DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENTS OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Development and advancements of Experimental Psychology

Experimental psychology:

Experimental psychology explores basic concepts, such as memory and motivation, in many areas, such as child, social and educational psychology. Almost all experimental psychology work is conducted in controlled environments, such as university research labs. While every branch of psychology strives to understand human behavior and thought, experimental psychology solely focuses on controlled experiments with designated variables, test subjects and statistical results.

Experimental psychology emerged as a modern academic discipline in the 19th century when Wilhelm Wundt introduced a mathematical and experimental approach to the field. Wundt founded the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany.

Experimental psychology seeks to explore and better understand behavior through empirical research methods. This work allows findings to be employed (applied psychology) in real-world applications across fields such as clinical psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, sports psychology and social psychology.

Experimental psychology is able to shed light on people’s personalities and life experiences by examining what the way people behave and how behavior is shaped throughout life, along with other theoretical questions. The field looks at a wide range of behavioral topics including sensation, perception, attention, memory, cognition and emotion, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

Role of other psychologists in development of experimental psychology

· Wilhelm Wundt:

· Charles Bell:

Charles Bell was a British physiologist, whose main contribution was research involving the nervous system.

· Oswald Külpe:

Oswald Külpe is the main founder of the Würzburg School in Germany. He was a pupil of Wilhelm Wundt for about twelve years. Unlike Wundt, Külpe believed experiments were possible to test higher mental processes.

Psychological Experiments in History that played role in development:

1. A Class Divided

Study Conducted By: Jane Elliott

Study Conducted in 1968 in an Iowa classroom

2. Asch Conformity Study

Study Conducted by: Dr. Solomon Asch

Study Conducted in 1951 at Swarthmore College

3. Bubo Doll Experiment

Study Conducted by: Dr. Albert Bandore

Study Conducted between 1961-1963 at Stanford University

4. Car Crash Experiment

Study Conducted by: Elizabeth Loftus and John Palmer

Study Conducted in 1974 at the University of California in Irvine

5. Cognitive Dissonance Experiment

Study Conducted by: Leon Fastener and James Carl smith

Study Conducted in 1957 at Stanford University

Advancements in experimental psychology

Experimental psychology in 20^th century

In the latter half of the 20th century, the phrase "experimental psychology" had shifted in meaning due to the expansion of psychology as a discipline and the growth in the size and number of its sub-disciplines. Experimental psychologists use a range of methods and do not confine themselves to a strictly experimental approach, partly because developments in the philosophy of science have affected the exclusive prestige of experimentation. In contrast, an experimental method is now widely used in fields such as developmental and social psychology, which were not previously part of experimental psychology. The phrase continues in use, however, in the titles of a number of well-established, high prestige learned societies and scientific journals, as well as some university courses of study in psychology.

Art Therapy:

Art therapy is a mental health tool that professionals use to solve various problems, according to American Art Therapy Association. For example, art therapy is very effective in raising self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence. It can also help change behaviors, develop social skills and even improve life functioning. From a clinical perspective, art therapy is very good at exploring subconscious feelings, resolving emotional conflicts and reducing anxiety. The fundamental goal of art therapy is to holistically restore the client’s functionality and mental health.

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