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Rene Descartes
This French philosopher believed in mind/body dualism meaning that the two are separate entities that interact to form the human experience. He suggested they met together at the pineal gland. -
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Charles Darwin
Created the natural selection theory of evolution. Darwins theory of humans and animals having a lot in common helped in the field of comparative psychology. This means studying animals to learn about human behaviour. -
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Wilhelm Wundt
Known as the father of psychology. He opened the first laboratory dedicated to psychology studies. He separated psychology from philosophy by analysing how the mind worked in a more structured way. -
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G Stanley Hall
In 1878 Hall became the first American to gain a PHD in Psychology. He opened the first experimental psychology lab in the US and founded the American Psychological Association, -
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Ivan Pavlov
Looked at how behaviour is learnt. Creator of classical conditioning. -
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Sigmund Freud
Created important theories about personalities. He looked at how they develop and what we can do to change them. He is also the founder of psychoanalysis and in 1886 started treating patients in Vienna, Austria. -
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John B Watson
Played an important role in developing behaviourism. Some of his most famous work includes research on the conditioning process and a study he conducted known as the Little Albert experiment. This experiment was to show how a child can be conditioned to fear. He believed all thoughts, feelings and actions were developed through conditioning. -
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Jean Piaget
Considered the foremost cognitive theorist due to his famous work on cognitive development. His theory of children thinking differently to adults had a huge influence on developmental psychology and contributed greatly on the field of education. -
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Carl Rogers
His focus was on how individuals perceive and interpret events. This is was important as it changed the direction of psychology towards the study of 'the self'. This is known as the humanistic approach. -
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B.F Skinner
Leader in behaviourism. Famous for his work on operant conditioning. -
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Albert Ellis
In 1962 he published Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy, leading to the development of rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT). -
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Aaron Beck
Spent most of his career studying psychoanalysis. He reared away from traditional methods and focused on distorted thoughts that lead to this behaviour. While working as a psychiatrist he struggled to find a way to help his depressed clients. He eventually realised many of these clients were experiencing recurring negative thoughts. This later lead on to the development of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). He is still alive.