Schools of Psychology

Great Classical Theories of Psychology

In every field of knowledge there are competing concepts and schools, represented by major theories and their initiators. This is a normal conflict that contributes to the growth and development of science. Despite all the disagreements and differences, these theories have common general views and the same object of study.

In psychology at different stages of its development, as a major subject of research were considered such notions as: “soul”, “mind”, “behavior”, “unconscious”, “psyche”, etc.

Each psychological theory has its own history of occurrence, existence and development. However, each new approach has not canceled all the previous, rather we might consider that it filled the psychological science with new thoughts and ideas. Therefore, in psychology, as well as in any other science, it is impossible to raise the question: which approach is most true? All approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. More important is the question of what cognitive tasks can solve each of these theories. This is what is determining its place in the structure of science and its role in the history of psychology.

List of Psychological Schools

  • Activity-oriented approach
  • Analytical psychology
  • Associationism
  • Behaviorism (see also Radical behaviorism)
  • Behavioural genetics
  • Biological psychology
  • Cognitivism
  • Cultural-historical psychology
  • Depth psychology
  • Descriptive psychology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Ecopsychology
  • Ecological psychology
  • Ego psychology
  • Environmental psychology
  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Existential psychology
  • Experimental analysis of behavior – the school descended from B.F. Skinner’s work.