Changes

[[Ivan Pavlov]]'s work on [[classical conditioning]] was pivotal. It became combined with the concepts developed in functionalism and the field of [[behavioral psychology]] was born (see [[B.F. Skinner]]), and it was hoped that psychology could became a [[hard science]] like physics with mathematical rigor.

[[Ivan Pavlov]]'s work on [[classical conditioning]] was pivotal. It became combined with the concepts developed in functionalism and the field of [[behavioral psychology]] was born (see [[B.F. Skinner]]), and it was hoped that psychology could became a [[hard science]] like physics with mathematical rigor.

Skinner also [[operant conditioning|thought]] that all of human behavior was a function of conditioning and instrumental learning.  

Skinner also [[operant conditioning|thought]] that all of human behavior was a function of conditioning and instrumental learning.  

During the 1960s several developments altered the course of psychological research. Several experiments had begin turning up anomalous results. One of the most famous is the [[Garcia effect]] where an animal that is exposed to a novel food and then made sick instantly learns to no longer desire that food.  

During the 1960s several developments altered the course of psychological research. Several experiments had begin turning up anomalous results. One of the most famous is the [[Garcia effect]] where an animal that is exposed to a novel food and then made sick instantly learns to no longer desire that food.  

[[Noam Chomsky]] showed that language acquisition follows seemingly innate rules. Thus [[cognitive psychology]] was born as a reaction against behaviorism. Cognitive psychologist attempted to understand the "[[black box]]" of the mind through computational analysis, modeling and rigorous experimentation.  

[[Noam Chomsky]] showed that language acquisition follows seemingly innate rules. Thus [[cognitive psychology]] was born as a reaction against behaviorism. Cognitive psychologist attempted to understand the "[[black box]]" of the mind through computational analysis, modeling and rigorous experimentation. Psychology has continued to divorce itself from the strict empiricism of behaviouralism through the general endorsement of neuropsychological research. Neuropsychological research, typically conducted with fMRI scans, is not without controversy with prominent psychologists claiming that the interpretation of the data far outstrips its explanatory power. A similar complaint is often levelled against evolutionary psychology by prominent bioligists who note that most evolutionary interpretations of psychological phenomena are neccessarily post hoc and consequently untestable. It seems noteworthy that as psychology continues to grow and mature as a discipline it becomes increasingly mired in controversy.

[[Stanley Milgram]]'s [[Milgram experiment|research on obedience to authority]] demonstrated that normal individuals would obey an authority figure and endanger the health and life of other people. This was also linked to [[Philip Zimbardo]]'s work on the [[Stanford prison experiment]] demonstrating the ability for college students to quickly turn into torturers.

[[Stanley Milgram]]'s [[Milgram experiment|research on obedience to authority]] demonstrated that normal individuals would obey an authority figure and endanger the health and life of other people. This was also linked to [[Philip Zimbardo]]'s work on the [[Stanford prison experiment]] demonstrating the ability for college students to quickly turn into torturers.