William James, who was a reluctant innovator in the new scientific psychology in the United States, was considered one of the most accomplished psychologists of his time. Although his work did not find application in the field of functional psychology, the work he did provided a sounding board for generations of psychologists and researchers to come. His contributions, including the expansion of psychology's research techniques and topics, along with the incorporation of evolutionary theory, truly made him a pioneer, much to his chagrin. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In his book The Principles of Psychology, James introduces two key words: phenomena and conditions. The phenomena indicated that the object of psychology lay in immediate experience, and the term conditions referred to the importance of the body, including the brain, in mental life. His emphasis on human nature, stating that people are "creatures of emotion and passion as well as thought and reason" was revolutionary, as he did not consider people to be completely rational. In his stream of consciousness theory, James describes five characteristics of thought. These include personal consciousness, changing thoughts, continuous thoughts, consciousness in dealing with objects outside oneself, and selective consciousness. This stream of consciousness, which is continuous, is something that I dare say most of us are familiar with. This way of thinking, so to speak, has helped me throughout my life, whether the task was large or small. From deciding what to make for dinner to how to pursue my college career or raise my children, this flow has been critical in formulating these efforts throughout my life. Will is another integral part of William James' theory in The Principles of Psychology, and one based on one's life experiences. The question of free will, and whether it actually existed, was particularly problematic for James. He stated that attainment of will, when voluntary, is very difficult to maintain. I agree with James in this and, like most I assume, I've had to learn to focus my attention on what matters to me. For example, I was persistent and used the strength of my will, in my goal to continue my education. It hasn't been easy, as I work full time, am a county commissioner, am married, have children, help with elderly grandparents, and more. It is by sheer will that I sometimes feel I achieve these things in life. James's introduction of the theory of emotions according to which they are the consequence, and not the cause, of expression, was also revolutionary. He devised that the emotion caused the physical response, as well as followed it…seemingly like a circle in some respects. Although this theory has received criticism, I tend to identify with the argument. At times, I found myself feeling emotional about something which then led to action. For example, I was emotionally affected by a problem, which led me to take action, however, I am still affected by the problem. In my case, I was emotionally affected by harassment as an adult. The emotional response made me stop communicating with that peer group which, in turn, led to other emotions such as sadness, but also peace. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now .Get a custom essay Overall, I found William James's work insightful. His writing feels incredibly modern, even in today's times. Although he suffered from his own personal anguish and was “a..