History & Perspectives Psychology History & Perspectives

Psychology = Science of behavior and mental processes A specific way of asking and answering questions. Any action that is observable and thus recordable. Internal experiences such as sensations, dreams, thoughts, and feelings

How? Kidnapped 2 infants from a lower class mother. Not spoken a word. Results Children first said “becos” a Phrygian word for “bread”

Life Before Psychology Philosophy asks questions about the mind: Does perception accurately reflect reality? How is sensation turned into perception? Problem - No “scientific” way of studying problems René Descartes (1596-1650) Physiology asks similar questions about the mind Predict what will happen Systematically observe events Do events support predictions SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Founders John Locke (1600’s) Experience shapes the mind “Tabula Rasa” or blank slate Charles Darwin (mid-1800s) His idea of natural selection says that nature chooses those characteristics or behaviors that best enable an organism to survive. This helped explain why organisms behave the way they do.

Psychology Is Born First Experimental Psych Lab (1879) Focuses on the scientific study of the mind. WW insists that Psych methods be as rigorous as the methods of chemistry & physics. Wundt’s students start labs across USA (1880-1900) Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) University of Leipzig Harvard University Yale University Columbia University Catholic University Univ of Pennsylvania Cornell University Stanford University

Looking inward will show us structure! Structuralism Introspection was a technique used in which subjects report in response to stimuli (red light). Introspection means to look inside oneself. If we can understand the building blocks of basic processes, we will be able to put it together to understand complex processes. Edward Titchener came to the U.S. and used Wundt’s approach.

Functionalism How do people function? William James, the first American psychologist, felt that structuralism was too limited. Founded functionalism, which studied how complex mind processes evolve because of life preserving functions. He studied not only observations, but how mental processes, emotions, and self-concept worked to influence behavior.

Structuralism vs Functionalism Analyze consciousness into basic elements and study how they are related Introspection - self-observation of one’s own conscious experiences Wilhelm Wundt Functionalism Investigate the function, or purpose of consciousness rather than its structure Leaned toward applied work (natural surroundings) William James (1842-1910)

Early Psychologists Mary Calkins (1863-1930) was one of James’ students at Harvard. She became the first woman to earn a PhD in Psychology at Harvard, but never received it. She later became the 1st female President of the APA.

Different Perspectives in Psychology Psychoanalytic Psychology Biological Psychology Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Social-Cultural Psychology

Freud & Psychoanalysis Proposes the idea of the UNCONSCIOUS Thoughts, memories & desires exist below conscious awareness and exert an influence on our behavior Unconscious expressed in dreams & “slips of the tongue” Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Psychoanalytic Theory attempts to explain personality, mental disorders & motivation in terms of unconscious determinants of behavior

Psychology (pre-1920) Psychology Understanding Mental Processes Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Physiologist & Perceptual Psychologist Founder of Psychology as a Science Experiments Edward Titchner (1867-1927) Student of Wundt Formed Y at Cornell Introspection Psychology Understanding Mental Processes William James (1842-1910) Philosopher & Psychologist Formed Y at Harvard

Mental Processes cannot Behaviorism Scientific Psychology should focus on observable behavior not introspection. Mental Processes cannot be studied directly Psych = the Science of Behavior John Watson (1878-1958) Stimulus Response Psychology

Behaviorist Perspective Ivan Pavlov used conditioning of dogs to show that behavior is learned. The dogs were conditioned to salivate when a tone was sounded.

Psychology (1920s-1960s) Behaviorism Psychology Science of Observable John B. Watson (1878-1958) Behavior without Reference to Thought The RAT & S-R Psychology B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) Behaviorism with a Twist The PIGEON & The Skinner Box

Behavioral/Clinical Perspective Focus How we learn from observable responses. How to best study, assess and treat troubled people. Sample Issues How do we learn to fear particular objects or situations? What is the most effective way to alter certain behaviors? What are the underlying causes of: Anxiety Disorders Phobic Disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Biological Perspective Our behavior is a result of our physiological processes and biological development. Study psychological effects of genes, hormones, activity of the nervous system and the brain.

Biological Perspective Focus How the body and brain create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences. Sample Issues How do evolution and heredity influence behavior? How are messages transmitted within the body? How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives?

Cognitive Psychologists return to the study of learning, Cognitive Psychology Cognition the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing & using information Cognitive Psychologists return to the study of learning, memory, language, development & problem solving Noam Chomsky “Language” Advent of computers (late 1950s) provides a new model for thinking about the mind

Cognitive Psychology (1960s-1990s) Science of Behavior & Mental Processes Cognitive Y Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) The Dynamic Unconscious Mind Psychoanalysis Computers as Metaphor for Mind Study Mind through Inferences Drawn From Observable Behavior

Cognitive example Shoe Sandwich Fruit Blouse Pants Potato Soup Skirt

Cognitive Example Count backward from 100 by threes. Write down the list of words from before. Shoe Sandwich Blouse Fruit Pants Potato Skirt Soup Did you categorized them? This is a basic finding of cognitive psychologists.

Cognitive Perspective Focus How we process, store, and retrieve information. Sample Issues How do we use info in remembering and reasoning? How do our senses govern the nature of perception? (Is what you see really what you get?) How much do infants “know” when they are born?

Social-Cultural Perspective Focus How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures. Sample Issues How are we, as members of different races and nationalities, alike as members of one human family? How do we differ, as products of different social contexts? Why do people sometimes act differently in groups than when alone?

Behavior is Shaped by Culture Personal Space Value of Education Punctuality Social Norms

Influence of Heredity & Environment Nature versus Nurture

Humanistic Perspective This perspective emphasizes the unique qualities of humans. Free will, self-concept, and self-fulfillment are emphasized. People are naturally positive and growth seeking. Ex. - desire for love, self-esteem, acceptance, etc.

The Biopsychosocial model Takes into account all of the perspectives. Views biological processes (genes, brain functions, etc.) psychological factors (learning, thinking, emotion, etc.) and social forces (family, school, culture, etc.) as interrelated influences.

Work In Psychology (?) Elementary/ Universities & Secondary Colleges 27.2% Elementary/ Secondary Schools 4.2% Independent Practice 33.1% Hospitals, Counseling, Clinics, etc. 22.3% Business, Government or Consulting 12.1%

Specialties In Psychology General/Quantitative 3.6% Cognitive/Physio 5.2% Clinical, Community & Counseling 51.1% I/O 5.7% Social/ Developmental 6.4% Other 8.6% Ed & School 19.4%

Assessment What was Wundt’s technique of asking subjects to respond to stimuli? Who developed the theory of natural selection that influences how we behave? James’ school of thought that stressed how the whole process of behavior works? Who was the first female president of the APA? Who was the founder of Psychodynamics? What perspective focuses on the person’s perspective of the world? What perspective draws the other perspectives together? Which perspective studies genetics and the brain? What perspective focuses on the processing of information? What perspective focuses on the whole picture?