what is psychology? zthe science of behavior and the mind ybehavior - observable actions of a person...

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 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

What is Psychology?

A set of questions about mental functioning trace back to philosophy Socrates (c. 470-399 B.C.) & Plato (c. 427-347

B.C)viewed mind as separate from the body & continuing after death; some ideas are inborn;

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Aristotle (c. 384-322 B.C.) viewed mind and body as connected; asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.; established the Lyceum; developed “deductive logic” through a system of “syllogism.”

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



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 Dissected animals & identified “animal spirits” flowed through

the body and provoked movement

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


Empiricism: knowledge and intellect are acquired John Locke (1632-1704) the mind at birth is a “white

paper” or blank slate (equal at birth…The Declaration of Independence!)

sensory experiences produce elementary ideas Science should rely on observation & experimentation



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

The division from physiology begins in the 19th century, yet connections remain today.

The Father of Psychology

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Leipzig, Germany (1879) 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 Introspection- looking inward

William James (1842-1910) started psychology at Harvard in 1870s opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach functionalism – how people (animals) adapt to their

environment; influenced by Darwin

GestaltPerception is more than the sum of its parts- it involves a “whole pattern”

Max Wetheimer (1880-1943)

Wolfgang Kohler (1887-1967)

Disagreed with structuralism & behaviorism

Ex: you recognize a chair, not the individual components

Perspectives

Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena

Psychology has multiple perspectives biological psychoanalytic cognitive cross- cultural social

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Psychoanalytic

Psychology

-Austrian physician that focused on illness-interest in the unconscious mind-psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders-free association: list without filter or logicBelieved dreams are expressions of our unconscious urges

Behaviorism

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) Russian physiologist discovered conditioned reflexes , Pavlov’s dog

John B. Watson (1878-1958) Focus on observable behavior All behavior is conditioned; A-B-C Little Albert experiment

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

Pavlov’s DogPavlov’s Dog

B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner

Phrenology: examining bumps on the skull to make predictions about behavior & intellect & character (19th century)

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

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

Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers 1960sbehavior reflects innate ‘actualization’ focus on conscious forces and self perception

More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s Individuals have freedom in directing his/her future and

achieving personal growth

Humanistic Perspective

Sociocultural Psychology

The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups (ethnicity, gender, culture, socioeconomic status, etc…)

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

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

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%


Developmental psychological change

over the life span social, cognitive,

personality School

counseling and guidance in school settings

Educational learning and teaching

OtherPsychology


Clinical36%


16%


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


Clinical36%


16%


Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%


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


Clinical36%


16%


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

what is psychology? zthe science of behavior and the mind ybehavior - observable actions of a person...

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