Development Of Psychology As A Discipline

In the western world psychology took the shape of a scientific discipline towards the end of 19th century. It is generally held that Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychological laboratory at Leipzig University in Germany in 1879. He was a pioneer and attracted a large number of students from different parts of the world who started expanding the discipline. Gradually the study of psychology was organized around certain schools of thought.

The Indian thinkers had developed elaborate theories about consciousness, self, mind, mental activities since Vedic and Upanishads period. The Indian thought systems like Vedant, Samkhya, Yoga, Buddhism, Jainism, Sufism, etc. have generated voluminous literature relevant to psychological processes. Let us know that the scholars and terchers in Ancient India like Charaka the famous physician of first century AD, Vatsayan and Kautilya all provided the theoretical foundations to apply the Psychological principles. The main schools are a

Structuralism : Developed by Edward Tichener , it focused on the study of consciousness and its components, i.e., sensations, images and affects. 

Functionalism : Developed by William James it focused on consciousness, memory, learning and emotions as related to survival, growth and adaptation of living beings. 

Behaviorism : Developed by J.B. Watson it focused on the objective study of observable behaviour. 

Gestalt : Developed by Wolfgang Kohler, Kurt Koffka and their mentor Max Wertheimer this school focused on a holistic view and consciousness. Perception was the main area of study. 

Psychoanalysis : Developed by Sigmund Freud it gave importance to unconscious processes, conflicts, anxiety and disorders.

In modern India psychology started at Calcutta University in 1916. Dr. N. N. Sengupta was the first Head of the Department. Sri Girindra Shekhar Bose succeeded Dr. Sengupta. The Indian Psychological Association was founded in 1924 and Indian Journal of Psychology was started in 1925. The Lumbini Park Mental Hospital at Calcutta was founded in 1940. Gradually psychology departments were opened in various universities like Patna, Lucknow and Mysore. 

During seventies psychology became more popular in various areas and institutions. Its presence is widely felt in education, industry, health, defence and other related domains of life.