AP Unit 1 Approaches and History of Psychology

Psychology falls under the Behavioral Science. 1.1 Why Study Psychology? Psychology provides tools to help us gain insight into our own behavior, as well as our relationships with others. Definition of Psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychology falls under the Behavioral Science.

Psychological Needs are things like love, comfort, security Physiological Needs are physical Needs are things you have to have like food, water, sleep.

4 Goals of Psychology: 1. Description: the kid at the candy aisle is having a melt down. 2. Explanation: he wants the pretty candy 3. Prediction: He will get the candy 4. Influence: Wal-Mart knows that moms have already lost patience with their kids by the time they get to the checkout line so they put the candy there to get the kids to wear mom down to buy the candy. Description: The first goal of any scientist or psychologist is to describe or gather information about the behavior being studied and to present what is known. Explanation: Psychologists are not content stating the facts we seek to explain why people or animals behave as such. We use the scientific method. Hypothesis: educated guess about some phenomenon. (Researchers prediction about what the resuts of a study are expected to be. Theory: A Complex explanation based on findings from a large number of experimental studies. Prediction: is to predict future behaviors Influence: Influence behaviors

1. Description Learning about psychology can help you gain… a better understanding of your own behavior. knowledge about how psychologists study human and animal behavior. practical applications for enriching your life. fotosearch.com Example: The child throws a fit every time he goes to Wal-Mart and his mom says no by the candy aisle.

2. Explanation Psychology is Empirical that means information is obtained through observation and experimentation not common sense or guessing. http://lewweb.net/science/images/SMflowchart.jpeg moisiadis.com

3. Prediction By accumulating knowledge we are able to predict what people or animals will do or think in certain situations and predict future behaviors.

4. Influence Scientist seek to influence behavior in helpful ways. knychfamily.blogspot.com Chains like Wal-mart have done these scientific observations and place candy as you check out because when your kid is screaming sometimes it is easier to just buy the candy bar.

Basic Science/Research: Research Ex. Research on drug effects on the brain. Applied Science/Research: putting that research to use for a purpose Example: Using research on how drugs effect the brain to come up with a new antidepressant to help people suffering from depression. There are two types of science that influences psychology.

Empirical Science: knowledge originates in experience and that science should rely on observation and experimentation The scientific method is used to reduce errors and biases. A theory is a proposed explanation. In Psychology we will be studying different theories. Hypothesis is predicting a Relationship between variables

Greek for “False Science” Examples: Horoscopes, Astrology, Phrenology Pseudoscience Greek for “False Science” Examples: Horoscopes, Astrology, Phrenology 24medialabs.com Randy million dollar challenge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxHni1ggM1E scienceandsociety.emory.edu

Phrenology Phrenology led scientists to study the bumps on the head to determine human behavior Phrenology is considered a pseudoscience (False Science) sparkmuseum.com

Chapter 1.2: History of Psychology Aristotle and Plato (384-322 BCE.) Started asking how the mind and the body were related?? Were the separate or related?? Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience? en.wikipedia.org The Greeks

Rene Descartes “I think therefore I am” Dualism: the concept of the mind and body are separate and distinct. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKLrqxC70c plato.stanford.edu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEr8hnvzeHU

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) Theory of natural selection (1859) Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry Very controversial Keywords: Charles Darwin, natural selection Graphic: picture of Darwin pg. 8 of Gray

John Locke One of his major contributions was to the field of psychology and he is often called the “Father of English Psychology.” Wrote Tabula Rasa. Locke proposes that we are all born with certain knowledge and principles that helps us to become part of society. He states that it is through experience, of the world around us, this is how one forms ideas.  He further states that human knowledge is gathered in 2 distinct ways through sensation and reflection. Innate: Being born with it.

