Changes

The [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Sigmund Freud]] and his [[psychodynamics]] had an enormous influence on psychology which continues to this day, e.g., the concept of an [[unconscious]] mind being able to change and direct behavior. He also posited that people go through developmental stages in which their mind and behavior change as they grow up and grow old, an idea taken up by [[Jean Piaget]]. However, Freud's views on religion as it relates to mental health have been shown to be demonstrably false (See: [[Atheism and health#Sigmund Freud's view of religion|Sigmund Freud's view of religion]] and [[Atheism and health]]).  

The [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Sigmund Freud]] and his [[psychodynamics]] had an enormous influence on psychology which continues to this day, e.g., the concept of an [[unconscious]] mind being able to change and direct behavior. He also posited that people go through developmental stages in which their mind and behavior change as they grow up and grow old, an idea taken up by [[Jean Piaget]]. However, Freud's views on religion as it relates to mental health have been shown to be demonstrably false (See: [[Atheism and health#Sigmund Freud's view of religion|Sigmund Freud's view of religion]] and [[Atheism and health]]).  

[[Ivan Pavlov]]'s work on [[classical conditioning]] was pivotal. It became combined with the concepts developed in functionalism and the field of [[behavioral psychology]] was born (see [[B.F. Skinner]]), and it was hoped that psychology could became a [[hard science]] like physics with mathematical rigor.

The atheist [[Ivan Pavlov]]'s work on [[classical conditioning]] was pivotal. It became combined with the concepts developed in functionalism and the field of [[behavioral psychology]] was born (see [[B.F. Skinner]]), and it was hoped that psychology could became a [[hard science]] like physics with mathematical rigor.

 

Skinner also [[operant conditioning|thought]] that all of human behavior was a function of conditioning and instrumental learning.  

Skinner also [[operant conditioning|thought]] that all of human behavior was a function of conditioning and instrumental learning.  

During the 1960s several developments altered the course of psychological research. Several experiments had begin turning up anomalous results. One of the most famous is the [[Garcia effect]] where an animal that is exposed to a novel food and then made sick instantly learns to no longer desire that food.  

During the 1960s several developments altered the course of psychological research. Several experiments had begin turning up anomalous results. One of the most famous is the [[Garcia effect]] where an animal that is exposed to a novel food and then made sick instantly learns to no longer desire that food.

[[Noam Chomsky]] showed that language acquisition follows seemingly innate rules. Thus [[cognitive psychology]] was born as a reaction against behaviorism. Cognitive psychologist attempted to understand the "[[black box]]" of the mind through computational analysis, modeling and rigorous experimentation. Psychology has continued to divorce itself from the strict empiricism of behaviouralism through the general endorsement of neuropsychological research. Neuropsychological research, typically conducted with fMRI scans, is not without controversy with prominent psychologists claiming that the interpretation of the data far outstrips its explanatory power. A similar complaint is often levelled against evolutionary psychology by prominent biologists who note that most evolutionary interpretations of psychological phenomena are necessarily post hoc and consequently untestable. It seems noteworthy that as psychology continues to grow and mature as a discipline it becomes increasingly mired in controversy.

[[Noam Chomsky]] showed that language acquisition follows seemingly innate rules. Thus [[cognitive psychology]] was born as a reaction against behaviorism. Cognitive psychologist attempted to understand the "[[black box]]" of the mind through computational analysis, modeling and rigorous experimentation. Psychology has continued to divorce itself from the strict empiricism of behaviouralism through the general endorsement of neuropsychological research. Neuropsychological research, typically conducted with fMRI scans, is not without controversy with prominent psychologists claiming that the interpretation of the data far outstrips its explanatory power. A similar complaint is often levelled against evolutionary psychology by prominent biologists who note that most evolutionary interpretations of psychological phenomena are necessarily post hoc and consequently untestable. It seems noteworthy that as psychology continues to grow and mature as a discipline it becomes increasingly mired in controversy.