Psychology Chapter 1 What is Psychology? Psychology’s Roots

For as long as people have been around… …they’ve been interested in studying themselves and others. Is this covered under my insurance?

Psychological Science is Born The first psychology experiments Leipzig, Germany1879 Wilhelm Wundt and his students attempt to study the “atoms of the mind” Experiment: How long for subjects to press a button after a ball drops.

Psychology’s early pioneers came from many disciplines Wilhelm Wundt – German philosopher & physiologist Charles Darwin – English naturalist Ivan Pavlov – Russian physiologist Sigmund Freud – Austrian physician Jean Piaget – Swiss biologist William James – American philosopher

William James William James was an American philosopher, and wrote the highly influential Principles of Psychology in 1890

A Man’s World? William James’ student, Mary Calkins, became the first female president of the APA Animal behaviorist Margaret Floyd Washburn was the first female psychology PhD (from Cornell) and the second female APA president

The Definition of “Psychology” For early pioneers, psychology was defined as “the science of mental life” This has evolved over the years as new perspectives were developed Behaviorism Freudian Psychology “Science of mental life” Humanistic Psychology Cognitive Revolution! Cognitive Neuroscience time

Behaviorism Behaviorism: The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without references to mental processes. You can observe behaviors, but not thoughts or feelings Today, most research psychologists agree with (1) but not (2) John B. Watson B. F. Skinner

Freudian Psychology Sigmund Freud was an Austrian physician Emphasized the importance of unconscious sexual conflicts and the mind’s defenses against its own wishes and impulses

Humanistic Psychology Humanistic Psychology emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual’s potential for personal growth. Humanistic psychologists (like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers) found Freudian and behaviorist psychology limiting. Drew attention to the ways that a loving, accepting environment can enhance personal growth.

The Cognitive Revolution In the 1960’s, a group of psychologists led the field back on the study of mental processes: how the mind perceives, processes, and remembers information –They sought to make this renewed study into a scientific discipline. Cognitive Neuroscience: the interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with mental activity (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

Psychology Today Today, we define psychology as the science of behavior and mental processes Behavior: the study of an animal’s observable actions” Mental processes: Internal states and events such as thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Note: Even mental processes are related to behavior: we infer feelings and thoughts from what someone says and does.

Contemporary Psychology What are psychology’s current perspectives? Perspectives range from biological to socio- cultural Settings range from laboratory to clinic Common goal: to describe and explain behavior and the mind underlying it

Psychology’s Subfields PsychologistWhat they do Biological Explore the links between brain and mind. Developmental Study changing abilities from womb to tomb. Cognitive Study how we perceive, think, and solve problems. Personality Investigate our persistent traits. Industrial- Organizational Study and advise on behavior in the workplace.

Psychology’s Subfields (cont’d) PsychologistWhat they do Counseling Help people cope personal and career challenges by recognizing their strengths and resources. Clinical Assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavior disorders Social Explore how we view and affect one another

Name that Psychologist! 1.Studying the different behaviors of women versus men. 2.Treats people with psychological disorders, like schizophrenia. 3.Studying the how family income level affects student learning. 4.Studying how babies learn to talk. A.Clinical B.Educational C.Developmental D.Social E.Experimental D. A. B. C.

Four Big Ideas in Psychology 1.Critical Thinking is Smart Thinking 2.Behavior is a Biopsychosocial Event 3. We Operate with a Two-Track Mind (Dual Processing) 4. Psychology Explores Human Strengths as Well as Challenges

Critical Thinking is Smart Thinking Critical Thinking: Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, uncovers hidden values, weighs evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Behavior is a Biopsychosocial Event Biopsychosocial approach: An integrated apprach that incorporates different but complementary views from biological, psychological, and social-cultural perspectives

Behavior is a Biopsychosocial Event

Behavior is a Biopsychosocial Event: Nature v. Nurture Nature-nurture issue: The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today, we see traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture

We Operate with a Two-Track Mind (Dual Processing) Dual Processing: the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks. Example: Visual Processing –Visual perception track enables us to recognize things and plan future actions –Visual action track guides our moment-to-moment actions

Psychology Explores Human Strengths as Well as Challenges Positive Psychology: the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive