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Prologue:The Story of Psychology

James A. McCubbin, PhD

Clemson University

Worth Publishers

�The science of behavior and the mind� behavior - observable actions of a person or animal

� mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences

� science� an objective way to answer questions

� based on observable facts / data and well described methods

� A set of questions about mental functioning� trace back to philosophy

� Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.

� A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions� the scientific method

� evolved over centuries, first in physics

� A product of history� philosophy asked many of the basic questions

� physiology used similar methods

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Prescientific Psychology� Is the mind connected

to the body or distinct?

� Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience?

�Psychological Science Is Born� Empiricism

� Knowledge comes from experience via the senses

� Science flourishes through observation and experiment

�A Question: How are mind and body related?

�� Dualism Dualism -- body and soul are separate but body and soul are separate but

interrelatedinterrelated

�� origins in medieval religion origins in medieval religion

�� soul is seat of intellectual function and willsoul is seat of intellectual function and will

�� mind is product of the soulmind is product of the soul�� mind not subject to scientific inquirymind not subject to scientific inquiry

�� to challenge this was punishable by deathto challenge this was punishable by death

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� A Question: How are mind and body related?

�� Rene Descartes (1596Rene Descartes (1596--1650) 1650) -- modified modified

dualismdualism

�� since animals have no soul, much behavior does not since animals have no soul, much behavior does not

require soulrequire soul

�� the body can therefore control much behaviorthe body can therefore control much behavior�� led him to study reflexes led him to study reflexes

�� the soulthe soul’’s main function is thought, a uniquely human s main function is thought, a uniquely human

attributeattribute

�� Materialism: Thomas Hobbes (1588Materialism: Thomas Hobbes (1588--1679) 1679)

�� mind is a product of the brainmind is a product of the brain

�� soul is not involved in human behaviorsoul is not involved in human behavior

�� Empiricism: Empiricism:

�� knowledge and intellect are acquired knowledge and intellect are acquired

�� sensory experiences produce elementary ideassensory experiences produce elementary ideas

�� elementary ideas become associated into complex thought elementary ideas become associated into complex thought

and ideasand ideas

� A Question: How are mind and body related?

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� Another Question: Empiricism vs. Nativism

�� Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are

innateinnate

�� If knowledge is innate If knowledge is innate �� What is the purpose of education?What is the purpose of education?

�� Can intellect be changed by experience?Can intellect be changed by experience?

�� Are abilities determined by our genes or our Are abilities determined by our genes or our

experiences?experiences?

�� This is known as Nature vs. Nurture This is known as Nature vs. Nurture �� appears throughout modern psychologyappears throughout modern psychology

� Natural selection� principle that those

inherited trait variations contributing to survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

� Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

� Theory of natural selection (1859)� physical characteristics evolve through natural

selection

� behavioral patterns also influence selection

� inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with survival value are passed on

� Human beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science

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� Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry

� 19th century developments in physiology

demonstrated the approach to use� based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory

experiments

� influential beliefs from early physiology� reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes

� localization of function - specific structures of the brain serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior

� Separated from philosophy in 19th century� influences from physiology remain

� Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)� Leipzig, Germany

� wrote the first psychology textbook

� applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind

� structuralism - identify ‘atoms’ of the mind� focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes

� measured reaction times

� Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory at the University of Liepzig (c. 1879)

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� Edward Titchener (1867-1927)� Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University

� William James (1842-1910)� started psychology at Harvard in 1870s

� opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach

� functionalism - influenced by Darwin to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment

� Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)� Austrian physician that focused on illness

� psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders

� Alfred Binet (1857-1911)

� French intelligence researcher

� developed first intelligence test

� Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)

� Russian physiologist

� discovered conditioned reflexes

� B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)� American psychologist at Harvard

� studied learning and effect of reinforcement

� behaviorism

� Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind

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� Functionalism focused on how behavioral processes function- how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

� Psychological Science Develops� Wundt--German philosopher and

physiologist

� James--American philosopher

� Pavlov--Russian physiologist

� Freud--Austrian physician

� Piaget--Swiss biologist

Figure 1.6 Membership in the American Psychological Association, 1900–2004

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Figure 1- British Psychological Society membership

�Definition of Psychology� The science of behavior (what we do)

and mental processes (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings)

�Psychology’s Big Issues� Nature-nurture controversy

� the relative contribution that genes and experience make to development of psychological traits and behaviors

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� Psychology’s Perspectives� A lot depends on your viewpoint

�Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena

�Psychology has multiple perspectives� ethological

� biological

� psychoanalytic

� cognitive

� cross- cultural

� social

� The study of animal behavior in the natural environment rather than in a lab setting

� Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns

� European approach to studying behavior founded by animal researchers, Lorenz and Tinbergen

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� Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior

� Focus may be at various levels� individual neurons

� areas of the brain

� specific functions like eating, emotion or learning

� Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

� View of behavior based on experience treating patients

� Psychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud)� both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind

� behavior reflects combinations of conscious and unconscious influences

� drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior

� early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations

�View of behavior based on experience treating patients� Humanistic approach

� developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers

� behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’

� focus on conscious forces and self perception

� More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

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�The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups

�How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture?

�What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?

�How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ?

� Influences include� Piaget - studied intellectual development

� Chomsky - studied language

� Cybernetics - science of information processing

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�American Psychological Association had 52 divisions in 1998

�Some represent areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical)

�Some are applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

�Psychology’s Subfields� Basic Research

� Biological psychologists explore the links between brain and mind

� Developmental psychologists study changing abilities from womb to tomb

� Cognitive psychologists study how we perceive, think, and solve problems

�Psychology’s Subfields� Basic Research

� Personality psychologists investigate our persistent traits

� Social psychologists explore how we view and affect one another

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�Psychology’s Subfields� Applied Research

� Industrial/organizational psychologists study and advise on behavior in the workplace

� Clinical psychologists study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders

� Psychiatry� A branch of medicine dealing with

psychological disorders

� Practiced by physicians who sometimes use medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychotherapy

� Clinical� abnormal behavior and

psychological disorders

� psychologist vs. psychiatrist

� Health psychology� psychological factors in

physical health

� Counseling� dealing with normal life

situations

� provide guidance

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

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� Developmental � psychological change

over the life span

� social, cognitive, personality

� School� counseling and guidance

in school settings

� Educational� learning and teaching

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

� Psychobiology� brain and behavior

� studied at many levels

� often uses animals as research model

� Experimental� basic laboratory focus

� animals or humans

� learning, memory, motivation

� Cognitive� experimental

� human memory, perception, etc.

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

� Social� social influences on cognition

and emotion

� attitudes and beliefs

� Personality� individual differences

� perception by others

� Industrial/organizational� people and work

� job satisfaction

� training and selection

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

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�Colleges and universities

�Clinical settings

�Elementary and secondary schools

�Business

�Government

PrivatePractice

Government

Universities &College

Business& Industry

School

Employment Settings of Psychologists