Unit 1 – History and Approaches in Psychology

Module 1 – The History and Scope of PsychologyModule 2 – Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions

What is Psychology?

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

What is Psychology?

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

Prescientific Psychology

How do the mind and the body relate?

Does much of what we know come built in, or do we start as “blank slates”?

Socrates and Plato

Socrates and his student, Plato, did not agree with the early Hebrews and viewed mind as separate from the body and continuing after death.

They viewed some knowledge as built within us (nature).

Aristotle

Plato’s student, Aristotle’s love for data distinguished him from his teacher and Socrates.

Derived principles from careful observations.

His observations told him that the soul was not separate (monism – body dies, soul dies) from the body and that knowledge is NOT preexisting; it grows from your memories and stored in your memories.

Descartes

Agreed with Plato and Socrates about the existence of innate ideas and the mind’s being “entirely distinct from the body” and able to survive its death.

How does the immaterial mind and physical body communicate?

Locke

Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Famously argued that the mind at birth is a blank slate – a “white paper” – upon which experience writes.

Empiricism – knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation.

Philosophical Developments

Empiricism vs. Nativism Nativism is the view that elementary ideas

are innate If knowledge is innate

What is the purpose of education? Can intellect be changed by experience?

Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences?

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

Wilhelm Wundt

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

Wundt continued…

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

Used Introspection to study a subject’s consciousness. They reported sensations and feelings about a stimulus.

Structuralism

Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind. In addition to “quality”, and “intensity” (part of Wundt’s theory), Edward Titchener added “clarity” to his theory.

Functionalism

Functionalism focused on how behavioral processes function—how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish--with a focus on the ongoing “stream of consciousness

William James developed this theory.

Pioneers of Psychology

Edward Titchener (1867-1927) Structuralism – introspection (looking within)

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

Sigmund Freud

Austrian physician Psychoanalytic theory of mental

disorders Id (instinct), Ego (reality), Superego

(morality) “The Couch”

More Pioneers

Alfred Binet (1857-1911) French intelligence researcher developed first intelligence test

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) Russian physiologist discovered conditioned reflexes (Dog salivating)

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) American psychologist at Harvard studied learning and effect of reinforcement behaviorism

Psychology

Definition of Psychology The science of behavior (what we

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

Nature v. Nurture

Nature – some ideas are inborn Nurture – the mind is a blank slate (how

our experiences shape who we are or whom we become)

Perspectives in Pyschology

Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena

Psychology has multiple perspectives Ethological- evolutionary Biological Psychoanalytic Cognitive Cross- cultural - sociocultural Humanistic Behavioral

Current Perspectives

Darwinism

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

Natural Selection Evolution

RESEARCH

Psychology v. Applied Psychology

Biological Research

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

Clinical Research

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

Clinical Research

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

Socio-Cultural Psychology

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 do Individualist and Collectivist cultures vary?

Cognitive Research

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

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 Personality psychologists investigate our

persistent traits Social psychologists explore how we view and

affect one another

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

Areas of Specialization

Clinical abnormal behavior

and psychological disorders

psychologist vs. psychiatrist

Health psychology psychological factors

in physical health Counseling dealing with normal

life situations provide guidance

Areas of Specialization

Developmental Psychological change over the life span Social, cognitive, personality

School Counseling and guidance in school

settings Educational

Learning and teaching

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.

Modern Psychology

Psychiatry A branch of medicine dealing with

psychological disorders Practiced by physicians who

sometimes use medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychotherapy