What were the Dark Ages that psychology went through in the late 19th to 20th century?

The Dark Ages of psychology in the late 19th to 20th century refer to a period when the field of psychology faced significant challenges and setbacks. During this time, psychology was heavily influenced by behaviorism and psychoanalysis, which limited the scope of research and practice in the field.

Behaviorism, which focused on observable behaviors and rejected the study of mental processes, dominated psychology in the early 20th century. This led to a neglect of the study of cognition and internal mental processes, which limited the understanding of human behavior.

Psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud, also had a significant impact on psychology during this time. While Freud's theories revolutionized the field, they were often criticized for being unscientific and lacking empirical evidence.

Overall, the Dark Ages of psychology were characterized by a lack of scientific rigor, limited diversity in theoretical perspectives, and a focus on simplistic explanations of human behavior. It was not until the cognitive revolution in the 1950s and 1960s that psychology began to emerge from this period and embrace a more scientific and interdisciplinary approach to studying the mind and behavior.

- From Structuralism to Behaviorism: Structuralism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt, was an early school of psychology that sought to understand the basic elements of consciousness through introspection. However, behaviorism, which was developed by John B. Watson, argued that the mind could not be directly studied and that psychology should instead focus on observable behavior. This led to a shift away from the introspective methods of introspection towards the more objective methods of behaviorism.
- Decline of Functionalism: Functionalism, founded by William James, was a school of psychology that emphasized the adaptive value of mental processes. However, with the rise of behaviorism, functionalism began to decline in popularity.
- Influence of Natural and Social Sciences: In the late 19th century, psychology began to be influenced by the natural and social sciences, such as biology, physiology, and sociology. This led to the development of new subfields of psychology, such as physiological psychology and social psychology.
- The Crisis of Psychology: In the early 20th century, psychology faced a crisis of identity. The dominant school of psychology, behaviorism, was criticized for its narrow focus on observable behavior and its neglect of mental processes. This led to a search for new approaches to psychology.