Research in Psychology

Culturally psychologist have diversified the scientific knowledge in three

significantly major ways. The first being work in the early 20th century when
women’s rights were relegated. Two female innovators, Helen Thompson Wooley
and Leta S. Hollingworth use scientific methods to change the way women are
viewed by society by way of research in gender differences. Helen Thompson’s
research on the assumption that women are overemotional in comparison to men
determined that emotions a women’s decision any more than men. Leta
Hollingworth discovered that a woman’s menstruation did not impact her cognitive
or motor abilities. Theses findings gave light to negative stereotypes and brought
forth social change for women. Mamie Phipps Clark and her husband Kenneth
Clark studied the psychology of race. Their research was influential in the 1954
Supreme Court ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, which ended
school segregation. There is also the creation of the Association of Black
Psychology (ABPsi) in 1968. Through psychological research, Evelyn Hooker
published the paper “The Adjustment of the Male Overt Homosexual” reported
that there is no significant psychological difference between homosexual and
heterosexual men. This research contributed to the decision to remove
homosexuality as a diagnosis for mental health disorders in 1973.
Wilhelm Wundt helped establish the field of experimental psychology. His
idea was that psychology could be an experimental field. In 1879, Wundt combined
his experimental psychology lectures with laboratory experience. This event has
served as the date for the establishment of the science of psychology. Edward
Titchener, a student of Wilhelm Wundt brought to America a new experimental
psychology “structuralism.” This new psychology focused on the contents of the
adult mind. William James however, took a different approach to psychology with
“functionalism.” Functionalist were interested in the activities of the mind. In
opposition of the ideas of Edward Titchener, William proposed that consciousness
is ongoing and continuous and that it can’t be isolated or reduced. G Stanley Hall
made significant contributions to the establishment of American psychology. At
John Hopkins University, he instituted the first psychological laboratory in America
in 1833. In 1887 he also created the first journal of psychology in America,
American Journal of Psychology. He also when on the found the American
Psychological Association (APA). John B. Watson in the early 20th century
advocated behaviorism, the study of behavior.
Advantage that come from a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of
human behavior are the we as humans continue to grow in our knowledge and
understanding of one another. New ideas/findings can bring about social changes
and deeper and various prospective to understanding our differences and
similarities. The disadvantages can be theories or ideas or approaches that divide
and are bias. There are also so many different view point and conflicting research it
can easily become confusing and or overwhelming.