Live Life Team
Psychology, as a study of the mind and behaviour, dates back to the middle ages and the ancient civilizations of Greece, Egypt, India, and China. It became widely regarded as a part of philosophy in the middle of the 19th century when psychology developed its own scientific discipline in Germany. Along with its emergence as an independent principle, psychology in the early American and French society also surfaced.
In 1875, a small experimental psychology laboratory was established by William James of Harvard University to formally introduce the field of psychology in the United States. William James held a series of lectures at the John Hopkins University, where he discussed the new field of experimental psychology. He also published two volumes of the Principles of Psychology which is regarded as the first textbook on the emerging field. The success of psychology in the U.S. was also due to others who made significant contributions to the field, including Charles Sanders Peirce, Joseph Jastrow, and G. Stanley Hall. Several experimental psychology laboratories were also established, including one at the University of Pennsylvania, one at Indiana University, and one at Clark University.
Along with the success of psychology in the U.S., psychology also became a success in France. French philosophers developed a certain approach to introduce psychology into their contemporary society. Among the philosophers who made significant contributions to the field are Victor Cousin, Théodore Jouffroy, and Paul Janet. They developed an increasing interest in the materialist, evolutionary, and positivist approaches to psychology. Books were published and experimental laboratories were also established.
In conclusion, psychology became part of contemporary American and French society, which eventually emerged globally.
