Roots, History, Approaches

RootsEarly questions:

Connection between mind & body?Ideas – innate or experiential?“Psych” – mind; “ology” – study (Aristotle)

RootsEmpiricism

Francis Bacon/John LockeTabula RasaKnowledge – from experienceScience – rely on experimentation and

observation

DiscussionBased on your knowledge at this point,

should psychology be a science? Why/why not?

DevelopmentStructuralism

- Wilhelm Wundt – 1st psychology laboratory- Used introspection- Focus on basic elements of human mind- Describe experiences- Edward Titchener - expanded

Functionalism- William James – 1st psych lab outside of Europe- Used observation of human & animal behavior- How consciousness helps people adapt to environment

Wundt Titchener James

Psychoanalysis-Sigmund Freud- Used case studies -Behavior from mental processes-Many occur from unconscious level

Gestalt-Max Wertheimer; Wolfgang Kohler-Used observation-Organization of mental processes-“Whole is greater that the sum of its parts”

Behaviorism-John B. Watson; B.F. Skinner- Used observation of stimuli/responses- Learning most important determinant of behavior

KohlerWatson

Important PeopleG. Stanley HallHermann EbbinghausMary CalkinsCharles DarwinBeverly Inez Prosser

Cognitive – how person processes, perceives & how that relates to observable behaviors

Behavioral – how person was rewarded/punished, study person’s history; LEARNING & how relates to behaviors

Humanistic – how people perceive the world and how their choices reflect their perceptions; individual experiences

Biological – based on hormones, genes, & nervous system, especially brain

Psychodynamic/psychoanalytical – constant and mostly unconscious conflict causes mental processes & behaviors

Sociocultural – multicultural; varying behaviors across cultures and situations

Evolutionary – genes that are adaptive pass on via natural selection

DiscussionWhich of the approaches most represents

psychology as a science? Why?Which of the approaches least represents

psychology as a science? Why?Should psychology be considered a science?

TaskWork in small groups of 3-4. Create a

scenario that shows a behavior & explain how ONE of the approaches would explain that behavior.

DO NOT put your names on it. Make sure you can explain why it is that

approach.You have 7 minutes to complete this task.

• Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences?

• What are the interactions between genetics and environment?

• What effect does it have on behavior?

Stability versus changeAre traits consistent across the lifespan and different situations?

Rationality versus irrationalityHow are decisions made?

Nature and nurtureWhat are the relative contributions of biology and experience?

- Pure science or research-Research for the sake of finding new information and expanding the knowledge base of psychology

Biological psychologistsDevelopmental psychologistsCognitive psychologistsPersonality psychologistsSocial psychologists

Basic Research

- Research designed to solve specific practical problems

Applied Research

Industrial/organizational psychologistsCounseling/clinical psychologistsSchool psychologistsSports psychologists

Clinical Psychologist-Diagnose and treat psychological problems

ReviewWhere do most psychologists work?Which type of psychologist would most want

to be? Why?Which type of psychologist would you not

want to be? Why?

Think about . . . HomeworkWhat methods

psychology needs to use to be considered a science

Tools that different specialities of psychology would utilize

Complete approaches chart

Read pg 19-30 & 37-40; complete vocab

  biological behavioral cognitive humanisticpsychodynamic/ psychoanalytic

key theorists

         

key terms

         

key concept… you are like you are because

….