Who’s Your Daddy??? Wilhelm Wundt is the father of Psychology 3 Things you need to remember about your daddy: 1. Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany. 2. Changed psychology from a philosophy to a science. 3. Studied introspection. Introspection means looking within yourself. How do you feel about this or that. How does that rose make you feel? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWv3tQUY-9k

Broke down consciousness to basic thoughts. Wilhelm Wundt Structuralism vs. Broke down consciousness to basic thoughts. Picture a blade of grass. A structuralist might have lingered over the intensity of the green color of the blade of grass, the clarity of its texture, and the roughly rectangular shape of the blade. Introspection - self-observation of one’s own conscious experiences Functionalism Investigate the function, or purpose of consciousness rather than its structure James thought that we developed useful habits, such as washing our hands before eating because they help us function more effectively in our daily lives. William James (1842-1910) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTD3NxUyPvs

William James What you have two daddies William James What you have two daddies? Yes, one is your American Daddy. Known as the Father of American Psychology. You also need to know he wrote the 1st Psychology Book and Father of Functionalism.

“The whole is different than Gestalt Psychology “The whole is different than the sum of its parts.” Max Wertheimer (1880-1943) alexbinetti.wordpress.com

Can you read this? This is bcuseae the huammn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?

What is it?? We like to fill in the gaps so that we see objects as wholes.

Contemporary Psychology Psychology’s Perspectives A lot depends on your viewpoint Eclectic means that you use several of the theories to describe behavior. Psychoanalysis that is now called Psychodynamic Cognitive Behavioral Biological Socio-cultural Humanistic known also has Positive Psychology evolutionary

Sample Problem: Use this scenario to describe using the Contemporary Approaches how you would evaluate and treat The Hulk Problem:The hulk is constantly suffering from explosions of anger. tumblr_m41cmraCxR1qdj7w9

Evolutionary Perspective Focuses on Darwinism. We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors. Thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival.

Evolutionary Perspective?

Psychodynamic Psychology pg. 18 Sigmund Freud: Father of Psychoanalysis NOT psychology!!!! Also called Psychoanalytic. Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that determine behavior. Unconscious are motives that you are not aware of. For instance if someone with brown hair rejects you, then you might not talk to people with that color hair. Conscious are motives that you are aware of.

Psychoanalytic Psychology pg. 18 Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that determine behavior. Freud used the technique called free association He would say a word and you would say the first word that popped in your head and he would then analysis what is going on in your unconscious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz80yYvnWg4

Psychodynamic?

memory, perception, language, Cognitive Approach Cognition is the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing & using information Cognitive Psychologists return to the study of learning, memory, perception, language, development & problem solving Example: Is your boyfriend dumping you traumatic or do you just think it is therefore you are depressed? Or..your ability to do math compared to a 5 year old. You can understand abstract thinking that goes along with statistics. child-development-guide.com sciencedaily.com

Cognitive Approach

Cognitive Approach JEAN PIAGET 1896 – 1980 Worked in France administering Binet’s IQ test. Children do not think like adults. Why? Created 4 stages of cognitive ability that accurately explain the behavior of children. Influenced teachers and school system.

Cognitive

Biological Approach Sample Issues Focus How the body and brain create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences. Sample Issues Depression and antidepressants. Problems with thyroids. How are messages transmitted within the body? How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives?

Biological?

Scientific Psychology should focus on observable behavior. Behavioral Approach Scientific Psychology should focus on observable behavior. John Watson (1878-1958) B.F. Skinner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Rb9n_sQDg&feature=related Ivan Pavlov

Behavioral Approach

Social-Cultural Approach 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?

Socio-culutural?

Humanistic Approach also called Positive Psychology You have the potential to be great. Self Actualization. Feel Good approach. Client Centered Therapy Hierarchy of needs. Carl Rogers believed in “client centered therapy” Abraham Maslow came up with the Hierarchy of needs

Humanistic or Positive Psychology?

Fields of Psychology Psychologist is someone who is trained to observe and influence behavior in people. Psychiatrist is a medical doctor that can prescribe medicine.

Psychology’s Subfields Psychometrics Basic Research Developmental psychology Educational psychology Personality psychology Social psychology

Psychology’s Subfields Applied Research Industrial/organizational psychology Human factors psychology Counseling psychology Clinical psychology Psychiatry

Psychology’s Big Debate Nature Versus Nurture Where you born that way or did your environment make you that way? Superman?

Tips for Studying Psychology SQ3R Survey, Question, Read, Rehearse, Review. Study Tips Distribute your study time Learn to think critically In class, listen actively Overlearn Be a smart test-taker

Homework: #1. Go to: http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp Pick three colleges you are interested in and find out what you need to make on your AP exam to get credit. On one of your choices research how much a 3 credit class it. #2