Power Point Ch 1 Psy492

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008 1

Richard J. Gerrig, Ph.D.Richard J. Gerrig, Ph.D.Philip G. Zimbardo, Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D.Ph.D.

Richard J. Gerrig, Ph.D.Richard J. Gerrig, Ph.D.Philip G. Zimbardo, Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D.Ph.D.Advanced General PsychologyAdvanced General Psychology

Instructor: Vickie Wingard, S.S.P. NCSPInstructor: Vickie Wingard, S.S.P. NCSP

[email protected]@argosy.edu

An Overview of Psychology: Its Past and Present, Your Future

An Overview of Psychology: Its Past and Present, Your Future

A PowerPoint™ Slide Presentation forA PowerPoint™ Slide Presentation for


Chapter 1Chapter 1Chapter 1Chapter 1

Psychology and LifePsychology and Life

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Group. Developed and prepared by M Lisa Valentino. This Allyn and Bacon multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission over any network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Group. Developed and prepared by M Lisa Valentino. This Allyn and Bacon multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission over any network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.


Chapter 1 Main PointsChapter 1 Main Points Chapter 1 Main PointsChapter 1 Main Points

•What makes psychology unique?

–Psychology’s Goals

•The evolution of modern psychology

–Historical Foundations

–Current Perspectives

•What psychologists do


What Makes Psychology Unique?What Makes Psychology Unique?What Makes Psychology Unique?What Makes Psychology Unique?

• Psychology defined

- The scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes



• Scientific Method defined

- Set of procedures used for gathering and interpreting objective information in a way that minimizes error and yields dependable generalizations



• Behavior defined

- The observable actions by which an organism adjusts to its environment


The Goals of PsychologyThe Goals of PsychologyThe Goals of PsychologyThe Goals of Psychology

•Describing what happens-Behavioral data-Levels of analysis-Objectivity

•Explaining what happens

- Synthesis of information•Predicting what will happen

- Scientific vs. causal prediction•Controlling what will happen

- Prevention and intervention

Let’s name ten behaviors psychologist might want to control.

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Describing What HappensDescribing What HappensDescribing What HappensDescribing What Happens

• Behavioral Data defined– Behavioral data are reports of

observations about behavior and conditions under which they occur

– Researchers choose an appropriate level of analysis

– Measures of behavioral data must be objective


Explaining What Will HappenExplaining What Will HappenExplaining What Will HappenExplaining What Will Happen

• Descriptions describe what happened• Explanations look to explain “how”

behavior works– Internal factors

• Genetic makeup, motivation, intelligence

– External factors• Situational factors


Predicting What Will HappenPredicting What Will HappenPredicting What Will HappenPredicting What Will Happen

• A Closer Look at Scientific Prediction

- Based on an understanding of the ways events relate to one another

- Suggests what mechanisms link those events to certain predictors

• A Closer look at Causal Prediction

- Specifies conditions under which behaviors will change


Controlling What HappensControlling What HappensControlling What HappensControlling What Happens

• Control means making behavior happen or not happen

• Ways of helping improve the quality of life– Prevention – Intervention


Evolution of Modern PsychologyEvolution of Modern PsychologyEvolution of Modern PsychologyEvolution of Modern Psychology

•Historical Foundations-“Psychology has a long history but a

short past” (H. Ebbinghaus, 1908)-School of Structuralism-School of Functionalism



• School of Structuralism- Contents of the mind and concept of

“reductionism”

• All human mental experience can be understood as a combination of simple elements or events- Wilhelm Wundt

- First psychological experimental laboratory- Edward Titchener

- Brought Structuralism to America- Max Wertheimer

- Concept of Gestalt psychology



• School of Functionalism

- Minds with a purpose and a property

-William James• The function of mind and behavior in an

organism’s interactions with the environment

- John Dewey

- American Functionalism and progressive education

Fathers of PsychologyFathers of Psychology


Wilhelm Wundt Set up an experimental lab at Leipzig in 1875

William James Set up an experimental lab at Harvard in 1875



• G. Stanley Hall

- Founded the APA in 1892• Women in Psychology: Margaret

Washburn - First female to earn a doctorate degree

(Ph.D.) in psychology in 1894- Psychology remains a popular major

today- More women today are obtaining

advanced degrees in the field


Current Psychological Current Psychological PerspectivesPerspectivesCurrent Psychological Current Psychological PerspectivesPerspectives

• Psychodynamic perspective

• Behaviorist perspective

• Humanistic perspective

• Cognitive perspective

• Biological perspective

• Evolutionary perspective

• Sociocultural perspective


Current Psychological PerspectivesCurrent Psychological PerspectivesCurrent Psychological PerspectivesCurrent Psychological Perspectives

•Psychodynamic perspective

–Key Figure: Sigmund Freud

–Behavior is explained in terms of inherited

instincts, biological drive, and attempts to resolve conflicts

–Focus is on the unconscious


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2eyP6iY5Do&feature=related



• Behavioral perspective

- Key Figures: John Watson, B.F. Skinner

- Primarily concerned with observable behavior that can be objectively recorded

www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/bf-skinner-foundation-pigeon-turn/deb92c2d7feffbc6364adeb92c2d7feffbc6364a-395958878215?q=Videos+of+BF+Skinner&FORM=VIRE5




• Humanistic perspective

- Key Figures: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

- Emphasizes an individual’s inherent capacity for making rational choices and developing to maximum potential

- Self-actualization

Humanistic PerspectiveHumanistic Perspective


Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

Individuals have a natural tendency toward psychological growth and health

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Coined the term self-actualization to refer to each individual’s drive toward the fullest development of his or her potential



• Cognitive perspective

- Human thought and the process of knowing and thinking

- Behavior occurs because people think



• Biological perspective

- Focuses on the functioning of the genes, brain, nervous system, and endocrine system

- Behavior is explained in terms of underlying physical structures and biochemical processes



• Evolutionary perspective– Key Figures: Charles

Darwin- Published Origin of the Species in 1859

- Importance of behavioral and mental adaptiveness

- Natural selection



• Sociocultural perspective

- Cross-cultural differences in the causes and consequences of behavior


Current Psychological Current Psychological PerspectivesPerspectives


What Psychologists DoWhat Psychologists DoWhat Psychologists DoWhat Psychologists Do

• Engage in psychological inquiry

• Formulate questions to be researched

• Conduct various forms of research

• Apply psychological principles


What Psychologists Do?What Psychologists Do?What Psychologists Do?What Psychologists Do?


Recapping Chapter 1 Main PointsRecapping Chapter 1 Main PointsRecapping Chapter 1 Main PointsRecapping Chapter 1 Main Points

• What makes psychology unique?- Definitions - Goals of psychology

• The evolution of modern psychology- Psychology’s Historical Foundations- Current Psychological Perspectives

• What psychologists do


End of Chapter 1End of Chapter 1End of Chapter 1End of Chapter 1

Psychology and LifePsychology and Life

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Power Point Ch 1 Psy492