Final answer:
Psychology has been greatly influenced by figures like Margaret Floy Washburn and Mary Whiton Calkins in the study of animal cognition and memory, and Sigmund Freud's work on the unconscious mind, despite debates about his theories' empirical validity. Behaviorists like John Watson and B. F. Skinner marked an era focusing on observable behaviors while the cognitive revolution, led by scholars such as Noam Chomsky, shifted the focus back to mental processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Major Contributions to Psychology:
Psychological research has been shaped by numerous influential figures throughout its history. A remarkable example is the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology, Margaret Floy Washburn, whose major contribution involved research into animal behavior and cognition, making her an integral figure in comparative psychology. Additionally, Mary Whiton Calkins, despite being denied her PhD by Harvard University, significantly contributed to the fields of memory research and founded early experimental psychology labs in the United States, influencing structuralism and functionalism.
Another key figure in the history of psychology, Sigmund Freud, introduced the psychoanalytic theory which underscores the importance of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences. Freud's groundbreaking idea that ailments such as hysteria could be traced to the unconscious mind was revolutionary although his empirical assertions on the theories are widely debated today, his philosophical approach to the mind remains influential, highlighting the complexity of mental life.
Moving beyond Freud's psychoanalysis, the field of psychology has seen various movements including behaviorism, led by figures such as John Watson and B. F. Skinner, who emphasized the empirical study of observable behaviors and operant conditioning. The cognitive revolution, prompted by the work of Noam Chomsky, advanced the study of mental processes, and the humanistic approach of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow which focused on individual potential and client-centered therapy.