Psych 120General Psychology

Christopher GadeOffice: 1030A

Office hours: MW 4:30-5:30Email: gadecj@gmail.com

Class MW 1:30-4:30 Room 2240

A Brief History of Psychology

Why do we need to know the history of psychology?

To know why our famous historical figures thought the way they did, and addressed the topics for which they became famous.

To sound intelligent when we discuss psychology with our friends.

To get an idea of why current areas of psychology exist today. History is the witness that testifies to the passing

of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.

Cicero Pro Publio Sestio

The Beginning Psychology’s roots come from the field of

philosophy. Within the early conception of this field, a number of key issues were often addressed. Three of the major ones were… The mind/body/brain problem

Are the mind, brain, and body independent of each other?

Blank slate dilemma Are humans born preprogrammed with behaviors and

knowledge or not?

Free will versus determinism Do we have consciousness, or are we automatons

responding to stimuli in our environment?

Socrates (469-399 BC)

Often cited as one of the first psychologists. Most of what we know of him was from one

of his “students” Plato. Supposedly addressed the concept of the soul in

his dialogues, suggesting that it was separate from the body. This concept was later defined as “dualism”.

Most likely believed that morality and intelligence were things that were contained within the human at birth (innate).

Best known for his attempts to study ideas through his “Socratic Method” of teaching.

Aristotle (384-322 BC) The “intellectual grandson” of Socrates. Studied under Plato at the Academy. Well renowned for his attempts to study a

large spectrum of topics, not just philosophy. Pushed for a more scientific attempt to

understand the world and the mind. “theory must follow fact”

*Came to conclude that the soul was inseparable from the body.

*Reasoned that our intelligence is not preexisting, but instead result from experiences.

Our Modern World of Psychology Wilhelm Wundt

(pronounce voondt) Established the first

“psychological” laboratory in Leipzig, Germany (1879).

Measured different types of sensory and physiological responses to stimuli.

keys example Disney movies

example “What are the

components of experience, or mind?”

Edward Titchener Student of Wundt’s Moved to the US and began

teaching at Cornell University in 1892

Started an area of research labeled as “structuralism” The study of the basic elements

and structures that compose the mind.

The majority of his research was done through a form of research called introspection* Orange example *This was originally designed by

Wundt, but was used extensively by Titchener in his research

William James Best known for his introduction of

the concept of “functionalism” in psychology. “Don’t concern yourselves with the parts

and structures of the mind and brain, instead ask: what is the purpose behind the actions of our mind?”

The eye example Wrote THE most influential book in the

field of psychology: The Principles of Psychology (1890)

Sigmund Freud His theories made the field of psychology

not only popular with the majority of thepopulation, it also made it “sexy”.

Introduced his ideas of the subconscious, repression, and psychoanalysis in his book “The Interpretation of Dreams (1900)”.

Despite his many shortcomings, a number of his ideas and methodologies are still in circulation today (though most of them have been either restructured, or entirely removed from popular psychology).

A Move to Behaviorism (1920’s) A few years after Freud made

psychology popular, a push within the psychological community shifted the focus of the science in an entirely different direction. “The mind is too vast, our measurements

too limited, and our perceptions to vague and biased to truly understand the function of our minds through measurement.”

Many view this change as both an adjustment to the times, and a reaction to the changing appearance of the field.

The Cognitive Revolution (1970’s)

Behaviorism, though very helpful in a number of areas, cannot explain everything. motivation latent learning language acquisition

New forms of measurement (EEG, fMRI) have also begun to separate the field of psychology away from a strictly behaviorist approach.

Today’s Modern World of Psychology

Today’s definition of psychology

Current goals, concerns, and debates

Different areas of psychology

What you can do with a degree in psychology

Until the previously mentioned work of Wilhelm Wundt (1879), the field of psychology was never physically established. At that time, and until the 1920’s, psychology was linked to philosophy and defined as “the scientific study of the mind.”

