Psychology Through a New Lens

Introduction

Last Sunday, May 31, 2026, I turned 100 years of age and one of my feelings has been that I need to take advantage of this new status in my life to renew my career in psychology. I thereby will be devoting these blogs to that adventure for the near future. This will be an intensive study related to the study of the mind and behavior as described in the APA definition of psychology submitted below. This blog is the kick off. I hope you will join me in this venture.

The Definition of Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It seeks to understand how biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors affect how people think, act, and feel. The field is vast and generally splits into two main areas: applied psychology (working with people to solve practical problems) and experimental/ research psychology (studying the brain and behavior in laboratories).

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and influence human behavior. By gathering evidence through case studies, surveys, and controlled laboratory experiments, psychologists build theories that can help improve everything from individual mental health to community wellbeing and educational strategies.

Reviewing The Major Theories of Psychology

Behavioral Psychology

The theory of behavioral psychology; behaviorism; is that your behavior is directly shaped by your environment. By studying an individual's environment and controlling it, behavior can be modified and measured. This was first developed by John B. Watson in 1913. B. F. Skinner later developed the theory of operant conditioning. Achievement testing of children is based on this theory. Ivan Pavlov's work extended the concept into classical conditioning. In his famous work with dogs, he developed the Stimulus- Response (S –R) concept.

My Personal Thoughts about this Theory: I find Behaviorism with its great amount of work with animal behavior and the use of scientific communication lacking human feelings, opportunity for creativity, and recognition of personal perception. I am also not a believer in achievement testing. I have not been able to use much of their human learning findings; e.g. Laws of Learning, in my teaching of children, college students, and sports players.

Gestalt Psychology

In the early 1900s, German psychologists Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler introduced the principle that when the human mind forms a percept or "gestalt", the whole has a reality of its own, independent of the parts. We experience things as unified wholes. Instead of breaking down thoughts and behavior to their smallest elements, you must look at the whole of experience - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  We can think of our volleyball team as being a whole entity working together as a unit while seeing each individual player as a learning, growing person.

My Personal Thoughts about this Theory: I really enjoy reading the concepts presented in Gestalt Psychology - it makes me think about and visualize their meanings. Human feelings, thoughts, and creativity are present and can be used to enhance learning - mine and my students. The  emphasis on the “whole” is well established and very useful when engaged in coaching team sports.

The Constructivism Theory/Progressivism

John Dewey, Jean Piaget, and Jerome Bruner were leaders in the Constructivism school of psychology that began in the 1930-1940s. It studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember, and learn. Children take an active role in the learning process, acting much like little scientists as they perform experiments, make observations, and learn about themselves and the world around them. The teacher serves as a guide; a Co-learner with the learner rather than being a Teacher. As kids interact with the world, they continually add new knowledge, build upon existing knowledge, and adapt previously held ideas to accommodate new information. Real “Learning by Doing.”

My Personal Thoughts about this Theory: My elementary and junior high school teaching years were based on Progressive teaching as contrasted to the more common Traditional School teaching. I enjoyed a more interpersonal relationship with my students. The Constructive element allowed child activity and creativity. It also utilized students learning in small groups.  

The Humanistic Theory 

The humanistic theory of psychology developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow primarily regards the humanity of the individual and the different factors which contribute to their feelings, their actions, and their self-image.  Each of us is unique in our own way and we are capable of considered change if we so choose. Each of us has rights and accepts the related responsibilities for being happy and functional.  Arthur Combs and Earl C. Kelley introduced the use of this theory into our public schools with a great deal of success to the present times. 

My Personal Thoughts about this Theory: I was introduced to Humanism early in my years working for my Masters Degree. I found that I could keep all of my Progressive activity and beliefs while adding the Humanistic beliefs. I was already using Individual Learning and was able to move into Child-Centered Education. My college classes were based on the students learning together - the operating process is Learning rather than Teaching - Student-Centered Education. This can be featured in all educational venues.

Which Theory of Psychology Do I Prefer?

That is the big question I have been asked many times during my years in Education.

Long ago in my life in Educational Psychology, I chose to be a Generalist  (We professors prefer the term, Eclectic) dealing with all kinds of theories and beliefs. I selected and used a set of theories that work together rather than accepting and using one theory. I am basically a Humanist who operates as a Constructionist - commonly called Student-Centered Learning. This has also helped me in my school years as a basketball and baseball Coach - Player-Centered Coaching.