ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

›› 2005, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (05): 702-709.

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A REVIEW OF THREE NEW APPROACHES IN WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY

Kuang Zhihua,Ye Haosheng   

  1. Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
  • Received:2005-03-03 Revised:1900-01-01 Published:2005-09-30 Online:2005-09-30
  • Contact: Kuang Zhihua

Abstract: Postmodern psychology, positive psychology and evolutionary psychology are three new research approaches emerged in western psychology in recent year. All of the three research approaches based on criticizing modernism of western psychology, and try to rebuild psychological concept and system. This paper reviewed their essential viewpoints and main characteristics, and discussed their positive influences to western psychology and their own limitations. In the author’s opinion, by criticizing modernism psychology, the purports of the three new research approaches are trying to search a way beyond confrontation and conflicts between the exogenic perspective and endogenic perspective, which have existed in modernism psychology after the establishment of Wundt’s experimental psychology. But it is impossible to replace modernism psychology with any one of the three research approaches at least in the near future. Since each of them has its own limitations and shortcomings, the attitude of the tolerance, co-operation and dialogue are beneficial to the purpose of the integration of psychology.

Key words: western psychology, modernism, postmodern psychology, positive psychology, evolutionary psychology

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