After the behavioral movement of the 1920’s, psychology = “the study of behavior.”

After the cognitive revolution of the mid to late 1900’s, psychology = “the systematic study of behavior and experience.” This definition of “psychology” is

considered the current definition of the field.

The Goal of Psychologist Despite what you may be hoping for,

psychologists are not able to “control” human behavior.

Their goal is to understand and define how the mind and body play roles in our interpretations, desires, approaches, and behaviors.

Current Concerns and Debates Mind/brain/body

problem

Stability versus change Theory of

evolution Learning versus

genetics Crystallized versus

static abilities

Current Concerns and Debates (cont.) Free will versus determinism

Determinism: the belief that everything that happens has a cause.

Note: this has both a behavioral and a theological underpinning.

Free will: the belief that a person’s behavior is caused by their own independent decisions.

Rationality versus irrationality of the human race “Most people would sooner die than think; in

fact, they do so.” Bertrand Russell

Nature versus nurture Recall that this was disputed already even

during the time of Plato and Aristotle (Tabula Rasa).

Different Areas of Psychology Biological Psychology Evolutionary Psychology Motivation Psychology Cognitive Psychology Behavioral Psychology Personality Psychology Developmental Psychology Social Psychology Cultural Psychology Industrial/Organizational

Psychology Clinical Psychology

But, what do psychologists do? With a BA or a BS:

not much in the area of psychology

With an MA: Ergonomics, teaching, I/O,

marketing, counseling, sales, forensics, research

With a higher degree (PhD, PsyD, etc.) Research, teaching, clinical

work

Different Types of Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychologist Psychiatrist Psychoanalyst Clinical Social Worker Counseling Psychologist Forensic Psychologist

What you need to know… Most of today’s topics in psychology can

be traced back to much earlier roots. Today, psychology is defined as “the

systematic study of behavior and experience.”

There are still a number of highly debated topics in the field of psychology.

There is a wide array of different topics that psychologists address.

Psychologists can be found in a large variety of different occupational fields.

Research in Psychology Methods and concerns of

psychologists that conduct research.

Types of experiments that are conducted in the field of psychology.

The Need for a Scientific Method The majority of our earliest psychological

theories were based on speculation or poorly designed experiments. This was bad for several reasons.

1. Many of the established “rules” of how the mind worked were contradictory with each other

“why do we save money” example

2. Psychology quickly acquired the reputation as being something of a pseudoscience.

3. There was a lack of ability to prove and disprove theories.

“Little Green Men” example

The Scientific Push In Psychology How do today’s psychologists (good

ones) test that a concept in psychology is true? They DON’T

Today’s researchers conduct studies in order to attempt to prove that certain theories are not true.

Disprove other theories “No observation can prove a theory to be correct,

the only purpose of research is to find which theories are incorrect.”

Karl Popper Note: by disproving other contradictory

theories helps support their own theories

So how can we argue for anything to be true if we only try to disprove theories? Induction: The

process of inferring a general principle through multiple observations.

Statistical significance

Replication for higher credibility

How We Explain Observations? Today’s psychologists

strive to create theories that are: Disprovable (AKA

falsifiable) Little Green Men

Replicable Parsimonious - Results

should be explained through the most consistent and simplest conclusion that can be drawn in the context of the situation.

Clever Hans Example

Key Statistical Concepts in Psychology Where we conduct

research: Laboratories Field studies Case studies Questionnaires Simulations

Types of samples: Convenient Random Representative Cross-cultural

Types of research: Oservational Correlational Experimental (causal)

Q: Why do we need to know about all of this?

A: To make us better consumers of would-be facts that we’re exposed to every day.

*Note: This doesn’t mean that different practices and beliefs that aren’t obtained through this form of scientific study are wrong. But you want to be more cognizant of the short-comings of these methods of research when they are presented to you in the future.

Live long and prosper!