Problem:
In his approach to the history of psychology, our discipline's most noted chronicler, E. G. Boring (1886-1968; the President of the American Psychological Association in 1928), stressed the importance of the Zeitgeist. Clearly, ideas do not occur in a vacuum. A new idea, to be accepted or even considered, must be compatible with existing ideas. In other words, a new idea will be tolerated only if it arises within an environment that can assimilate it. An idea or viewpoint that arises before people are prepared for it will not be understood well enough to be critically evaluated. The important point here is that validity is not the only criterion by which ideas are judged; psychological and sociological factors are at least as important. New ideas are always judged within the context of existing ideas. If new ideas are close enough to existing ideas, they will at least be understood; whether they are accepted, rejected, or ignored is another matter. The approach taken in this book is eclectic. That is, this book will show that sometimes the spirit of the times clearly produces great individuals and that sometimes great individuals shape the spirit of their times. At other historical moments, we will see how both great individuals and the general climate of the times evolve to change the meaning of an idea or a concept. In other words, the eclectic approach entails using whatever method seems best able to illuminate an aspect of the history of psychology. Need Assignment Help?