Final answer:
Modern psychology emerged as a distinct discipline from its roots in philosophy and physiology, with significant contributions from Wilhelm Wundt and William James in the 19th century. The field has since expanded to include various subdivisions like cognitive and biological psychology, reflecting its comprehensive scope as both a natural and social science.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Roots of Modern Psychology
The disciplines that laid the foundation for modern psychology are primarily philosophy and physiology. Before becoming an independent academic discipline, explorations of the mind were steeped in philosophy, while the biological aspects of behavior were covered under human physiology. It was the transformation in the 19th century, led by academics such as Wilhelm Wundt and William James, which saw the evolution of psychology into a separate field of study.
Early attempts to understand the mind, such as phrenology, though incorrect, mark the beginnings of psychology's divergence from philosophy. Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung further complicated matters, introducing the concept of the subconscious, which was a step away from purely rational and observable aspects of the human psyche that were in vogue during the Enlightenment. In the 1950s, the field once again evolved with the cognitive revolution, acknowledging the importance of mental processes. Psychology today encompasses various subdivisions, including cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and social psychology, signifying its complex and interdisciplinary nature.