the psychology field.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

My prefatory remarks for this edition cover the same ground as in the prior editions—namely, that this text is written as an introduction to psychology's past, grounded firmly in the intellectual history of Western civilization. Psychology emerged as a scientific discipline within the context of the intellectual history of Western Europe. The progression of ideas that led to the post-Renaissance development of empirical science allowed psychology to assume its present diverse form. Accordingly, the scope of contemporary systems of psychology may be best understood in terms of the evolution of Western thought from the time of antiquity. This book contains a historical perspective on the intellectual development of Western civilization, which gradually focuses on the emergence of psychology as an independent, recognized scientific enterprise.

Chapters 1-11 introduce the major themes of psychological inquiry initially considered by early Greek scholars and subsequently modified by Christian and Islamic writers. As modern science grew out of the Renaissance, the place of psychological inquiry became a source of controversy that resulted in competing philosophical models of the nature of psychology. These models are organized along characteristic national trends of psychological views proposed by scholars in France, Britain, and Germany. The tremendous advances of the empirical disciplines, which culminated in the nineteenth century, led to the articulation of the formal study of psychology in the 1870s~by Wundt and Brentano.

Chapters 12-16 deal with the major systems of psychology in the twentieth century and into the current century: the American functional movement, Gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and the third force movement. Chapter 17 concludes this survey of the systems with an outline of trends within the more contemporary, post-system period of psychology's development. In the 20 years of work on the five previous editions of this project, the database of psychology has seemed to grow exponentially. The disciplinary content of psychology has been diffused to various allied fields. Cognitive science and neuroscience have matured and brought psychology into intimate contact with research trends derived from other disciplines. This development is obviously difficult to capture in a book of this nature, yet justifies even more the need for understanding the historical background of psychology.

I would like to thank those who have taken the time with previous editions of this work to offer suggestions for improvement and clarification. I especially want to thank my colleague Dr. Michael Riccards, President of Fitchburg State College, for his continued support during the various iterations of this project. I must also thank the many students who, over the years, helped me to express my ideas and always ignited the spark that made teaching psychology so much fun.

I would like to acknowledge the helpful comments of the following people, who served as reviewers for the publisher: Mary Ballou, Northeastern College; Greg Bohemier, Culver-Stockton College; and Lori Van Wallendael, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

For their ongoing help and support, I am grateful to my wife, Maria, and my family. My daughters, Tara and Mikala, and their respective husbands, Craig and Adam, have been and continue to be a source of consistent support and inspiration over the years devoted to this project and to other academic demands. Our grandsons, Sam and Luke, now add a note of respite and joy to our lives. My family is my life, and their patience with me and this project merits far more than a dedication.

James F. Brennan

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 013048119X
• ISBN 13: 9780130481191
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 6
• Number of pages: 358