The Field of Psychology C HAPTER 1 I n this chapter we describe some of the efforts by scientists in the past to explore human nature.

Definition of Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. - blinking, breathing, thinking, learning, etc. Psychology uses theory to explain behavior -Why does it occur? -Since there are many different causes for different behaviors, this can be difficult

Research Psychology is concerned with the origins, causes, or results of certain behaviors. Applied Psychology makes direct use of information from researchers to solve problems. -deal directly with clients Research and Applied Psychology

What do psychologists do? Research psychology is concerned with nine major areas of study. They are:

What do psychologists do? I/OSports School Counseling Engineering Rehabilitation Clinical Applied psychologists use knowledge developed by experimental psychologists to solve human problems

Careers in Psychology

The History of Psychology Psychology began as philosophy - understanding behavior by using reason, not experiments Socrates: “The only thing I know is that I know nothing.” Greek Contributions: Psyche – the mind or soul Ology – the study of

The History of Psychology (cont.) Greeks believed the brain was a gland near the nose designed to “cool down” forces of life from heaven that entered the body White Layer Black Layer Yellow Layer Melancholy: personality comes from your blood; too much dark material makes you depressed and sad Too much yellow = bitter, angry & hot tempered Too much white = dull & sluggish

The History of Psychology (cont.) Bloodletting: using leeches and/or knives to pierce the skin in order to allow evil spirits to escape s: George Washington Astrology: prediction of human behavior by using the positions of planets and stars each day of the week is controlled by one of the seven planets (days of the week) “Humans are too ‘magical’ to understand - - we are in a world of unseen forces and magic numbers.”

The History of Psychology (cont.) 400 – 900 C.E. Dark Ages; civil wars broke out all over Europe & surrounding areas 900 – 1400 C.E. Middle Ages; freedom of thought is practically eliminated The Renaissance 1400 – 1700 C.E. Greek thought returns The earth is not the center of the universe; 1620 – circulation of blood proven correct Dissection: “Invasion of the body snatchers”

The History of Psychology (cont.) The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, Rembrandt The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, Rembrandt (1632)

The History of Psychology (cont.) Moving Toward Modern Times: Charles Darwin: 1800s; animals evolve and change according to climate

 Psychology Timeline Charles Darwin 1859 Wilhelm Wundt1879 William James 1890 Sigmund Freud1920 John B. Watson 1939

On the Origin of Species was published in His theory was that humans and animals had evolved and changed. His theory inspired scientists to study animals in order to understand human behavior. Charles Darwin

Wilhelm Wundt Wundt is referred to as the “father of psychology” because in 1879 he started the first laboratory in psychology for studying humans. He broke into parts the elements of feelings and thought. Using a procedure called “introspection” he introduced scientific procedure to study feelings.

William James In 1890, he published Principles of Psychology. The book was 1400 pages long, two volumes in length and it took him 12 years to write. Unlike Wundt, he did not want to break behavior into parts; instead, he never wanted to lose sight of the individual as a whole. James is considered to be one of the founders of American psychology.

Sigmund Freud Freud developed the first comprehensive theory of human development and behavior, especially how the personality develops. He believed that childhood memories and thoughts influenced the behavior of people when they became adults.

John B. Watson Watson studied the impact of learning on people. This led to the school of behaviorism. He believed that careful and structured parenting could eliminate psychological problems. Watson later wrote a book applying scientific methods to raising children.

Approaches to Psychology Biological Behavioral Psychoanalytic Humanistic Cognitive Sociocultural

The Biological Approach This approach looks at behavior as the result of biological factors such as brain chemistry, hormonal activity, and muscular responses. Biopsychological

The Behavioral Approach This approach emphasizes that behavior is primarily the result of learning and not due to a person’s thoughts and unconscious processes. People such as B. F. Skinner (pictured to the left) and John B. Watson are called behaviorists.

The Psychoanalytic Approach Sigmund Freud is associated with this approach. The view holds that our behaviors are the result of unconscious desires and impulses from childhood experiences.

The Cognitive Approach This approach holds that people can reason, analyze information, and formulate a solution to a problem. Rational thought can influence behavior. If thoughts change, behaviors will also change. ?

The Humanistic Approach Carl Rogers is the best known of the humanists. This approach emphasizes that people have free will, self-concepts and are basically good. Humanists believe that every person can fulfill his or her potential. Biopsychological

The Sociocultural Approach This approach looks at the impact that society, culture, ethnicity, race, and religion have on personality. Biopsychological