HISTORY & APPROACHESChapter 1: What is

Psychology?

PSYCHOLOGY

• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.1. Science: The use of systematic methods to observe the

natural world and to draw conclusions. ***Used to describe, predict, and explain behavior***

2. Behavior: Everything we do that can be directly observed.

3. Mental processes: The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experiences privately but that cannot be observed directly.

THINKING LIKE A PSYCHOLOGIST

•Critical thinking

•Skepticism

•Objectivity • Empirical Method: Gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the collection of data, and logical reasoning.

•Curiosity

HISTORY

•Philosophy + Physiology = Psychology• Philosophy and Physiology are the intellectual parents of Psychology• Philosophy: The study of the fundamental nature of

knowledge, reality, and existence.

• Physiology: The branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.

• Both explore the mind and body connection

WILHELM WUNDT(1832-1920)

•German physician, philosopher, and professor

•University of Leipzig

•Father of Psychology• Established psychology as an independent academic discipline in 1879

• Established the 1st psychology laboratory in 1879

• Established the 1st psychology journal in 1881

WILLIAM JAMES(1842-1910)

•American physician, philosopher, and professor

•Harvard University

• Father of American Psychology• Established one of the first psychology laboratories in America

• “Stream of consciousness”: The natural continuous flow of thoughts.***Psychology was born in Germany but grew up in America***

G. STANLEY HALL(1846-1924)

• American psychologist and professor

• 1st person to receive a Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard University in 1878

• Established the 1st psychology laboratory in America at Johns Hopkins University in 1883

• Established the 1st psychology journal in America in 1887

• Helped establish the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1892

• Became the 1st president of the APA in 1892

IMPORTANT WOMEN

Mary Whiton Calkins• (1863-1930)

• Studied under William James

• Harvard University refused to give her a Ph.D.

• Became the 1st women president of the APA in 1905

Margaret Floy Washburn

• (1871-1939)

• Studied under Edward Titchener

• 1st women to receive a Ph.D. in Psychology from Cornell University in 1894

• Became the 2nd women president of the APA in 1921

EARLY SCHOOLS OF PSYCHOLOGY

1. Structuralism• Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener

• WHAT

• What is the mind?

• Rigid/static view of the mind

• Focuses on the elements, components, parts, or structures of consciousness

• Introspection: The careful, systematic observation of one's own conscious experience.

2. Functionalism• William James

• WHY

• What is the mind for?

• Flexible/fluid view of the mind

• Focuses on the purpose, adaptive nature, or function of consciousness (AND behavior)

• Influenced by Charles Darwin’s principle of natural selection

APPROACHES

• The different theoretical perspectives that underlie explanations of behavior.

1. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic

2. Behavioral

3. Humanistic

4. Cognitive

5. Biological/Physiological

6. Sociocultural

7. Evolutionary

8. Biopsychosocial

PSYCHOANALYTIC/ PSYCHODYNAMIC

•An approach to psychology emphasizing unconscious thought, the conflict between biological drives and society's demands, and early childhood family experiences.

• Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

• 1900s

• Focuses on the unconscious, sex, aggression, early childhood conflicts

BEHAVIORAL

• An approach to psychology emphasizing the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants.

• John B. Watson (1878-1958)• Nature vs. Nurture

• B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) • “Free will is an illusion”

• 1913

• Focuses on observable behaviors, the environment, rewards and punishments, stimulus-response, determinism, experience, learning

HUMANISTIC

•An approach to psychology emphasizing a person's positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose any destiny.

•Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

•Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

• 1950s

• Focuses on free will, self-determinism, personal growth, self-actualization, self-concept

COGNITIVE

• An approach to psychology emphasizing the mental processes involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems.

• Jean Piaget (1896-1980)

• 1950s/1960s

• Focuses on information processing, mental processes: thinking, memory, problem solving, language

BIOLOGICAL/PHYSIOLOGICAL

•An approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system, to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion.

• James Olds (1922-1976)

•Roger Sperry (1919-1994)

•1950s/1960s

• Focuses on neuroscience, biochemistry, neurotransmitter, hormones, genes, twins

SOCIOCULTURAL

•An approach to psychology that examines the ways in which social and cultural environments influence behavior.

•Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)

•1980s

•Focuses on society, culture, ethnicity, social interaction

EVOLUTIONARY

•An approach to psychology centered on evolutionary ideas such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behaviors.

•David Buss (1953-)

• Leda Cosmides (1957-)

• 1980s/1990s

• Focus on adaptation, survival, reproduction

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL

• An approach to psychology that examines the ways in which biological factors, psychological factors, and sociocultural factors combine to influence behavior.

PSYCHOLOGY AS A PROFESSION

• Psychology became a profession in the 1950s after WWII

• Most psychologist today work in… • Academia- teach and do research at colleges and universities

• Mental health- diagnosis and treat psychological disorders and everyday behavioral problems• Clinical

• Private practice

• Applied psychology: The branch of psychology concerned with everyday, practical problems.

• The APA has 56 specific subfields of psychology

MAIN AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

• Clinical Psychology

• Cognitive Psychology

• Counseling Psychology

• Developmental Psychology

• Educational Psychology

• Forensic Psychology

• Health Psychology

• Human Factors

• Industrial–organizational Psychology

• Personality Psychology

• Physiological Psychology

• Psychometrics

• Social Psychology

• Sports Psychology

DIFFERENCES IN PRACTICECLINICAL

PSYCHOLOGIST• Psychologists who specialize

in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and everyday problems.

• Has a Masters or a Ph.D. in Psychology

• CANNOT prescribe drugs

PSYCHIATRIST• Physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.

• Has a Medical Degree (MD)

• CAN prescribe drugs