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Psychology: Definitions & HistoryPsychology: Definitions & History
PsychologyPsychology
DefinitionsDefinitionso From Greek word “psyche” to “talk about From Greek word “psyche” to “talk about
the self”the self”
o The science of behavior and mental The science of behavior and mental processes research to obtain knowledge processes research to obtain knowledge about the human mindabout the human mind
o Explains mental functions and underlying Explains mental functions and underlying processesprocesses
• What is behavior?What is behavior?
Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology
ClinicalClinicalo Assessment and treatment individuals with chronic Assessment and treatment individuals with chronic
mental disorders or psychological crises (OCD, mental disorders or psychological crises (OCD, PTSD, grief)PTSD, grief)
o Can focus on specific group to treat (autistic Can focus on specific group to treat (autistic children), or more generally (addiction, relationship children), or more generally (addiction, relationship issues, and anxiety)issues, and anxiety)
o Licensing and APA-sanctioned internship required to Licensing and APA-sanctioned internship required to practicepractice
DevelopmentalDevelopmentalo Study of how we develop intellectually, emotionally, Study of how we develop intellectually, emotionally,
and how we change and grow over the lifespanand how we change and grow over the lifespan
Branches of PsychologyBranches of Psychology
Industrial/OrganizationalIndustrial/Organizationalo Explore relationships between individuals and Explore relationships between individuals and
their work environmenttheir work environmento Leadership trust, increase productivity, involved Leadership trust, increase productivity, involved
in staffing/personnel selectionin staffing/personnel selection
SocialSocialo Individual and group behavior, attitudes, Individual and group behavior, attitudes,
addiction, persuasion, gender issues, self-addiction, persuasion, gender issues, self-esteem, motivation, personality, market esteem, motivation, personality, market research, etc.research, etc.
Cognitive/ExperimentalCognitive/Experimentalo Study learning, memory, sensation/perceptionStudy learning, memory, sensation/perception
PsychologyPsychology
• Scientific psychology = Empirical research Scientific psychology = Empirical research studiesstudies
o ““Basic research” to build psychology’s knowledge Basic research” to build psychology’s knowledge basebase
o Cognitive, developmental, abnormal, social Cognitive, developmental, abnormal, social psychologypsychology
• Applied psychology = “Real world” Applied psychology = “Real world” psychologypsychology
o Clinical, sport, or industrial/organizational Clinical, sport, or industrial/organizational psychology, market research… psychology, market research…
Psychiatry vs. Psychotherapy vs. Psychiatry vs. Psychotherapy vs. Psychoanalysis?Psychoanalysis?
Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology
• Psychiatry Psychiatry == branch of medicine concerned with branch of medicine concerned with mentalmental disorders; psychiatrists are disorders; psychiatrists are medical doctors medical doctors who prescribe who prescribe medication medication
• Psychotherapy Psychotherapy = a form of treatment = a form of treatment emphasizing emphasizing communicationcommunication
• Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis = Freudian theories/techniques = Freudian theories/techniques emphasizing unconscious conflict emphasizing unconscious conflict
PsychologyPsychology
What makes psychology scientific?What makes psychology scientific?• Like all science, psychology follows the Like all science, psychology follows the
empirical methodempirical method
• Data + theory = knowledgeData + theory = knowledge
• Empiricism = Empiricism = Observation, objectivity, Observation, objectivity, precision, precision, experimentation, etc. experimentation, etc.
PsychologyPsychology
HistoryHistory
• Origins of psychology are rooted in philosophyOrigins of psychology are rooted in philosophyo Free will vs. DeterminismFree will vs. Determinism
• Plato vs. Aristotle (Ancient Greece)Plato vs. Aristotle (Ancient Greece)o PlatoPlato – – Personality/characteristics inheritedPersonality/characteristics inheritedo AristotleAristotle – – Nothing in the mind that does not Nothing in the mind that does not
originate from originate from
external world via the sensesexternal world via the senses
• Locke vs. Descartes (1600s)Locke vs. Descartes (1600s) o LockeLocke – – Mind blank slate at birth; knowledge Mind blank slate at birth; knowledge
comes via senses comes via senses o DescartesDescartes – – Knowledge Knowledge notnot dependent on sense dependent on sense
experiencesexperiences
• James (1875)James (1875)o American physicianAmerican physiciano Wrote classic psychological text Wrote classic psychological text Principles of Principles of
PsychologyPsychology
• Wundt (1879)Wundt (1879)o German physicianGerman physiciano EmpiricismEmpiricism: : science flourishes via science flourishes via
observation/experimentationobservation/experimentation
• Watson (1900s)Watson (1900s)o Founder of Behaviorist movementFounder of Behaviorist movemento BehaviorismBehaviorism: Ignore mental states and focus only on : Ignore mental states and focus only on
what is observable (behavior); the mind as a what is observable (behavior); the mind as a “black box”“black box”
HistoryHistory
• PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysiso FreudFreud (1890s) (1890s)
• Emphasized unconscious drives (sex and aggression) Emphasized unconscious drives (sex and aggression) as root of all behavioras root of all behavior
• Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychologyo Rogers/Maslow Rogers/Maslow (1950s-1960s)(1950s-1960s)
• Emphasized free will; the ‘great reservoir’ of human Emphasized free will; the ‘great reservoir’ of human potential potential
• Focused on optimal development rather than Focused on optimal development rather than negativesnegatives
• Cognitive Revolution Cognitive Revolution (1960s)(1960s)o Focused on perception, processing, retrieval of Focused on perception, processing, retrieval of
information, how memory works, decision making, “the information, how memory works, decision making, “the mind as a computer”, human cognitionmind as a computer”, human cognition
HistoryHistory
Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs