introduction to psychology

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PSYCHOLOGY

The science of behaviour and cognitive processes.

Definition : Psychology is “the science of human and animal behaviour; it includes the application of this science to human problems.

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ROOTS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Predict what will happenSystematically observe eventsDo events support predictions

René Descartes(1596-1650)

Philosophy asks questions about the mind: Does perception accurately reflect reality? How is sensation turned into perception?

Problem - No “scientific” wayof studying problems

Physiology asks similar questions about the mind

SCIENTIFICMETHOD

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Psychology Is Born

Wilhelm Wundt(1832-1920)

First Experimental Psych Lab (1879)Focuses on the scientific study of the mind.

WW insists that Psych methods be as rigorousas the methods of chemistry & physics.

Wundt’s students start labsacross USA (1880-1900)

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Psychology (pre-1920)Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

Physiologist & Perceptual PsychologistFounder of Psychology as a Science

Experiments

Edward Titchner (1867-1927)Student of Wundt

Formed Y at CornellIntrospection

William James (1842-1910)Philosopher & Psychologist

Formed Y at Harvard

PsychologyUnderstanding

Mental Processes

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Structuralism vs Functionalism

William James(1842-1910)

Analyze consciousness into basic elements

and study how they are relatedIntrospection - self-

observationof one’s own conscious

experiencesInvestigate the function, or

purposeof consciousness rather than its

structureLeaned toward applied work

(natural surroundings)

Structuralism

Functionalism

Wilhelm Wundt

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BehaviorismScientific Psychology should focus on

observable behavior.

John Watson(1878-1958)

Ivan Pavlov

Psych the Science of Behavior

StimulusResponse

Psychology

Mental Processes cannotbe studied directly

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Psychology (1920s-1960s)

John B. Watson (1878-1958)Behavior without Reference to Thought

The RAT & S-R Psychology

B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)Behaviorism with a Twist

The PIDGEON & The Skinner Box

PsychologyScience of Observable

BehaviorBehaviorism

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KEY PERSPECTIVESBehavioural : overt behaviourCognitive : cognitive processes

i.e. memory, thought, reasoning & others

Biological : biological processes underlie behaviour

Evolutionary : evolved psychological mechanism

Developmental : changes in behaviour over life span

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Contd….Psychodynamic : unconscious

and internal processesSocial and cultural : social and

cultural factors

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Psychology and DiversityDiversity-“ Difference in the

behavior or characteristics of individuals from different cultures or ethnic group.”

Multicultural Perspective: in psychology an approach that pays careful attention to the effects of ethnic and cultural forces on behavior.

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Examples Russia more then 16000 women are

murdered by their spouse each year which is endorsed by some cultural values (Horne 1999) “Beat the wife for better cabbage soup”

Japan , cultural values view violence as appropriate form of discipline and punishment

So nature and cause of domestic violence must include careful attention of cultural factors.

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Evolutionary psychologyA branch of psychology suggesting that

as a result of evolution, human being possess many evolved psychological mechanisms that help (or once helped) us to deal with important problems relating to survival.

Evolution-Charles Darwin –3 basic components

VariationInheritance selection

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Variation – organisms vary in many ways

Inheritance- some of these variations are heritable

This is the crucial outcome of evolution

Selection- Variations that are adaptive become increasingly common in the population

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