Psychology Through the Centuries: A Historical Analysis of Its Evolving Definition from the 16th Century to the Digital Era

This review provides a historical analysis of psychology’s epistemological evolution, tracing its conceptual lineage from the 15th century to the contemporary era. We chart the discipline’s definitional transformations, moving from reductionist “behavior and mental processes” models, toward complex frameworks that incorporate the “subject,” “comportment,” and contextual variables via pluralistic methodologies. The article systematically examines the field’s foundational debates, particularly its struggle to resolve the nature of its subject matter, the validity of its measurement tools, and the possibility of a unifying theoretical paradigm. By focusing on recent meta-scientific discourse rather than conventional textbook narratives, this paper illuminates existing controversies (e.g., the “hard science” debate, theoretical fragmentation) and identifies promising areas for future inquiry.