The Origin Of Psychology: History, Authors And Models

The origin of psychology goes back centuries. Here we review the history of this discipline. Discover the milestones and the authors who have marked its evolution.

Psychology is considered today as a consolidated science, even if it continues to evolve and to feed on a large number of disciplines. Through psychology we understand many concepts, we can help people, we learn more about ourselves… But where does psychology come from?

What about psychotherapy? Where did “it all” start? As we will see, the two concepts are closely related. In this article, we have gathered the historical milestones of psychology that will allow us to understand its origin, evolution and current state. If you’re curious, then read on.

The origin of psychology

The history of the origin of psychology is very extensive, full of contributions, authors and interesting events. We have focused here on the most important milestones, the pillars that allowed this discipline to emerge, as well as psychotherapy in general.

The origin of modern psychotherapy

To talk about the origin of psychology, we have to go back several centuries, before the appearance of psychotherapy. Between the 5th and 4th century BC. JC, the first tribal societies emerged in Greece and the ancient world. At that time, supernatural metaphors and magical explanations prevailed about the human psyche.

Illness was understood to be possession of the soul, and in many cases exorcism was used to “heal” the person (when we talk about sickness we also talk about mental illness).

Although this approach is not the best, it is the origin of modern psychotherapy. There was already an interest in “unusual” behaviors and thoughts. It is also at this time that we also find the first philosophers: Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle …

Hippocrates and Galen

Later, in the 4th century BC. JC, the figure of Hippocrates appears, and in the 2nd century AD. JC, Galen appears. For his part, Hippocrates suggested that diseases were the product of internal states of the organism. He proposes his theory of the 4 humours and establishes the following relation with the temperaments:

Blood: sanguineous temperament.
Phlegm: phlegmatic temperament.
Yellow bile: angry temperament.
Black bile: melancholy temperament.

According to Hippocrates, health was a balance between the 4 humours (crase). The disease therefore corresponded to an imbalance in these moods (dyscrasis).

For his part, Galen synthesizes ancient medicine and makes a distinction between natural (humours), supernatural (illnesses) and unnatural (environment) elements. Healing consisted of changing the natural elements with unnatural ones.

Middle Ages, Renaissance and modern times

In the Middle Ages, Western religious thought, with great power, defended the idea that mental illness was the fruit of the devil. Saint Augustine offered spiritual exercises to achieve personal change “through confession”.

Later, in the Renaissance, mental illness was separated from the concept of possession. However, the abuse and persecution of people with mental disorders (which have existed for decades) continues.

In the modern era, appears Gassner. The latter differentiates supernatural illnesses (illnesses treated by a priest) from natural illnesses (illnesses treated by a doctor).

The origin of psychology: the emergence of psychotherapy

We arrive at the origin of psychology which, how could it be otherwise, goes hand in hand with the origin of psychotherapy. Between the 19th and the 20th century, the current of animal magnetism appears. Concretely, in the last quarter of the 19th century, F. Cobbe uses the term “psychotherapeutic” in one of his articles.

Van Helmont founded the so-called animal magnetism or mesmerism and, Mesmer, magnetism. These doctrines integrate electricity, magnetism and astronomy as key axes.

More precisely, through these doctrines, the balance of the person is sought through the restoration of the balance of fluids, altered by certain diseases (including mental illnesses). This is all done with magnets at first and then with the person’s bodily fluid later.

Hypnosis schools

Later comes hypnosis, which appears to be the link between prepsychological healing and psychoanalysis. Two schools emerge: the School of Nancy (with figures like Lièbault and Bernheim) and the School of Salpétrière (Charcot and Janet). The most widely used therapeutic procedure in the 19th century became hypnosis (specifically hypnotic suggestion).

Later comes Binet (1889) with his work on hypnosis and hysteria. Then W. James (1890), who established the principles of psychology. And finally, J. Benedikt (1892), who already treats patients in a conscious state.

From the cathartic method to psychoanalysis

Among the methods used at the time that allow us to understand the origin of psychology, we find the cathartic method and psychoanalysis (still in force today). It was Breuer who developed the cathartic method, as a means of helping to relive and evacuate the pathogenic emotions linked to traumatic memories under hypnosis.

It is the precursor of Freud. When the figure of Freud appears, concepts such as transference, resistance, method of pressure, defense, appear with him.

The development of psychotherapy over time

We come to the development of psychotherapy itself, with Wundt beginning to draw the line that will differentiate scientific psychology from applied psychology. Psychoanalytic and projective techniques were reinforced with the arrival of the First World War, in the face of discontent with psychometric approaches.

The 1930s. We find the first works on personality: Allen, Allport, Murray and Rogers, among others.
1940s. We focus on the approach of scientific psychology and psychoanalysis. Behaviorism emerges as “practical and quick solutions to problems” (Skinner and Wolpe).
1950. Humanist psychology appears as a philosophical and social movement. Appears “Third Force”, with authors like Maslow.
Sixties. Cognitive models appear, with Ellis, Beck and Mahoney.

The origin of psychology today

In our journey through the past to the origin of psychology, we have encountered different authors, techniques and psychotherapeutic processes that have marked the evolution of the scientific discipline. At present, there are between 250 and 300 psychotherapeutic models.

However, the trend is towards eclecticism, an approach that combines contributions from different theoretical currents in an attempt to form a common framework. Thus, the variety of orientations is both the Achilles heel and the strong point of psychology itself.

She is able to meet the needs of very different people. But at the same time, it produces continuous points of confusion which do not make the task any easier. In recent years, we can say that:

cognitive models have multiplied
behaviorism remains
humanism has consolidated
the systemic model is evolving (like many others).