introduction, history, the six psychological perspectives
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction, History, The Six Psychological
Perspectives
Psychology
• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
– Uses scientific research methods.
– Behavior includes all observable behavior.
– Mental processes include thoughts, feelings and dreams.
Modern Psychology’s Roots
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
• “father of psychology”
• founder of modern psychology
• opened the first psychology lab in 1879
E.B. Titchener
• founder of structuralism (1st perspective)
• goal: understand the structure of conscious experience by analyzing its parts
Structuralism
• studied the basic elements (structure) of conscious experience
Gestalt Psychology
• the whole (conscious experience) is different from the sum of its parts.
• integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.
William James
• first American psychologist
• author of the first psychology textbook
• founder of Functionalism
Functionalism
• study the functions of consciousness: how consciousness helped people adapt to their environment
Sigmund Freud
• founder of psychoanalytic perspective (personality)
• abnormal behavior originated from unconscious drives and childhood conflicts
• used personal observation & reflection instead of controlled lab experiments
Freud’s Influence(don’t have to write this, just f.y.i.)
• Influence on “pop culture”– freudian slips– anal-retentive
• Influence on psychology:– psychodynamic theory – modern version of
Freud’s ideas– importance of unconscious thoughts– significance of childhood experiences
Ivan Pavlov
• Russian Physiologist
• studied learning in animals• created an interest in the study of observable
behaviors
John B. Watson
• founder of behaviorism
• studied only observable and objectively describable acts
• emphasized objective and scientific methods
B.F. Skinner
• Behaviorist
• Focused on learning through rewards and observation
Humanistic Psychology
• focus on conscious experience and individual’s free will
• healthy individuals strive to reach their potential
• humans are not solely controlled by rewards and reinforcements
Six Contemporary Psychological Perspectives
What’s a perspective?
• Method of classifying a collection of ideas
• Also called “schools of thought”
• Also called “psychological approaches”
• Don’t write this bullet: Example – Whether you help a student who has dropped their books in the hall. Why do some help when others don’t?
6 Contemporary Psychological Perspectives
Perspective Focus Behavior is Explained by…
Cognitive
Biological
Social-Cultural
Behavioral
Humanistic
Psychodynamic
Cognitive Perspective
• Focus: how people think and process information
• Don’t write this bullet, just think about it (Forerunners – Structuralism, Functionalism, & Gestalt Psychology)
• behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situation
Biological Perspective
• Focus: how our biological structures and substances might cause a given behavior, thought, or emotion
• behavior is explained by brain chemistry & structure, genetics, hormones, glands, etc.
Social-Cultural Perspective
• Focus: how thinking and behavior change depending on the setting or situation
• behavior is explained by the influence of other people present
*review
Behavioral Perspective
• Focus: how we learn through rewards, punishments, and observation
• behavior is explained by previous learning
Humanistic Perspective
• Focus: how healthy people strive to reach their full potential
• behavior is explained as being motivated by satisfying needs (safety, hunger, thirst, etc.), with the goal of reaching one’s full potential after basic needs are met.
Psychodynamic Perspective
• Focus: how behavior is affected by unconscious drives and conflicts
• behavior is explained through unconscious motivation and unresolved inner conflicts from one’s childhood
• modern version of psychoanalytic perspective (Freud’s ideas)
Psych Perspectives Group Activity
Scenario: Fight Breaks out in the Cafeteria
Task: Explain how each of the 6 Contemporary Psychological Perspectives would explain the aggressive behavior
Psych Perspectives: Self-Assessment
• Think about it…Now that you understand each of the Six Contemporary Psych Perspectives, with which one/s do you most identify?
• Task: Write your name on each of your post-it notes and stick them on the perspective/s you feel are most accurate.
Careers in Psychology
What do psychologists do?
Basic Research
• research that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
• research for the sake of finding new information
Applied Research
• Aims to solve specific, practical problems rather than expanding the scientific knowledge base
Clinical Psychologist
• Diagnose and treat patients with psychological problems
• Largest number of professional psychologists