History of Psychology

Ancient Egypt Egypt showed evidence of brain surgery as early as 3,000 B.C. in papyrus writings found in Egypt. “Brain,” the actual word itself, is used here for the first time in any language The treatment was used for mental illnesses, epilepsy, headaches, organic diseases, neuropathy treatment, osteomyelitis, and for head injuries. Brain surgery was also used for both spiritual and magical reasons

Ancient Egypt The Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BC) mentions both depression and dementia. Pharaoh Psamtik I tries an experiment. (c. 620 BC) Psamtik’s experiment was to see if babies instinctively knew the Egyptian language. If they did, he would declare it the original language, and prove the antiquity of Egyptian culture. (They didn’t.)

“Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.” Ancient Greece “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.”

Plato Introspection

Aristotle Associationism We seek pleasure, and avoid pain.

Hippocrates “There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.”

Maybe it’s demons!

Wilhelm Wundt Structuralism The elements of consciousness are sensations (objective) and feelings (subjective) Set up the first laboratory

William James Functionalism Mental processes help us adapt Adaptive patterns become habits

Sigmund Freud

Freud’s Theories Much deeper introspection Unconscious motives Internal conflict It’s mostly about SEX Tools we can use: Psychoanalysis Hypnosis Free Association Interpretation of Dreams

Can Cognitive Processes be understood? Big Argument Time Can Cognitive Processes be understood?

Ivan Pavlov

Pavlov’s Dog

The Advent of Classical Conditioning

John B Watson Behaviorism Natural Science We are conditioned by external events. “Choice” is an illusion.

John B Watson He lost his professorship at Johns Hopkins for having an affair with a subordinate, then became an advertising consultant. He is “King of the Coffee Break” thanks to a Maxwell House campaign he created.

B. F. Skinner Stimulus – Response Positive & Negative Reinforcement

So, how is Operant Conditioning different? Classical Conditioning relies on the subject to involuntarily react to an association between two events. “When the bell rings, I will salivate because I expect to get food.” Dog Operant Conditioning relies on the subject to ACT in a way that will cause a specific result. “If I sit here quietly, Mr. Woody will like me, and my grade will be better.” Student

Operant Conditioning uses… REINFORCEMENT Positive: Add something desirable Negative: Remove something undesirable SCHEDULES Fixed or Variable Ratio or Interval PUNISHMENT Positive: Give you something you don’t want Negative: Take away something you DO want

Modern Schools of Thought PSYCHODYNAMIC Believes that behavior comes from unconscious drives and conflicts Studies childhood traumas and unfulfilled wishes for clues to current behavior Uses analysis, dream interpretation, and other unconscious evidence for information, and self-insight to move toward health

The Modern Schools of Thought BEHAVIORAL Believes that how we ACT is the key to who we ARE Wants to study, measure, and figure out the origins of our observable responses to stimuli Wants to know why we act the way we do, and the best ways to change behaviors that are diminishing our quality of life

The Modern Schools of Thought BIOLOGICAL Believes that the Brain and Nervous System allow our emotions, memories, and senses Uses CAT and PET scans to look for evidence, and looks at genes and hormones for clues Wants to know how the body’s elements produce the unique person we each become

Modern Schools of Thought COGNITIVE Believes that the way we acquire, process, store, and recall information explains our psychology Believes our Perceptions, Values & Choices lead to behaviors Studies our processes and beliefs to understand how we reason and solve problems, as well as why we act the way we do

Modern Schools of Thought HUMANISTIC Believes that we strive for love, acceptance, and self-fulfillment Places value on individual experiences, and believes self-awareness is vital to healing Studies feelings to see if impulses can be controlled, barriers overcome, and potential fulfilled

Modern Schools of Thought SOCIOCULTURAL Believes that humans are different largely because of social differences Studies the effects of ethnicity, gender, culture (both large-scale and family), and economics on human thought and behavior

Modern Schools of Thought LEARNING Believes that our experiences shape our behavior Believes that learning can be intentional, and that we can use it to shape our behavior and even change our environment Uses teaching techniques to help clients learn better practices

Modern Schools of Thought EVOLUTIONARY Believes that human adaptation to our environment has created our behaviors and thoughts Studies changes that occur in humans over time for clues to the reasons behind our thoughts and behaviors

Modern Schools of Thought BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL Gestalt theory developed by George Engel Believes that the only complete picture of a person must include all of the above ideas

Gestalt Think “whole” – it’s German for “shape” The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Problem-solving through Similarity Closure Insight Learning has purpose!