How psychological understanding has developed over time

  • Social: Changes from Milgram (1960s) and replication work of Burger (2009). Similarly, Cohrs further examined work of Adorno on personality and prejudice.
  • Cognitive: Baddeley’s work studying STM and LTM led to WMM. This model was later added to (episodic buffer in 2000) and illustrates how knowledge of behaviour is built over time. MSM contributed to better understanding of memory, but now considered overly simplistic.
  • Biological: Development of scanning techniques up to fMRI and development of older methods such as trepanning to CAT or MRI scans.
  • Learning: Changes in treatments for phobias, from flooding to CBT. Behaviourism evolved into behaviour analysis – principles used in more applied manner.
  • Clinical: DSM develops – over past 60 years further four versions have been published. Reflect changing understanding of symptoms and causes. DSM V focuses on cross-referencing symptoms. Treatments for disorders also developed, bad side effects of typical antipsychotics like chlorpromazine led to development of atypical antipsychotics like clozapine.
  • Child: Most research into attachment stems from Bowlby’s work. Great deal of research into day care formulated from his writings. ie Mary Ainsworth developed his work.