20 Psychological Events Between 300 B.C and Present

Mental Processes

387 BCE

Plato suggested that the brain is the mechanism of mental processes.

300 B.C - Present

Period: 300 BCE to 2017

Wilhelm Wundt

1874

Wilhelm Wundt first published his book, called Principles of Physiological Psychology, which outlined many of the major connections between physiology and the study of human behavior and thought.

Wilhelm Wundt's Lab

1879

Wilhelm Wundt also opened the world's first psychology lab. This was considered the official start of psychology as a separate scientific discipline/study.

First Psychology Clinic

1896

Lightner Witmer opens world's first psychological clinic to patients, shifting his focus from experimental work to practical application of his fndings.

British Psychological Society

1901

The British Psychological Society forms.

IQ Tests Developed

1905

Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon developed a scale of general intelligence on the basis of mental age. Later researchers refine this quotient as mental age over physical age.

Behavorism

1913

John B. Watson publishes "Psychology as Behavior," launching behaviorism. Behaviorism focuses on observable and measurable behavior.

Army Intelligence Tests Implemented

1917

Standardized intelligence and aptitude tests are given to two million U.S. soldiers during World War 1. Soon after, such tests are used in all U.S. armed forces.

First African American Doctorate in Psychology

1920

Francis Cecil Sumner earns a Ph.D. in psychology under G. Stanley Hall at Clark University.

Psychological Corporation Launched

1921

Psychological Corporation launched the first psychological test development company, not only commercializing psychological testing, but allowing testing to take place at offices and clinics rather than only at universities and research facilities.

Electroencephalogram is Invented

1929

Hans Berger invents the electroencephalogram and tests it on his son and the device graphs the electrical activity of the brain by means of electrodes attached to the head.

Nazi Persecution of Pyschology

1933

After the Nazi party gains control of the government in Germany, scholars and researchers in psychology and psychiatry are persecuted.

Alcoholics Anonymous

1935

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is founded by Bob Smith. AA's group meetings form and a 12-step program becomes the model for many other mutual-support therapeutic groups.

The Start of Feminism

1945

Karen Horney published her feministic views of psychoanalytic theory, marking the beginning of feminism.

National Mental Health Act Passed

1946

U.S. President Harry Truman signs the National Mental Health Act, providing generous funding for psychiatric education and research for the first time in U.S. history. This act leads to the creation in 1949 of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

DSM

1952

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published by The American Psychiatric Association, marking the beginning of modern mental illness classification.

Code of Ethics

1953

Code of Ethics for Psychologists was developed by the American Psychological Association.

Hierarchy of Needs

1954

Abraham Maslow helped to found Humanistic Psychology and later developed his famous Hierarchy of Needs.

Prescribing Medication

1995

First psychologists prescribe medication through the U.S. military's psychopharmacology program.

President George W. Bush Promotes Legislation

2002

The push for mental health parity gets the attention of the White House as President George W. Bush promotes legislation that would guarantee comprehensive mental health coverage.