Approaches to Psychology

Psychology’s Biggest Question Nature – Nurture Issue Biology versus experience History Greeks Rene Descartes Charles Darwin Natural selection

Approaches to Psychology Concept Map

What are approaches to psych? Approaches are lenses through which to explain human behavior Biological Evolutionary Behaviorism Cognitive Psychodynamic Humanism Gestalt Social Outline

Biological Psychology This approach to explaining human behavior and mental processes focuses on biological mechanisms and structures. It looks to such things as the brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, drugs (both legal and illegal), and genetics. Outline 6

Biological Psychology is Observable Here is a view of how massive cell loss changes the whole brain in advanced Alzheimer's disease.  Outline 7

Evolutionary Psychology Explains human behavior by looking at what made us most likely to survive/reproduce Language – How did communication make us more likely to survive? Altruism – Why are we nice to each other if this is just about survival of the fittest? Sexual attraction – Is there a reason certain aspects of a person are considered ‘attractive’ Why not sexy elbows? Outline 8

Why do we find blue eyes attractive? Our Pupils dilate when we are excited. We get excited when we are next to someone we like. It is easier to see the dilation of the pupil in someone with blue eyes. This has become a beauty standard because those with blue eyes are easier for us to know how they feel about us. Outline 9

Behaviorism This approach only studies observable human BEHAVIOR. It focuses on how we: LEARN (or are conditioned) React to our environment Since you can not observe the mind, behaviorists see it as a BLACK BOX. Can’t see it? Don’t study it. Big names Pavlov – Dogs Watson – Little Albert Skinner – Operant Conditioning Outline 10

This is odd behavior, right? Avoid Punishment? Reward Would you do it?

Cognitive Psychology School of psychology that studies mental processes Thinking, feeling, remembering, making decisions/judgments and language Studies how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information. Studies behavior and makes inferences about the mental processes behind the behavior Thanks to new technologies like CAT scans, MRIs and fMRIs, we can open the black box. Outline 12

Gestalt Psychology Gestalt is a German word that means “the whole” This approach to psychology looks at how your perceptions of the world come together to form your whole perception. This perception is often greater than the sum of its parts.

Gestalt Psychology

Psychodynamic Psychology Personality theory that says behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts The Unconscious is a dynamic cauldron of primitive drives, forbidden desires and nameless fears. It drags us down. Psychoanalysis – patient lies on a couch and recounts dreams and conducts free association. Sigmund Freud Outline 15

Psychodynamic = Unconscious

Humanistic Psychology School of psychology that emphasizes the means of realizing one’s full human potential Importance of love, belonging, human potential, and self-esteem. Abraham Maslow Not mainstream, more a cultural and spiritual movement. Outline 17

More concerned about moving up Outline 18

Social Psychology Study of how people influence one another Topics include: First impressions Interpersonal attraction Attitude formation Prejudice Behavior in a group Obedience to Authority Some Applications include: Support groups Family Therapy Sensitivity Training Outline 19

Conformity

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