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A History of Modern Psychology
Discover how past events have shaped psychology as we know it today. Learn about the fascinating people who helped create and shape the field, and develop a deeper understanding of the many interconnections that exist among the different areas of psychology. Goodwin’s book provides an account of the lives and contributions of psychology's pioneers, along with their original writings, of Watson, James, Titchener, Freud, and more.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published July 27, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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December 5, 2024this stressed me the entire semester so im including this as my read here
July 6, 2011
An acceptable book on Psychology overall, I did find myself comparing it to other textbooks I'd been assigned since it is my major at university. In some ways, I found part of the material repetitive in that some information from earlier chapters was repeated/included again later. I felt the sequencing could have been more clear, or simply refer us back to previous areas instead of adding the material again.
Although I understand the basic outline and players in the modern psychology movement, this textbook seemed to focus very strongly on American influences and American institutions. Some definitions might have been explained within the text also. At times I had difficulty finding exam answers within the text, because it simply wasn't there, and these were questions at the end of the chapters.
Heavy on psychology terms, ideas, studies and research, in my opinion it is for the more advanced student, though I requested the help from a friend of mine whose been a psychiatrist for several years, and he felt the narrative was unnecessarily complex and lengthy in word and wasn't very good at helping the average student understand the concepts presented. I had difficulty with this textbook and course, though I've made good grades in nine other Psychology courses thus far.
Although I understand the basic outline and players in the modern psychology movement, this textbook seemed to focus very strongly on American influences and American institutions. Some definitions might have been explained within the text also. At times I had difficulty finding exam answers within the text, because it simply wasn't there, and these were questions at the end of the chapters.
Heavy on psychology terms, ideas, studies and research, in my opinion it is for the more advanced student, though I requested the help from a friend of mine whose been a psychiatrist for several years, and he felt the narrative was unnecessarily complex and lengthy in word and wasn't very good at helping the average student understand the concepts presented. I had difficulty with this textbook and course, though I've made good grades in nine other Psychology courses thus far.
April 17, 2019
READ FOR PSYC 301
A bit of a refresher on 104/105 but with more emphasis on the social context rather than the theories of the people. Not put-you-to-sleep boring, but history in any form isn't my thing, so not terribly interesting either. Definitely wouldn't have taken the class if it wasn't required for my degree. I do see why it's a requirement, but for all the emphasis the author insists should be placed on social factors of the people who are in this book, it's still organized around people and movements rather than eras. While it gives context as to how the movements and new developments came about, it's still framed around the specific people involved and why they're important--putting a lot of emphasis on individual people above the importance of the social context, which to me made it seem like Goodwin was kind of contradicting his own purpose.
A bit of a refresher on 104/105 but with more emphasis on the social context rather than the theories of the people. Not put-you-to-sleep boring, but history in any form isn't my thing, so not terribly interesting either. Definitely wouldn't have taken the class if it wasn't required for my degree. I do see why it's a requirement, but for all the emphasis the author insists should be placed on social factors of the people who are in this book, it's still organized around people and movements rather than eras. While it gives context as to how the movements and new developments came about, it's still framed around the specific people involved and why they're important--putting a lot of emphasis on individual people above the importance of the social context, which to me made it seem like Goodwin was kind of contradicting his own purpose.
December 7, 2018
Informative but very boring.
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July 17, 2019Gelezen voor de cursus Psychologie als Wetenschap.
August 1, 2020
Dedica molto spazio agli psicologi più noti, ma sono presenti anche diverse personalità che potremmo definire secondarie. Estremamente denso e dettagliato. Purtroppo c'è da dire che si concentra davvero poco sui ricercatori che hanno operato dopo gli anni '60.
November 17, 2012
I found this book to be very comprehensive in covering the flow of development in the field of psychology from its origins to present times. I was disappointed, as I am with many course texts, that it doesn't cover Jung.
May 8, 2025
This is a nice in depth book about the history of psychology and it gives us tools on how to look at history in a way that is not overshadowed by our presentist perspective. I would wish there was a bit more coverage of issues of race and gender and sexuality.
January 18, 2012
A recommended book that I really didn't enjoy. Expensive as well. I also wasn't a fan of the style it was written in either.
November 25, 2015
This was a required text. we also used another history at certain points; both were very similar. the bias is heavily on the side of experimental psychology. interesting, but limited.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews