Who Is the Father of Psychology?

One reader asks: "I've been learning a little about psychology history and I was wondering who is considered the father of psychology?"

Great question! As you might have already learned, psychology did not become a separate and distinct discipline until the late 1800s. Prior to that, psychological topics were typically studied within the fields of philosophy and physiology. So how did psychology become an independent subject? Who was responsible for this event?

Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. This event is usually cited as the official beginning of psychology as a separate science, which is why Wundt is usually credited as the "father of psychology."

Of course, many other individuals have contributed to the development of psychology. Learn more about Wundt and some other famous figures in this article on the father of psychology.

More About Psychology History

• A Brief History of Psychology
• The First Psychology Lab

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