Schools of Psychology | Emocare

Schools of Psychology

Learn, Understand & Prepare for Licensing Exams (USA, Canada, UK, Global)

📝 Test your knowledge in Schools of Psychology

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🎥 ZOOM SESSION ON SCHOOLS OF PSYCHOLOGY

🌍 Why Learn the Schools of Psychology?

Understanding the schools of psychology is foundational for anyone preparing for licensing examinations such as the NCE (USA), CRPO (Canada), or BPS Stage 2 (UK). These exams test your knowledge of historical perspectives, theoretical foundations, and their modern-day therapeutic applications.

Beyond exams, knowing these schools helps counselors and psychologists apply diverse approaches in real-world practice — from therapy rooms to classrooms, organizations, and community interventions.

📘 The 10 Schools of Psychology

1. Structuralism (Wundt, Titchener)

Focus: Structure of consciousness

      Activity Example: Students taste a lemon slice and describe sensations — illustrating introspection.
    

Therapy Influence: Inspired experimental methods used later in CBT & cognitive psychology.

2. Functionalism (William James, John Dewey)

Focus: Function of thoughts & behavior; adaptation

      Activity Example: Discuss why fear helps survival — connecting emotion to adaptation.
    

Therapy Influence: Foundation of educational psychology, applied psychology, occupational interventions.

3. Gestalt Psychology (Wertheimer, Köhler, Koffka)

Focus: Perception, problem-solving, holistic experience

      Activity Example: Show optical illusions (Rubin’s vase) — “whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
    

Therapy Influence: Gestalt Therapy emphasizes awareness, here-and-now living.

4. Psychoanalysis (Freud, Jung, Adler)

Focus: Unconscious mind, childhood, defense mechanisms

Activity Example: Role-play dream analysis or Freudian slips.

Therapy Influence: Psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, Adlerian & Jungian approaches.

5. Behaviorism (Watson, Skinner, Pavlov)

Focus: Observable behavior, learning through conditioning

      Activity Example: Create a “token economy” with rewards for correct answers.
    

Therapy Influence: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), exposure therapy, behavior modification.

6. Humanistic Psychology (Maslow, Rogers)

Focus: Free will, self-actualization, personal growth

      Activity Example: Compliment circle — experiencing unconditional positive regard.
    

Therapy Influence: Person-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy, Positive Psychology.

7. Cognitive Psychology (Neisser, Beck, Ellis)

Focus: Mental processes, memory, problem-solving

      Activity Example: Show how different thoughts after a test failure create different emotions/behaviors.
    

Therapy Influence: CBT, REBT, Schema Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy.

8. Biological Psychology (Hebb, Sperry)

Focus: Brain structures, genetics, neurotransmitters

Activity Example: Students role-play neurons passing a “signal ball.”

Therapy Influence: Psychopharmacology, neurofeedback, brain stimulation therapies.

9. Evolutionary Psychology (Darwin, Buss, Cosmides)

Focus: Adaptation of behavior through evolution

      Activity Example: Survival island scenario — choosing food, shelter, or partner first.
    

Therapy Influence: Evolutionary-informed CBT; explains fears and mating behaviors.

10. Sociocultural Perspective (Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner)

Focus: Culture, social context, learning with guidance

      Activity Example: Puzzle-solving with scaffolding (student guided by peer/teacher).
    

Therapy Influence: Multicultural counseling, school counseling, community psychology.

💡 Conclusion

The schools of psychology provide the foundation for today’s therapies and approaches. For future psychologists and counselors, mastering these schools is not just academic — it is essential for licensing success in USA, Canada, UK, and globally.

At Emocare, we integrate these concepts into our training, workshops, and diploma programs so you are exam-ready and practice-ready.

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What are the Schools of Psychology? Learn & Test Your Knowledge- Licensing Model Exam preparation