psy 335 research career brochure (final)

8/17/2019 PSY 335 Research Career Brochure (Final)

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William James (1842-1910)

William James was the first major figure in development of modern scientific psychology in

America. He has been elected as the president of American Psychology Association twice.

William James primitive years were spent in learning through trips to Europe. He attendedschool sporadically. In !"# he enrolled in the $awrence %cientific %chool of Harvard

&niversity. He graduated from medical school at Harvard in !"'# though he did not have any

interest in the practicing medicine or any science for that matter. He was overwhelmed and worn(

down by the implications of sciences) specially# the concept of life*s limitedness to physical

matter moving through space and freedom of choice being an illusion.

He had found salvation in writings of +harles ,enovier# a -rench evolutionary philosopher# who

said /y first act of free will shall be to believe in free will0 12oodman# 344!# p. 556. 7his

concept had apparently 8ept James occupied to continue his studies and later teaching science

without despair# and later became the cornerstone of his philosophical pragmatism. At heart anartist and philosopher# he could see challenges with a purely scientific approach to understanding

human mind 12oodman# 344!6.

In !59# he started teaching physiology at Harvard# and three years later a class in psychology.

7he class e:plained the relationship between physiology and psychology. 7o illustrate his

teaching in clinical form# he set up an apparatus in a small room. 7his room would later become

Harvard*s laboratory of e:perimental psychology 12oodman# 344!6.

Position on human psychological functioning:

He wrote Principles of Psychology in !'4. He defined psychology as the science of /ental$ife# both of its phenomena and their conditions0 12oodman# 344!# p. 5!6. 7he phenomena of

mental life included such things as we call feelings# desires# cognitions# reasonings# decisions#

and the li8e0 12oodman# 344!# p. 5!6. ;y their conditions0 he was referring to the

physiological processes that accompany these phenomena# as well as the social# personal# and

environmental circumstances in which they occur0 12oodman# 344!# p. 5!6.

James*s methods to understand mental life was based on three approaches<

A Introspection method< careful self(observation# e:amination# and reflection on the states

of consciousness that characteri=e one*s mental life 12oodman# 344!. P. 5'6.

! E:perimental methods) even though# he called this method as brass instrument0

psychology. 7his belief most li8ely came from his own disli8e of tedious laboratory wor8

during his science classes at medical school 12oodman# 344!6 and his pragmatic

approach to psychology.

" +omparative method< this involved learning about mental life by comparing normal

human consciousness with that of bees and ants# savages# infants# madmen# idiots# the

deaf and blind# criminals# and eccentrics0 12oodman# 344!# p. !46.


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He further discussed consciousness and habits in his boo8. He believed consciousness was a

function rather than an entity and that it was personal# constantly changing# continuous# selective#

and active. He deducted that both consciousness and habits aided individuals in adapting to a

new environment >uic8ly. 7herefore# mental processes and personality traits were subject to the

evolutionary processes and both physical bodies and their evolutionary process must be

considered in the study of human mind 1?eilson @ ay# '''6.

James also elaborated on emotions. 7he well(8nown James($ange theory of emotions argued that

emotions are felt immediately upon the perception of an emotion(arousing stimulus< our heart

pounding before we feel fearful 12oodman# 344!# p. !36. James further argued that individuals

recogni=e different emotions because each emotion is associated with a uni>ue pattern of bodily

reaction.

#imila$ities an% %iffe$ences in theo$etical position &ith those of '$eu% Jung an% A%le$s:

William James* theories had more of a pragmatic and philosophical approach to psychology thanthose of %igmund -reud# +arl Jung# and Alfred Alder# who were e:perimental psychologists.

James believed e:perimental psychology was more of an approach to overwor8ing and boring

the patience 12oodman# 344!6. James*s theories of mental life# conscious# and emotions were

more physiological approach comparing to those of -reud# Jung# and Adler*s. 7herefore# one can

concur that William James*s theoretical position was rather different than similar than those of

-reud# Jung# and Adler*s.

,eference<

2oodwin# J. +. 1344!6. A history of modern psychology . 19rd ed.6. John Wiley @ %ons.


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?ielsen# /. @ ay# ,. H. 1'''6. William James and the evolution of consciousness.

Journal of 7heoretical and Philosophical Psychology# '16# '4(9

psy 335 research career brochure (final)

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