Who is considered the father of modern psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt is widely regarded as the father of modern psychology due to his pivotal role in establishing psychology as a distinct scientific discipline. In 1879, Wundt opened the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, which marked the formal beginning of psychology as an experimental and empirical field of study separate from philosophy and physiology.

Wundt's emphasis on systematic observation and experimentation laid the groundwork for psychological research methods still in use today. He introduced concepts such as introspection as a research technique, where trained observers reported their conscious experiences in response to stimuli, allowing for a more scientific approach to studying the mind.

In contrast, figures like Sigmund Freud contributed significantly to clinical psychology and psychoanalytic theory, but Freud’s focus was more on the unconscious and less on empirical experimentation. B.F. Skinner is known for his work in behaviorism, emphasizing observable behavior over internal mental states, while Jean Piaget made substantial contributions to developmental psychology, particularly in understanding cognitive development in children. Each of these individuals is influential, but Wundt's foundational work in creating psychology as a laboratory science is what earns him the title of father of modern psychology.