Early Psychology: Apply It

  • Define psychology
  • Define structuralism and functionalism
  • Describe the contributions and limitations of key researchers to the development of psychology
  • Define Freud’s psychoanalytical theory
  • Define Gestalt psychology

Apply It pages (like this one) give you the opportunity to practice and extend what you’ve learned in the Learn It readings. They’re designed to help you:

  • Explore thought-provoking questions and activities.
  • Connect concepts to real-world examples.
  • Get ready for class discussions, self-checks, and quizzes.

Think of these as a space to apply your knowledge before moving on. Take the time to watch the videos and respond to questions to deepen your understanding of the concepts.

Early psychologists made significant contributions to the field, but their perspectives were often limited by a lack of diverse populations of interest and participants. Review this video to learn more about WEIRD populations in psychology.
You can view the transcript for “The Hidden Biases in WEIRD Psychology Research” here (opens in new window).
Reflecting on the video, what lessons can we learn from the history of psychology in terms of the importance of considering diverse populations and cultures in research?

How might this knowledge shape your approach to studying and conducting psychological research in the future?

What are some potential biases or assumptions that can arise from studying predominantly Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic populations in psychology research?

If the study of psychology is WEIRD (western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic), why is that a problem?

You can explore this interactive timeline created by the American Psychological Association to review many of the major milestones in the history of psychology. Next, compare that timeline from above to this historical chronology, published by the APA in 2021 as an effort to document some of the damaging work perpetuated by the APA over the past hundred-plus years.

What types of things do you notice within the APA’s historical chronology that were left out of the traditional timeline you viewed above?