Introduction, History, The Six Psychological

Perspectives

Psychology

• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

– Uses scientific research methods.

– Behavior includes all observable behavior.

– Mental processes include thoughts, feelings and dreams.

Modern Psychology’s Roots

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

• “father of psychology”

• founder of modern psychology

• opened the first psychology lab in 1879

E.B. Titchener

• founder of structuralism (1st perspective)

• goal: understand the structure of conscious experience by analyzing its parts

Structuralism

• studied the basic elements (structure) of conscious experience

Gestalt Psychology

• the whole (conscious experience) is different from the sum of its parts.

• integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

William James

• first American psychologist

• author of the first psychology textbook

• founder of Functionalism

Functionalism

• study the functions of consciousness: how consciousness helped people adapt to their environment

Sigmund Freud

• founder of psychoanalytic perspective (personality)

• abnormal behavior originated from unconscious drives and childhood conflicts

• used personal observation & reflection instead of controlled lab experiments

Freud’s Influence(don’t have to write this, just f.y.i.)

• Influence on “pop culture”– freudian slips– anal-retentive

• Influence on psychology:– psychodynamic theory – modern version of

Freud’s ideas– importance of unconscious thoughts– significance of childhood experiences

Ivan Pavlov

• Russian Physiologist

• studied learning in animals• created an interest in the study of observable

behaviors

John B. Watson

• founder of behaviorism

• studied only observable and objectively describable acts

• emphasized objective and scientific methods

B.F. Skinner

• Behaviorist

• Focused on learning through rewards and observation

Humanistic Psychology

• focus on conscious experience and individual’s free will

• healthy individuals strive to reach their potential

• humans are not solely controlled by rewards and reinforcements

Six Contemporary Psychological Perspectives

What’s a perspective?

• Method of classifying a collection of ideas

• Also called “schools of thought”

• Also called “psychological approaches”

• Don’t write this bullet: Example – Whether you help a student who has dropped their books in the hall. Why do some help when others don’t?

6 Contemporary Psychological Perspectives

Perspective Focus Behavior is Explained by…

Cognitive

Biological

Social-Cultural

Behavioral

Humanistic

Psychodynamic

Cognitive Perspective

• Focus: how people think and process information

• Don’t write this bullet, just think about it (Forerunners – Structuralism, Functionalism, & Gestalt Psychology)

• behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situation

Biological Perspective

• Focus: how our biological structures and substances might cause a given behavior, thought, or emotion

• behavior is explained by brain chemistry & structure, genetics, hormones, glands, etc.

Social-Cultural Perspective

• Focus: how thinking and behavior change depending on the setting or situation

• behavior is explained by the influence of other people present

*review

Behavioral Perspective

• Focus: how we learn through rewards, punishments, and observation

• behavior is explained by previous learning

Humanistic Perspective

• Focus: how healthy people strive to reach their full potential

• behavior is explained as being motivated by satisfying needs (safety, hunger, thirst, etc.), with the goal of reaching one’s full potential after basic needs are met.

Psychodynamic Perspective

• Focus: how behavior is affected by unconscious drives and conflicts

• behavior is explained through unconscious motivation and unresolved inner conflicts from one’s childhood

• modern version of psychoanalytic perspective (Freud’s ideas)

Psych Perspectives Group Activity

Scenario: Fight Breaks out in the Cafeteria

Task: Explain how each of the 6 Contemporary Psychological Perspectives would explain the aggressive behavior

Psych Perspectives: Self-Assessment

• Think about it…Now that you understand each of the Six Contemporary Psych Perspectives, with which one/s do you most identify?

• Task: Write your name on each of your post-it notes and stick them on the perspective/s you feel are most accurate.

Careers in Psychology

What do psychologists do?

Basic Research

• research that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

• research for the sake of finding new information

Applied Research

• Aims to solve specific, practical problems rather than expanding the scientific knowledge base

Clinical Psychologist

• Diagnose and treat patients with psychological problems

• Largest number of professional psychologists