Intro to Psychology and its History
History of Psychology, Types of Psychologists
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes
Mental processes: what the brain does when we think, remember, feel, etc.
Behavior: outwardly observable acts of an individual, alone, or in a group.
What is Psychology?
The Goals of PsychologyDescribeExplainPredictControl mental processes and behavior.
The experimental study of behavior and the practical applications that arise from them
A very broad and interdisciplinary field
Brief History of PsychologyEarliest roots: philosophyE.g., Descartes
What is the mind? Is it different from the body?Cartesian dualism – “I think, therefore, I am.” Wilson’s corollary: “I tell jokes, therefore I am.”
Studied reflexes – That which can’t be explained by reflexes must be mind.
Focused on the existence of mind
Toward a Scientific Psychology: Biology
Pierre Flourens - Experimental AblationRemoved parts of
animals brains and noted the efffects.
Case of Phineas Gage
Scientific Study of Psychology: Structuralism (ca 1870’s -1900)
Wilhelm Wundt – the father of psychologySet up the first psychology lab in 1879.Created the approach of structuralismWanted to know what the structure of the mind wasUsed introspection
Edward Titchener – student of Wundt, introduced experimental psychology to the USA.
Functionalism (ca 1880’s – current)
Arose in protest to the private mental events studied by structuralists
Focused on the process of conscious activity
Had its roots with evolution. How is a particular behavior adaptive?
William James: Not what mind does, but why it does it
Became incorporated into all of psychology
Gestalt Psychology
School of thought that emphasized the total experience of the individual and not just parts of the mind or behavior
The whole is greater than the sum of its partsWanted to stay away from reductionismLacked scientific rigor and was displacedMajor influence in sensation and perceptionWhat images or patterns do you see in the
next two slides?
Psychoanalysis
Sigmund FreudFocused on the causes and treatment of
emotional disturbances, and particularly the unconscious.
Assumed that psychological maladjustment is a consequence of unresolved conflict
Important in the history of psychotherapy
Behaviorism (ca 1915 – current)
Rejected mental events.Psychology should only study observable
and verifiable events.John Watson – Father of behaviorism.Simplicity; belief in reductionism.
Stimulus – responseUsed animals (pigeons and rats)
B. F. SkinnerDominated psychology for over 50 years.
The Cognitive Revolution (mid 1970’s)
A return to the studies of the mind and how it worked
The computer largely influenced theories of the mind.
Study of perception, representation, decision making, memory, etc.
Evolutionary Psychology
Relies heavily on concepts of Darwinian evolution.
Traits and behaviors exist because they were selected during evolution.Individuals who possessed the particular trait had
a reproductive advantage on individuals who did not.
Behaviors exist for a reason.
Compare human behaviors with other animals. Comparative psychology.
Behavioral Neuroscience (1990’s especially)
The “Decade of the Brain”
Technological advances
Goal is a biological explanation of behavior.
P Positron emission tomography
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) lets us view activity in the brain as it happens
Behavioral Genetics (2000’s)
How does our genetic makeup influence our behavior
Encouraged by newer technologies and developments
Human genome project
Level of analysis is the gene
Types of Psychologists
Experimental vs. Applied
Experimental: Use the scientific method to uncover principles of psychology.
Applied: take the principles and apply them to help others
Biological psychology – also called physiological psychology, neuroscience, neuropsychology
Studies how the brain works. How does it produce the behavior that we show?
How are things learned in the brain? How are emotions generated?
Often studies animals and cases of brain damage
Very interdisciplinary
Learning / Animal Behavior
Very influenced by behaviorism
Study how animals (including humans) learn.
Comparative psychology / evolutionary psychology
Based around evolution – how has behavior evolved.
Learning / Animal Behavior
Compares behavior between species
Some examples of study include:
The evolution of emotion Chimpanzees and
language Animal problem solving
Cognitive psychology– study of the mind Emphasizes internal mental processes
Emphasizes the importance of cognitive processes, such as perception, memory, and thinking
Social psychology - study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others
Study attitudes, conformity, helping behavior, and others, such as:
Why does Bob like Diet Coke?
How does a jury reach a verdict?
Developmental psychology – studies how behavior changes over time
Studies children – lifespan approach
How do we change as we age? When do infants start walking? What can be done to help children that are
not thriving. Is it healthy for teens to vent to their
friends?
Applied Psychologists
Clinical – PhD in clinical psychology Tries to help individuals suffering from psychological
maladjustment Uses psychotherapy to treat psychological disorders E.g., treat depression, anger management, etc.
Psychiatry – MD or DO – branch of medicine that specializes in psychological disorders
Can prescribe medication to help alleviate a problem
May also use psychotherapy E.g., treat depression, anger management, etc.
Counseling psychologyVery similar to clinicalTypically deal with healthier individuals
career and vocational assessment
Industrial / Organizational Seek to apply psychological principles to practical
problems of education, industry, marketing, etc.E.g., implement leadership programE.g., Help companies get the most out of
employees
School psychologist – help children in schoolAddress things like:
Learning disabilitiesAttention-deficit disorderBehavioral disorders
Sport psychologist – applies psychological principles to improve athletic performance
Forensic psychologist - applications of psychological knowledge to the understanding of crime and criminal justice
Study abnormal psychology
Personality psychology
Social psychology
Ethics
Immoral studiesExperiments in Nazi GermanyOther studies in the US and around the world
Research with humans and animals must now be carefully reviewed.
All research must be approved by an institutional review board (IRB).IRB’s consist of both scientists and people in the
community.The IRB considers the risks and benefits of each
research proposal and decides if it should be performed.
Requirements with Human Research
1. Must have informed consent.2. Be advised of the possible risks and benefits
of the procedure.3. Be told that they can withdraw from the study
at any time without being penalized.4. After the experiment, participants must be
debriefed.5. Deceiving participants is approved only when
the participant will not be harmed and knowledge gained outweighs the use of dishonesty.
Research with Animals
All research with animals must have the approval of an IRB.
The IRB ensures that:1. Animals are housed properly2. Animals are not mistreated.3. Researchers may not cause animals pain unless
that is what is explicitly being studied and there are potential benefits to humans of inflicting pain.
Labs may also inspected by USDA, OSCA (Occupational Safety Councils of America), and must have a veterinarian in charge of care.
PETA may also have an eye on laboratories.