What Counts as the History of Psychology?

This lesson defines what counts as the history of psychology and why the field is broader than the story of a few famous experiments or a single scientific breakthrough. Students will learn how psychology grew out of philosophy, medicine, education, religion, and social reform, and why historians study both ideas and institutions.

The lesson also introduces the key question that shapes the whole course: Should we trace psychology from ancient questions about mind and behavior, or only from the moment it became an experimental science? By the end, students should be able to explain the scope of the field, recognize different ways of writing its history, and understand why historical context matters for modern psychology.