Final answer:
Psychology became distinct from Philosophy in the late 19th century with key contributions from Wilhelm Wundt, who promoted structuralism and introspection, and William James, who underlined psychology's empirical underpinnings. It was the first social science, moving from a philosophical to an empirical approach to studying the mind.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychology distinguished itself from the discipline of Philosophy in the late 19th century. Wilhelm Wundt and William James are considered pivotal figures in establishing psychology as a separate academic discipline. Wundt, often recognized for structuralism, believed in breaking down cognitive experiences into their component parts, which he thought could be best understood through introspection. Meanwhile, James contributed to the foundation of functionalism and promoted psychology as a science of behavior and mental processes.
During this era, psychology evolved from a philosophical curiosity into an empirical science due to the influence of researchers from varied backgrounds. As the natural sciences flourished, there arose a necessity for a framework to comprehend the rapidly changing social world, leading to the establishment of psychology as the first social science. The study of the mind, once a domain of philosophy, now embraced the principles of empiricism and introspection to explore human perception, mentality, and behavior.
Contributions from scholars like Margaret Floy Washburn, the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology, and Mary Whiton Calkins, a pioneering psychologist, underscore the expansion of the field beyond its philosophical roots. These developments contributed to the recognition of psychology as a unique and prestigious field separate from philosophy, thus marking its birth as a formal science.