Psychology: Definitions & HistoryPsychology: Definitions & History

PsychologyPsychology

DefinitionsDefinitionso From Greek word “psyche” to “talk about the From Greek word “psyche” to “talk about the

self”self”

o The science of behavior and mental processesThe science of behavior and mental processes• Use of scientific methodology and research to obtain Use of scientific methodology and research to obtain

knowledge and discover principles about human knowledge and discover principles about human behaviorbehavior

o Explains mental functions and underlying Explains mental functions and underlying processes through scientific study of behavior processes through scientific study of behavior in humans and animalsin humans and animals

• What is behavior?What is behavior?

Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology

ClinicalClinicalo Assessment and treatment individuals with chronic mental Assessment and treatment individuals with chronic mental

disorders (e.g., GAD, schizophrenia) or psychological crises disorders (e.g., GAD, schizophrenia) or psychological crises (e.g., PTSD, grief)(e.g., PTSD, grief)

o Can focus on one specific group to treat (e.g., autistic children), Can focus on one specific group to treat (e.g., autistic children), or work more generally (e.g., phobias, relationship issues, and or work more generally (e.g., phobias, relationship issues, and marriage counseling)marriage counseling)

o Licensing and APA-sanctioned internship required to practiceLicensing and APA-sanctioned internship required to practice

DevelopmentalDevelopmentalo Study of how we develop intellectually, emotionally, and how we Study of how we develop intellectually, emotionally, and how we

change and grow over the lifespanchange and grow over the lifespano Can focus on one developmental phase (e.g., childhood or Can focus on one developmental phase (e.g., childhood or

adolescence)adolescence)o Often teach in academic settings, consult research, or consult in Often teach in academic settings, consult research, or consult in

school or social service organizationsschool or social service organizations

Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology

SocialSocialo Study individual and group behavior, attitudes, Study individual and group behavior, attitudes,

prejudice/discrimination, delinquency, self-esteem, prejudice/discrimination, delinquency, self-esteem, personality, the selfpersonality, the self

o Conduct research on human behavior, work in academiaConduct research on human behavior, work in academia

Industrial/OrganizationalIndustrial/Organizationalo Explore relationships between individuals and their work Explore relationships between individuals and their work

environmentenvironmento Explore leadership trust, develop ways to increase Explore leadership trust, develop ways to increase

productivity, be involved in staffing/personnel selectionproductivity, be involved in staffing/personnel selectiono Work in government, corporate, nonprofit, and academic Work in government, corporate, nonprofit, and academic

settingssettings

Cognitive/ExperimentalCognitive/Experimentalo Study learning, memory, sensation/perception, languageStudy learning, memory, sensation/perception, languageo Typically work in academic and research settingsTypically work in academic and research settings

PsychologyPsychology

• Scientific psychology = Empirical research Scientific psychology = Empirical research studiesstudies

o ““Basic research” to build psychology’s knowledge Basic research” to build psychology’s knowledge basebase

o Cognitive, developmental, abnormal, and social Cognitive, developmental, abnormal, and social psychologypsychology

• Applied psychology = “Real world” Applied psychology = “Real world” psychologypsychology

o Clinical, forensic, sport, industrial/organizational Clinical, forensic, sport, industrial/organizational psychology psychology

Question:Question:

What isWhat is

Psychiatry vs. Psychotherapy vs. Psychiatry vs. Psychotherapy vs. Psychoanalysis?Psychoanalysis?

Answer:Answer:

• Psychiatry Psychiatry == the branch of medicine the branch of medicine concerned with concerned with mental mental disorders; psychiatrists are disorders; psychiatrists are medical medical doctors who can prescribe doctors who can prescribe

medication medication • Psychotherapy Psychotherapy = a form of treatment = a form of treatment

emphasizing emphasizing communication communication• Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis = Freudian = Freudian

theories/techniques theories/techniques emphasizing unconscious conflict emphasizing unconscious conflict

PsychologyPsychology

What makes psychology scientific?What makes psychology scientific?• Like all science, psychology follows the Like all science, psychology follows the

empirical methodempirical method• Empiricism = Empiricism = observationobservation

objectivity objectivity

precisionprecision

measurementmeasurement

experimentationexperimentation• Scientific knowledge is based on data Scientific knowledge is based on data

(information from observation) and theory (information from observation) and theory (concepts used to explain data)(concepts used to explain data)

• Data + theory = knowledgeData + theory = knowledge

PsychologyPsychology HistoryHistory

• Origins of psychology have roots in philosophyOrigins of psychology have roots in philosophyo Free will vs. determinismFree will vs. determinismo Are we affected more by internal or external Are we affected more by internal or external

influences?influences?• Plato vs. Aristotle (Ancient Greece)Plato vs. Aristotle (Ancient Greece)

o PlatoPlato – personality/characteristics inherited – personality/characteristics inheritedo AristotleAristotle – there is nothing in the mind that does not – there is nothing in the mind that does not

originate from external world through our originate from external world through our senses senses

• Locke vs. Descartes (1600s)Locke vs. Descartes (1600s) o LockeLocke – mind a blank slate at birth and knowledge – mind a blank slate at birth and knowledge

comes comes

via the sensesvia the senseso DescartesDescartes – knowledge – knowledge notnot dependent on sense dependent on sense

experiencesexperiences

• James (1875)James (1875)• American physicianAmerican physician• Wrote classic psychological text Wrote classic psychological text Principles of PsychologyPrinciples of Psychology• FunctionalismFunctionalism: emphasizes how mental/behavioral : emphasizes how mental/behavioral

processes function and serve to shape our ability to processes function and serve to shape our ability to adapt, survive, and flourishadapt, survive, and flourish

• Wundt (1879)Wundt (1879)• German physicianGerman physician• EmpiricismEmpiricism: the view that knowledge comes from : the view that knowledge comes from

experience via senses; science flourishes though experience via senses; science flourishes though observation + experimentation observation + experimentation

• Watson (1900s)Watson (1900s)• Founder of Behaviorist movementFounder of Behaviorist movement• BehaviorismBehaviorism: Ignore mental “states” and focus only on : Ignore mental “states” and focus only on

what is observable (behavior); the mind as a “black box”what is observable (behavior); the mind as a “black box”

HistoryHistory

• PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysiso FreudFreud (1890s) (1890s)

• Emphasized unconscious drives (sex and aggression) as Emphasized unconscious drives (sex and aggression) as root of all behaviorroot of all behavior

• People have powerful unconscious motives outside their People have powerful unconscious motives outside their conscious awarenessconscious awareness

• Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychologyo Rogers Rogers (1950s)(1950s)

• Emphasized free will; the ‘great reservoir’ of human Emphasized free will; the ‘great reservoir’ of human potential potential

• Focus on optimal development rather than negativesFocus on optimal development rather than negativeso Maslow Maslow (1960s)(1960s)

• Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

• Cognitive Revolution (1960s)Cognitive Revolution (1960s)o Focused on perception, processing, retrieval of information, Focused on perception, processing, retrieval of information,

how memory works, decision making, “the mind as a how memory works, decision making, “the mind as a computer”computer”

HistoryHistory

Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs