1

What is Psychology?The scientific study of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (inner thoughts

and feelings).

It is the science that strives to answer questions about how we think, feel and act as we do.

2

The Goals of Psychology…

Observe, describe, explain, predict and control behaviors or mental processes

through theories and research.

3

Early Days of Psychology

Structuralism

vs.

Functionalism

4

Early Days of Psychology

• First school of thought, broke down mental processes into basic parts.

• Wanted to learn about the building blocks of the conscious mind (like studying elements in chemistry)

• Used introspection – people look into themselves and report out what they felt about exterior stimuli

• Did not have credible results• Relied on internal behavior, which is not observable

and can’t be measured well

Structuralism

5

Structuralism• Studied elements of mind by

conducting experiments in Germany • Titchener established school based on his

work with Wundt• Sought to identify what the mind and

consciousness were

6

Early Days of Psychology

• Followed as response to Structuralism.• Real task of psychology – is to investigate the

function, or purpose of consciousness, not the structure

• Thinking develops because it adapts, so we need to study it over humans’ lives and along with the evolution of all people

• They developed longitudinal research; interviewing , testing and observing one person over a long period of time (watch development and how person reacts to different circumstances

Functionalism

7

Functionalism

•Influenced by Darwin •opposed structuralism.•Based on James’ ideas about psychology having practical applications to life•sought to identify how the mind and consciousness worked

8

Quietly, write down what you see here…

9

Gestalt• Also as a response to Structuralism• Focus is on perceptions and how we construct

perceptual wholes• Ex: perceptions of face rather than lines, colors• Understanding perception was means to

understanding the brain• Our mind fill in missing information (why flashing

lights appear to be moving)• The whole is greater than the sum of the parts

Early Days of Psychology

10

Gestalt

http://www.psychologynoteshq.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/phiphenomenon.gif

The phi phenomenon

11

Cube will trick your eyePerspective changesSee it as if from upper right Then shifts and appears as though you were seeing it from the lower leftOnce you see it change you wont be able to prevent it from alternating back and forth at random

12

Watson and Skinner:They emphasized the study of overt

behavior as subject matter of scientific psychology.

Watso

n (1

878-1

958)

Skin

ner (1

904-1

990

)Behaviorism

Contemporary Theories of Psychology

13

Freud:The importance of unconscious mind and its

effects on human behavior.

Contemporary Theories of PsychologyPsychoanalytic

14

Humanistic

Maslow and Rogers:They emphasized the environmental influences

on growth potential and need for love and acceptance.

)

Contemporary Theories of Psychology

15

16

Psychology’s Big Debate: Nature vs Nurture

•nature selects those that best enable organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Darw

in (1

809-1

882)

17

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Neuroscience (Brain)

How the body and brain enable emotions?

How are messages transmitted in the body? How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives?

18

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Behavior genetics

How much our genes and our environment influence our individual differences (studies on twins)

To what extent are psychological traits such as intelligence, personality, sexual orientation, and depression attributable to our genes? To our environment?

19

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Humanistic

Reaching one’s full potential by meeting a hierarchy of needs

How do self worth, realizing one’s full potential and self esteem affect our behavior?

20

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Psychody-namic

How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts?

How can someone’s personality traits and disorders be explained in terms of sexual and aggressive drives or as disguised effects of unfulfilled wishes and childhood traumas?

21

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Behavioral / Learning

How we learn observable responses?

How do we learn to fear particular objects or situations? What is the most effective way to alter our behavior, say to lose weight or quit smoking?

22

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Cognitive How we encode, process, store and retrieve information

How do we use information in remembering? Reasoning? Problem solving?

23

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Social-Cultural

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

How are we — as Africans, Asians, Australians or North Americans – alike as members of human family? As products of different environmental contexts, how do we differ?

24

Psychology’s Current Perspectives

Perspective Focus Sample Questions

Evolutionary How does natural selection and evolution influence behavior and personality

Why are facial emotions inherited?

25