what is psychology? zthe science of behavior and the mind ybehavior - observable actions of a person...
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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 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
What is Psychology?
A set of questions about mental functioning trace back to philosophy Socrates (c. 470-399 B.C.) & Plato (c. 427-347
B.C)viewed mind as separate from the body & continuing after death; some ideas are inborn;
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Aristotle (c. 384-322 B.C.) viewed mind and body as connected; asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.; established the Lyceum; developed “deductive logic” through a system of “syllogism.”
Philosophical Developments
A Question: How are mind and body related?
Dualism - body and soul are separate but interrelated origins in medieval religion soul is seat of intellectual function and will mind is product of the soul
mind not subject to scientific inquiry
to challenge this was punishable by death
Philosophical Developments
A Question: How are mind and body related?
Rene Descartes (1596-1650) - modified dualism since animals have no soul, much behavior does
not require soul the body can therefore control much behavior
led him to study reflexes Dissected animals & identified “animal spirits” flowed through
the body and provoked movement
the soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human attribute
Philosophical Developments
Empiricism: knowledge and intellect are acquired John Locke (1632-1704) the mind at birth is a “white
paper” or blank slate (equal at birth…The Declaration of Independence!)
sensory experiences produce elementary ideas Science should rely on observation & experimentation
A Question: How are mind and body related?
Philosophical Developments
Another Question: 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
Foundations of Modern Psychology
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
Foundations of Modern Psychology
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
The division from physiology begins in the 19th century, yet connections remain today.
The Father of Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Leipzig, Germany (1879) 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
Other Pioneers
Edward Titchener (1867-1927) Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University Introspection- looking inward
William James (1842-1910) started psychology at Harvard in 1870s opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach functionalism – how people (animals) adapt to their
environment; influenced by Darwin
GestaltPerception is more than the sum of its parts- it involves a “whole pattern”
Max Wetheimer (1880-1943)
Wolfgang Kohler (1887-1967)
Disagreed with structuralism & behaviorism
Ex: you recognize a chair, not the individual components
Perspectives
Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena
Psychology has multiple perspectives biological psychoanalytic cognitive cross- cultural social
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Psychoanalytic
Psychology
-Austrian physician that focused on illness-interest in the unconscious mind-psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders-free association: list without filter or logicBelieved dreams are expressions of our unconscious urges
Behaviorism
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) Russian physiologist discovered conditioned reflexes , Pavlov’s dog
John B. Watson (1878-1958) Focus on observable behavior All behavior is conditioned; A-B-C Little Albert experiment
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) American psychologist at Harvard studied learning and effect of reinforcement behaviorism
Pavlov’s DogPavlov’s Dog
B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner
Phrenology: examining bumps on the skull to make predictions about behavior & intellect & character (19th century)
Biological Perspective
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
Cognitive Perspective
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
Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers 1960sbehavior reflects innate ‘actualization’ focus on conscious forces and self perception
More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s Individuals have freedom in directing his/her future and
achieving personal growth
Humanistic Perspective
Sociocultural Psychology
The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups (ethnicity, gender, culture, socioeconomic status, etc…)
How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture?
What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?
The Profession of Psychology
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)
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
OtherPsychology
15% Developmental 6%
Clinical36%
Biological andExperimental
16%
Industrial/Organizational 3% Social andPersonality 8%
Educational 3%
School 3%
Counseling 10%
Areas of Specialization
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%
Areas of Specialization 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%
Areas of Specialization
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%
Professional Work Settings
Colleges and universities
Clinical settingsElementary and
secondary schoolsBusinessGovernment
PrivatePractice
Government
Universities &College
Business& Industry
School
Employment Settings of Psychologists