The Importance of Teaching the History of Psychology"As the diversity and specialization within psychology continue to
increase, the historical perspective may be even more important, as the
only vantage point from which we might maintain some sense of coherence
in the field."
(Hilgard et al., 1991, p. 100)
"Psychologists, of all people, should work toward the broadest possible awareness to overcome “narrow provincial, class, and regional prejudices” (Watson, 1977b, p. 64). Psychologists should recognize the virtues of deep and empathic sensitivities to cultural diversity and the value of spatial understandings that may be expanded through geographical studies and travel. Unfortunately, too many students live in an extremely narrow and provincial temporal perspective. The study of the history of psychology can help to correct such narrowness in their spatial, cultural, and temporal worlds. Henle (1976) argued that historical studies influence the structure of thought process and “give us distance not only from our immediate objective, but from our own thinking” (p. 16). History also teaches a healthy skepticism that frees one from the persuasive influence of fads and affords a measure of humility as one encounters great minds of the past. Quite aside from any possible practical benefits that a course in the history of psychology might have for enhancing performance on the Graduate Record Examination, an understanding of the history of psychology makes a major contribution to a liberal education for psychology majors and nonmajors alike." (Fuchs & Viney, 2002, History of Psychology)
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