Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychological theory and therapeutic approach developed by Eric Berne in the mid-20th century. It offers a framework for understanding human personality, communication patterns, and interpersonal dynamics. TA is based on the idea that individuals are shaped by their early life experiences and social interactions, and it focuses on identifying and…

Structuralism was a school of psychology developed in the late 19th century by thinkers such as Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener. It aimed to analyze the structure of the human mind by breaking down mental experiences into their basic components or elements. Structuralists believed that by understanding these elemental components, they could gain insight into…

Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory and therapeutic approach developed by Sigmund Freud in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is based on the premise that unconscious conflicts, drives, and desires influence behavior and mental processes. Freud’s work laid the foundation for the field of psychoanalysis and significantly influenced modern psychology and psychiatry. Key…

Phenomenological psychology is a psychological approach that focuses on understanding and interpreting the subjective experiences of individuals as they occur in the present moment. It emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction against the overly scientific and reductionistic approaches of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Phenomenological psychology emphasizes the importance of exploring the lived experience…

Individual psychology, also known as Adlerian psychology, is a psychological approach developed by Alfred Adler, a colleague of Sigmund Freud. It focuses on understanding the unique and subjective experiences of individuals within the context of their social environment. Individual psychology emphasizes the significance of an individual’s subjective perceptions, beliefs, goals, and values in shaping their…

Individual differences refer to the variations and unique characteristics that exist among individuals within a population. These differences can manifest in various aspects of human functioning, including personality traits, cognitive abilities, emotional reactions, behavior patterns, and physical attributes. Individual differences are influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, cultural, and experiential factors, and they contribute…

Humanistic psychology is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of human potential, personal growth, and self-actualization. It emerged in the mid-20th century as a reaction against the deterministic and reductionistic approaches of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Humanistic psychology focuses on understanding individuals as whole persons and emphasizes subjective experiences, free will, and the innate drive…

Gestalt psychology is a psychological approach that emphasizes the holistic understanding of human experience, perception, and problem-solving. It originated in Germany in the early 20th century, with key figures such as Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler. The term “Gestalt” refers to a unified whole or pattern that is perceived as different from the…

Functional psychology is a psychological approach that focuses on the practical functions and purposes of mental processes and behaviors, rather than their underlying structures or mechanisms. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a reaction against structuralism, which emphasized the analysis of the mind into its constituent elements, and as an…

Existential psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the unique aspects of human existence, emphasizing the individual’s subjective experience, freedom, responsibility, and search for meaning in life. It emerged from existential philosophy, particularly the works of philosophers such as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Jean-Paul Sartre, and has been developed further…