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WHY STUDY PSYCHOLOGY?

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Behavior: our actions that we can observe

and record.

Mental processes: internal subjective experiences that we infer from our behaviors such as sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.

PRESCIENTIFIC PSYCHOLOGY

Socrates (469-399 B.C.) Plato (428-348 B.C.)

Through self-examination, concluded that the mind and body were separate entities (dualism) .

Believed that knowledge was innate.

PRESCIENTIFIC PSYCHOLOGY (CONT’D)

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

Through the use of observation, Aristotle believed the mind was NOT separate from the body (monism).

Knowledge is NOT preexisting; it is derived from our experiences stored in our memories.

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

Cognito ergo sum –

“I think, therefore I am” Dualist: mind separate from

the body and survives its death. Curious of how the mind and

body communicated, proposed that fluids in the brain contained “animal spirits” that flowed from the brain to other parts of the body, causing muscles to move.

PRESCIENTIFIC PSYCHOLOGY (CONT’D)

How did Descartes “animal spirits” relate to what we know about the connection between the human mind and body?

John Locke (1632-1704) Monist: mind an body

interact symmetrically. He believed we are born

without knowledge – tabula rosa (a blank slate)

Our knowledge comes from observation

What we know comes from our experiences

PRESCIENTIFIC PSYCHOLOGY (CONT’D)

Locke’s ideas helped to form modern EMPIRICISM, the idea that knowledge originates in experience.

Therefore, science should rely on observation and experimentation.

THE NATURE VS. NURTURE CONTROVERSY

Are our behaviors inborn OR learned through experience OR is it a result of the combination

of the two?nature vs nurture

William Wundt (1832-1920): Established the first psychology

lab at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Attempted to measure the “atoms of the mind” -- the fastest and simplest mental process.

Created an machine that measured the time lag between hearing a ball hit a platform and depressing a telegraph key.

THE BIRTH OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

They found that people about 1/10 of a second quicker when asked to press the key as soon as the sound occurred as compared to depressing the key as soon as they were aware of perceiving the sound.

STRUCTURALISM Introduced by Wundt and his student Edward Titchener. Early school of psychology that used introspection to

explore the elemental nature of the mind. Method involved training people to look inward and

report elements of their experiences as they looked at say a rose, heard a metronome, or smelled or tasted a substance.

Highly criticized as unreliable as experiences vary among people. Also, self- reports and recollections are often subject to error.

FUNCTIONALISM School of psychology that focuses on how mental and

behavioral processes function. Argued that the mind is constantly changing and it is

pointless to look for the building blocks of experience. Instead, the focus should be on the how and why an

organism’s behavior. Specifically, how do behaviors help the organism adapt,

survive, and flourish. Suggested that psychologists should look for the underlying

cause of behavior and the mental the processes involved. Functionalism paved the way for behaviorism and applied subfields of psychology.

structuralism vs functionalism

THE BIRTH OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

William James (1842- 1910) American philosopher and psychologist (Functionalist) Believed that structuralists were asking the wrong questions. Interested in the function or purpose of behavioral acts. Heavily influenced by Charles Darwin and his Theory of

Natural Selection (those best adapted to an environment have the greatest chances at survival).

Authored the first psychology “textbook”, The Principles of Psychology, which is still widely read today.

Adapted from a line in William James’ The Principles of Psychology

WOMEN PIONEERS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Mary Calkins (functionalism) Student of William James (1890)

Completed requirements for a Ph.D. at Harvard,

denied her degree because she was female

Became a pioneer in memory research & the first woman president of the American Psychological Association (APA)

Margaret Floy Washburn (structuralism)

Student of Tichner, was the first womanto receive a

Ph.D. in psychology (Cornell) Studied animal behavior & wrote the influential book, The Animal Mind Second woman president of the APA.

PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGYBehavioral Approach Focuses on measuring and recording observable behavior in

relation to the environment. Behavior mainly determined by an organism’s experiences and its

environment rather than by genetics. Ivan Pavlov: Russian physiologist famous for experiments in the

early 1900s training dogs to salivate in response to the sound of a tone (stimulus-response learning).

John B. Watson : established the first school of behaviorism, known for experiments with classical conditioning (stimulus-response learning), particularly the Little Albert Experiment he conducted with Rosalie Rayner

B.F. Skinner: known for his work with lab rats and pigeons, illustrating that organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive consequences and minimize responses that lead to negative or neutral consequences. (known as operant conditioning).

PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGYPsychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Approach Concerned with how unconscious instincts, conflicts,

motives, and defenses influence one’s behavior. Sigmund Freud: Father of Psychoanalysis – treated

patients with mental disorders by talking with them over long periods of time to reveal unconscious conflicts, motives, and defenses in order to enhance patients’ self-knowledge. He believed that early life experiences were important to personality development.

Other well-known psychoanalysts include Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Karen Horney, and Heinz Kohur.

PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

Humanistic Approach By the 1960s, many psychologists found behaviorism

and psychoanalysis to be too mechanistic. Asserting that humans have unique qualities different

from other animals, humanistic pioneers such as Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow emphasized that free will and the potential for personal growth influence human behavior and mental processes.

Stressed the importance of meeting our needs for love and acceptance and viewed human nature as naturally positive and growth seeking.

Using methods that include interview techniques, humanists believe that people have the ability to solve their own problems.

PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

Biological Approach Concurrent with the growth of the humanist

approach. Concerned with the physiological and biological

factors that determine behavior and mental processes.

Evolutionary Approach An offshoot of the biological approach. Takes a Darwinian view and emphasizes how

natural selection favored behaviors that contributed to survival and the spread of our ancestors’ genes.

PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

Cognitive Approach Technological advances enabled psychologists to further

their study of cognition (thinking and memory). Focuses on the importance of receiving, storing, and

processing information, our thinking and reasoning, and the use of language, all in an effort to understand human behavior.

Jean Piaget: well known psychologist who studied cognitive development in children. His research laid the groundwork for approaches to preschool and primary education.

Neuroscience Approach Studies the interaction of thought processes and brain

function. Has been particularly beneficial in understanding and treating disorders such as depression.

PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

Sociocultural Approach Deals with the study of social and environmental

factors that influence cultural differences in behaviors.

Sociocultural psychologists study cultural differences among people in an effort to better understand, predict and control human behavior.

Eclectic Approach No single theoretical approach explains all aspects

of behavior. Most psychologists adopt ideas and techniques

from multiple perspectives in dealing with mental processes and human behavior.

PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

Biopsychosocial Approach

SUB-FIELDS (DOMAINS) OF PSYCHOLOGY Biological Psychology study the links between the brain and the

mind.

Clinical Psychology: evaluate and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Community Psychology: looks at how people interact with their social environments & how social institutions affect individuals & groups

Counseling Psychology: help people to adapt to change or make changes in their lifestyles.

Developmental Psychology: study psychological development throughout life (birth to death).

Educational Psychology: look at how effective teaching and learning take place.

Engineering Psychology promote the development and application of psychology to improve technology, consumer products, energy systems, communication and information, transportation, decision making, work settings, and living environments.

SUBFIELDS (DOMAINS) OF PSYCHOLOGY Forensic Psychology: apply psychological principles to

legal issues.

Health Psychology: focus on biological, psychological, and social factors involved in health and illness.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology: apply psychological principles and methods to the workplace to improve productivity and the quality of the workplace.

Neuropsychology: also known as biological psychologists, behavioral geneticists, physiological psychologists, and behavioral neuroscientists – investigate the relationships between the brain/nervous system and behavior.

Personality Psychology: focus on traits, attitudes, and goals of the individual.

Psychometrics: focus on methods for acquiring and analyzing psychological data.

SUBFIELDS (DOMAINS) OF PSYCHOLOGY Positive Psychology: study of human functioning with the

goals of discovering & promoting strengths & virtues that enable individuals & communities to grow and thrive

Rehabilitation Psychologists: work with individuals with developmental and/or mental disabilities, as well as disabilities resulting from stroke and/or accidents in efforts to help them adapt to their personal situations.

School Psychologists: assess and counsel students, consult with parents and educators, and carry our behavioral interventions when needed.

Social Psychologists: focus on how a person’s mental life and behavior are shaped by interactions with others.

Sports Psychologists: assist athletes in refining their focus on competition goals, increase motivation, and deal with their anxiety and fear of failure.

PSYCHOLOGY AND RESEARCH

Basic Research: pure science that aims to increase the scientific base of knowledge.

Applied Research: scientific study that focuses on solving specific practical problems.

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Psychiatry: a branch of medicine that deals with psychological disorders. Psychiatrists often provide medical treatments in addition to psychological therapy.