Who Are We and How’d We get here? A Brief Explanation and History of Psychology

Today’s Agenda Attendance WebCT Announcement Need a syllabus? Test Time Announcement Oct 9th, 7:00pm History of Psychology

Seating Stay where you’re sitting over the upcoming weeks.

Participation Points 15 points for 20 activities 0.75 points each Full credit or no credit, usually Present = Full credit 5 points for 10 reading assessments 0.5 points each Graded Broad concepts from the reading

Monday’s Class Activity There was an activity!? Yes. What was it? Discussing maximizing the class. Can I make up the assignment? If you added after Monday’s class, Yes. If you had an excused absence, Yes. If you missed class for the sake of it, No. Will you always let us know when we miss activities? No. If you have an excused absence, it’s your responsibility to ask what you missed in class.

Testing Common Exams Class Schedule Test 1: Sunday, Oct 9th Choosing a time between 18:00-21:00. Room will be announced in class, as will alternative testing arrangements. Test 2: Monday, Nov 21st Time and room TBA. Class Schedule Will be on WebCT under Syllabus

Class Expectations I’m here to teach, You’re here to learn. Different motives for taking this course Ultimately, you should achieve a basic understanding of psychology and the ability to think like a psychologist. Not here to learn? That’s ok, but you need to fake it. Question I Hate #1: “Is this information important?”

Class Expectations Participate Read Study for Exams Come to class, take notes, engage in discussion/activities, ask questions Produce a satisfactory group project. Read Read the chapters before class. Study for Exams Review, re-review, and understand notes. Review the chapters. 10% of test questions come from information only found in the book. Dedicate adequate study time across multiple days.

Class Expectations Grades I recognize that grades are important to you. I want you to get a good grade. I really, really, really do. Tests, Assignments, and the Project are straightforward. Broad concepts and basic application Please don’t obsess about grades. If you focus on learning, you will get a good grade. If you Participate, Read, and Study, you will get a good grade. Question I Hate #2: “Will this be on the test?”

Layperson’s Psychology Before this course, what were your impressions of psychology?

Who’s Interested In Psychological Processes? Not just psychologists… Most (if not all) people are interested in basic psychological processes. Understanding Ourselves What makes us happy? Successful? Understanding Others Predicting how people will act/feel. The social nature of human beings.

What is psychology (as a field)? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Who is a psychologist? Someone holding a higher degree in psychology. - Master’s Degree - Ph.D. - Psy.D. - M.D. (Psychiatrist)

What are the areas of psychology? Take a look at your syllabus or the table of contents in your textbook…Each chapter is a separate (although related) psychological discipline (pg. 7).

Syphilis Testing In Guatemala The effects of Syphilis on brain processes Clinical Neuropsychology and Health Psychology The psychological ramifications of being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology The social ramifications of being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease Social/Cultural Psychology The effects of diagnosis across age groups Developmental Psychology The personality traits of unethical researchers Personality Psychology

The ‘ologies Sociology Anthropology The study of society. A focus on the whole. Psychology is focused on the individual in society. Anthropology A broad study of humanity. A stronger focus on human history. Also not focused on individual processes.

Psychology’s Roots

Psychology’s Many Parents Philosophy Physicians Mathematics The Arts

What to Know Psychology has a long, detailed history. Focus on important people and movements. Read the book for additional details. Most important things to know: Key people Key movements and milestones Key debates

Philosophy Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle Begun the Mind-Body Debate Socrates and Plato believed these to fundamentally separate and different. The mind was not physical. One's skills and knowledge level were inherent. Aristotle believed the two were connected. A greater emphasis on observation and experience These things determined knowledge/skills.

Decartes 2000 years after Aristotle Dualism Location of the Soul Mind as distinct from body Innate skills/knowledge/ideas Location of the Soul Body-As-Pump Spirits travel through tubes to deliver information Insight about nerves

The Philosophy of Science John Locke More in line with Aristotle than Decartes Tabula Rasa Blank Slate Humans are born blank. Heavy emphasis on experience and the environment. Nature Nurture Debate Francis Bacon Inductive Reasoning Laws should be based on observation

Birth of Empiricism Knowledge is based on experience Science should rely on observation and experimentation

Psychology is Born What marked the birth of psychology? Wilhelm Wundt opens the first psychology laboratory in 1879 in Germany. Simple studies Often used just oneself Often focused on one's senses Reaction time studies

Structuralism Focused on uncovering the fundamental mental components of consciousness and mental states Main tool: Introspection Thinking about what one is experiencing in detail. What do people experience when they smell a flower? Founder: Wundt Follower: Titchener

Functionalism A focus on the functions of mental activity How it helps people adapt to their environment. What is the function of smell/fear/smiling/aggression? Founder: William James Established U.S. Psychology and wrote first textbook.

1900-1960 Psychdynamic Perspective (Freud) A focus on the influence of unconscious forces on thoughts, emotion, and behavior. 1900-1920 Behaviorism (Watson, Skinner) Observable, measurable behavior is important Internal processes were largely ignored. 1920-1960

1960-Now Humanistic Perspective (1950s/1960s/1970s) Individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior Focus on free will and humans' “good nature.” Maslow and Rogers Cognitive Perspective (1960s-Now) Focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world. Testable internal processes