
Psychology
A Concise History
John Benjafield(Author)
Oxford University Press, Canada
Published on 15. December 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
152 pages
978-0-19-544734-7 (ISBN)
Description
"The proper study of mankind is man," wrote Alexander Pope, and the attempt to understand the nature of the human mind has been a central preoccupation of leading thinkers throughout the ages. In this intriguing book, author John G. Benjafield, an expert in the history of psychology, examines the contributions of scores of psychologists and psychological thinkers, from Pythagoras, Lao-tzu, and Aristotle to Darwin, Skinner, and Jung.
Benjafield begins by considering the origins of psychological thought in the philosophical works of Plato and Aristotle, who framed many of the key questions that still define the field. After considering the contributions of such scholars as Descartes and Darwin, the author examines the rise of psychology as a distinct academic discipline, discussing in detail the work of William James and Wilhelm Wundt, before moving on to the seminal contributions of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Later chapters deal with the rise of behaviourism and with recent developments in the field, including the growing influence of neuroscience. The result is a fascinating look at how mankind's "proper study" has been carried out, from ancient times to the present day.
Benjafield begins by considering the origins of psychological thought in the philosophical works of Plato and Aristotle, who framed many of the key questions that still define the field. After considering the contributions of such scholars as Descartes and Darwin, the author examines the rise of psychology as a distinct academic discipline, discussing in detail the work of William James and Wilhelm Wundt, before moving on to the seminal contributions of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Later chapters deal with the rise of behaviourism and with recent developments in the field, including the growing influence of neuroscience. The result is a fascinating look at how mankind's "proper study" has been carried out, from ancient times to the present day.
More details
Edition
UK edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Courses in history of psychology at a 3rd and 4th year level.
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 122 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
159 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-544734-7 (9780195447347)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
John G. Benjafield is Professor Emeritus at Brock University, where he taught cognition and the history of psychology for over thirty years. Benjafield received his Ph.D. in psychology from Brandeis University and is currently a fellow of both the Canadian Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. His extensive curriculum vitae includes numerous post-secondary textbooks, including Cognition and A History of Psychology, both published by Oxford.
Content
REFERENCES; FURTHER READING