| Date: | 28.4.1903 |
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Summary of Event (150 words) |
On this date, Ivan Pavlov, who is known for his work in classical conditioning, presented to the International Congress of Medicine at Madrid, “Experimental Psychology and Psychopathology of Animals.” Ivan made the first ever public presentation of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes. The event had four speakers, and Pavlov was the second of them. The event took place at the Faculty of Medicine’s Grand Amphitheatre at 3.00 pm. During the event, Ivan presented two types of reflexes; conditioned and unconditioned reflexes. According to him, conditioned reflexes are those behaviours that are occasioned by the presence of stimuli while unconditioned reflexes are those that occur naturally. Pavlov also presented the psychopathology of animals, a study of mental or behavioral disorders in animals. He emphasized the use of animal models as a way of studying mental disorders in human beings. People applauded his presentation since it provided great insight into the medical and psychological fields. The presentations and later studies of reflexes and conditioning led to Ivan being known for classical conditioning. |
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Influence in Psychology (150 words each) |
1. This event contributed to the understanding of the influence of learning from the environment. Pavlov conducted and presented experiments concerning human behavior. According to him, human behavior was a result of interaction with the environment. People are conditioned to behave in a certain way due to various stimuli in the environment. With time, people get conditioned, and they can elicit behaviors even in the absence of the stimuli, and that becomes part of their behavior. This presentation promoted research to have a comprehensive understanding of learning from the environment. John Watson was able to explain the all aspects of human psychology based on Pavlov’s observations. After various studies, Watson concluded that personal differences in human behavior are a result of variations in learning experiences in the environment. In conclusion, the event laid the foundation for the behaviorism theory. |
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2. It provided evidence supporting the influence of nurture over nature on human behavior. For a long time, psychologists have debated whether human behavior is a result of nature or nurture. For instance, twin studies were a result of the desire to establish the difference between the influence of the environment and genetics over human behavior. Studies from other scholars such as J.B Watson confirmed that nurture plays a significant role in behavior development. This event also promoted a lot of research with the aim of understanding human behavior. In the end, scholars established that human behavior is an integration of genetics and interaction with the environment. |
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| 3. The event provided a model that allowed psychologists and other researchers to use animals to study mental illnesses in human beings. Ethical consideration of research restricts the use of human samples for tests that are likely to harm them. Animal samples for testing also offer a high degree of experimental control which researchers cannot achieve with human beings. Various drug therapies that are derived from animal studies have transformed the treatment of mental disorders. For instance, in the 1950s, chlorpromazine was developed using animals. This drug and other antipsychotic drugs have eliminated terrible situations that were experienced in wards of mental health patients who were severely disturbed. |
| Date: | 12.3.1986 |
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Summary of Event (150 words) |
On this day, the American Psychological Association first published the journal Psychology and Aging. The first editor of this journal was M. Powell Lawton. The journal publishes articles that provide significant contributions to knowledge concerning adult development and ageing. During the publication of this journal, its major focus was on reports of empirical studies which inform theories that are related to the psychological understanding of aging. Upon its publication, the journal represented various aspects of aging and adult development. Some of the highlighted issues included the genetic bases of behavior, social influences of aging and adult development, health and medical psychology, cognition and clinical psychology among others. On the same day, the journal Psychology and Aging became a registered trademark of the American Psychological Association. |
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Influence in Psychology (150 words each) |
1. Provided knowledge and understanding of the psychological science of aging and development. Before publication of this journal, there was little literature concerning adult development. Publication of the journal allowed people to read information about the psychological process of aging. For instance, people began having a comprehensive understanding of the psychological changes that take place in adulthood. The journal highlighted issues such as mental illnesses like dementia that affect adults in old age. People now understand psychological problems related to aging and adult development and are more prepared to face them when that time comes. |
| 2. It created awareness of the psychological needs of older adults and how to take care of them. The journal attracted various article writers on different topics of aging and adult development. The articles shaded light on the psychological needs of the older adults. For instance, most people were not aware that this group of people need to love and affection apart from financial needs. They also need the company of people who they can share ideas with. This information formed a foundation of social work studies. Social workers have a role of ensuring caregivers and family members understand the psychological needs of the older adults among others and meet them as a way of giving them a good old age experience. Improved mental health in adulthood is partly attributed to information provided in the journal. | |
| 3. It offered an opportunity for researchers on topics related to aging and adult development to publish and share the findings of their studies. The journal contains a collection of research by various scholars in the field of gerontology. For instance various authors studied terminal illness in old age. It welcomes rigorous investigations regardless of the method of study. It seeks submissions on areas that previous studies have not ventured into. Sharing findings of the research is a way of disseminating information and ensuring the studies have achieved the intended purpose. It also highlights gaps in the discipline and prompts interested parties to carry out investigations. The studies also lay a foundation for future studies in gerontology by providing a research framework. Also, highlighting limitations of previous studies helps current studies to try other ways hence increasing the reliability of the results. |
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| Date: | 31.7.1984 |
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Summary of Event (150 words) |
On this particular day, the U.S Food and Drug Administration approved the antipsychotic drug known as Orap (pimozide; Gate) for use. This drug was discovered in 1963 by Janssen Pharmaceutica. It took him time to conduct tests and prove that the drug was viable for use. FDA approved this drug after numerous tests that confirmed that the drug was fit for suppression of motor and phonic tics in patients who suffered from Tourette’s Disorder and could not effectively respond to standard treatment. The drug offered an effective treatment option hence its approval by FDA. The evidence that supported the approval of pimozide was acquired from two clinical studies where patients of the age of between 8 and 53 years were enrolled. Majority of the subjects for the trials were 12 years or older. The trials confirmed the viability of the drug and this prompted its approval on the 31st of July in 1984. |
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Influence in Psychology (150 words each) |
1. Approval of this drug provided a better and more effective treatment option for patients suffering from Tourette’s Disorder. This is a problem of the nervous systems which makes people move and make sudden sounds that are referred to as tics. People suffering from this condition have no control over the movements or sounds. Mental health providers needed to find a drug that prevents the development of vocal and motor tics from the basic to complex stages. For a long time, researchers in the medical and psychology field were looking for effective treatment of this condition. Pimozide blocks dopamine receptors in the brain. This way, the brain manages to control the tics, and the person gets back to normal. This was a great achievement in the psychology field. Approval of this drug has given mental health practitioner permission to use the drug in the treatment of Tourette's Disorder. |
| 2. This event expanded knowledge in understanding psychological disorders and prompted research in the field. Approval of pimozide by the US FDA encouraged early scholars in the field to carry out investigations to develop other drugs such as for Tourette’s Disorder such as Haloperidol and Haldol. The event laid a foundation and provided a research framework for similar studies. It also gave recommendations of future studies to improve the condition of mental health patients. Approval of the drug was a big achievement in the psychotic field. It motivated other scholars who were involved in the research and development of antipsychotic drugs. Janssen discovered Orap in 1963, and it was approved in 1984. It signified that the drug development process is complex and requires a lot of time and patience with several testing to before the US FDA can approve it. |
References
McNeil Laboratories (Canada). (1974). Orap (pimozide) . Don Mills, Ont.
No authorship indicated. (2002). Psychology and Aging: Consulting editors. Psychology And Aging , 17 (4), ii-ii. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.17.4.ii
Pavlov, I. (1999). Psychopathology and Psychiatry London: Routledge.
