What is Psychology?

The science of behavior and the mind behavior - observable actions of a person or

animal mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations,

perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences

science an objective way to answer questions based on observable facts / data and well described

methods

What is Psychology?

A set of questions about mental functioning trace back to philosophy Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions,

etc.

A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions the scientific method evolved over centuries, first in physics

A product of history philosophy asked many of the basic questions physiology used similar methods

Philosophical Developments

A Question: How are mind and body related?

Dualism - body and soul are separate but interrelated origins in medieval religion soul is seat of intellectual function and will mind is product of the soul

mind not subject to scientific inquiry

to challenge this was punishable by death

Philosophical Developments

A Question: How are mind and body related?

Rene Descartes (1596-1650) - modified dualism since animals have no soul, much behavior does

not require soul the body can therefore control much behavior

led him to study reflexes

the soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human attribute

Philosophical Developments

Materialism: Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) mind is a product of the brain soul is not involved in human behavior

Empiricism: knowledge and intellect are acquired sensory experiences produce elementary ideas elementary ideas become associated into complex

thought and ideas

A Question: How are mind and body related?

Philosophical Developments

Another Question: Empiricism vs. Nativism

Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are innate If knowledge is innate

What is the purpose of education? Can intellect be changed by experience?

Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences?

This is known as Nature vs. Nurture appears throughout modern psychology

Foundations of Modern Psychology

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) Theory of natural selection (1859)

physical characteristics evolve through natural selection

behavioral patterns also influence selection inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with

survival value are passed on

Human beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science

Foundations of Modern Psychology

Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry 19th century developments in physiology

demonstrated the approach to use based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory

experiments influential beliefs from early physiology

reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes localization of function - specific structures of the brain

serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior

Foundations of Modern Psychology

Separated from philosophy in 19th century influences from physiology remain

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Leipzig, Germany wrote the first psychology textbook applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind structuralism - identify ‘atoms’ of the mind

focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes measured reaction times

Other Pioneers

Edward Titchener (1867-1927) Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University

William James (1842-1910) started psychology at Harvard in 1870s opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach functionalism - influenced by Darwin to focus on how

behaviors help us adapt to the environment

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Austrian physician that focused on illness psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders

Other Pioneers

Alfred Binet (1857-1911) French intelligence researcher developed first intelligence test

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) Russian physiologist discovered conditioned reflexes

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) American psychologist at Harvard studied learning and effect of reinforcement behaviorism

Perspectives

Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena

Psychology has multiple perspectives ethological biological psychoanalytic cognitive cross- cultural social

Ethology

The study of animal behavior in the natural environment rather than in a lab setting

Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns

European approach to studying behavior founded by animal researchers, Lorenz and Tinbergen

Biological Perspective

Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior

Focus may be at various levels individual neurons areas of the brain specific functions like eating, emotion or learning

Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

Clinical Perspective

View of behavior based on experience treating patients

Psychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud ) both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind behavior reflects combinations of conscious and

unconscious influences drives and urges within the unconscious component of

mind influence thought and behavior early childhood experiences shape unconscious

motivations

Clinical Perspective

View of behavior based on experience treating patients Humanistic approach

developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogersbehavior reflects innate ‘actualization’ focus on conscious forces and self perception

More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

Cultural Psychology

The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups

How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture?

What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?

Cognitive Perspective

How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ?

Influences include Piaget - studied intellectual development Chomsky - studied language Cybernetics - science of information

processing

The Profession of Psychology

American Psychological Association had 52 divisions in 1998

Some represent areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical)

Some are applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

Areas of Specialization

Clinical abnormal behavior and

psychological disorders psychologist vs.

psychiatrist Health psychology

psychological factors in physical health

Counseling dealing with normal life

situations provide guidance

OtherPsychology

15% Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3% Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization

Developmental psychological change

over the life span social, cognitive,

personality School

counseling and guidance in school settings

Educational learning and teaching

OtherPsychology

15% Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3% Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization Psychobiology

brain and behavior studied at many levels often uses animals as

research model Experimental

basic laboratory focus animals or humans learning, memory,

motivation Cognitive

experimental human memory,

perception, etc.

OtherPsychology

15% Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3% Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization

Social social influences on

cognition and emotion attitudes and beliefs

Personality individual differences perception by others

Industrial/organizational people and work job satisfaction training and selection

OtherPsychology

15% Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3% Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

Professional Work Settings

Colleges and universities

Clinical settingsElementary and

secondary schoolsBusinessGovernment

PrivatePractice

Government

Universities &College

Business& Industry

School

Employment Settings of Psychologists