Psychology and the ‘other’ Sciences… As mentioned, psychologists study behaviour – within this study, they are not alone in how they determine their findings… Psychologists draw on the findings of many other scientists, while at the same time scientists use psychological knowledge to aid in their work. The ‘other’ sciences of note include: Physics Chemistry Biology Anthropology Sociology

Psychology and the Sciences… Borrowed from the discipline of Physics, psychology uses a variety of instruments that measure bodily changes. Labs are found to have expensive electronic equipment such as electronic tubes and electron optics. From Chemistry, psychology has learned how the body’s chemistry relates to mood, performance, and personality disturbance. Chemists also have developed a variety of medications used in the treatment of psychological disorders. And finally, Biologists provide psychologists with information about the sense organs, the nervous system, and our glands. Further to this, biologists have uncovered a wealth of information about the brain – the basis for human behaviour.

But these Sciences lack something… While the information provided by the three major sciences has been more than valuable in the world of psychology, it lacks one needed quality… Psychology ALWAYS has one primary focus, science does not! A psychologist’s primary focus, unlike that of major members of other scientific communities, is behaviour. Social Sciences such as Anthropology and Sociology aid with this primary focus through their focus group materials.

Psychology & Anthropology Anthropology – the study of the culture, or the way of life, of people in different parts of the world Anthropologists provide psychologists with valuable information on how people learn and how they are affected by their surroundings. i.e. recognizing that male and female roles are culturally determined vs biological

Psychology & Sociology Sociology - the study of human groups. This science is the most closely related to many areas of psychology. While similar in scope, when narrowed down, there is one glaring difference between Sociology and Psychology… Sociology focuses on the behaviour of groups, while psychology focuses on the behaviour of individuals. Sociologists conduct research within their own culture: Topics include: family life, urban and rural living, crimes, and voting trends Psychologists use the information gathered within these group settings to base their research on…

There is an overlap… Psychology Sociology Social Psychology Psychology Sociology Social Psychology: Concerned with the effects of groups on the individual and how individuals think about other people. i.e. Study of leadership patterns that emerge in a group and the affect group behaviour (think sports teams, job settings, etc.)

Like Science, Psychology has a history… For your information, a quick review of where psychology has played a role in ancient civilizations… While not “studied” beyond the past 100 years (late 1800s), there is some evidence of speculated reasons for human behaviour & solutions to deal with it. Earliest developments: Stone age tried to grasp what made people “tick” or what made people act as they did. How did they deal with sickness (abnormal behaviour)? Drilled holes in skull to allow evil spirits to escape. (Remember, civilizations believed a great deal in good vs. evil spirits during these time periods)

History of Psychology cont. Ancient Egypt: Much like those in the stone age, Egyptians thought that human behaviour was the result of something inside of a human being. Believed in something known as ‘Ka’ They were in control of the person they inhabited. But who, or what controlled the Ka? ‘Ka number two’ of course… This went on as far as ‘Ka number seven’, but why stop there? Seven was a sacred number to Egyptians…

Ancient Greeks & Psychology Greeks tended to think that behaviour came as the result of philosophy rather than psychology. i.e. Plato thought that the mind and body = separate Aristotle however disagreed with this, he felt that the mind and body acted as one – one could not exist without the other Further to this Hippocrates believed that abnormal behaviour was the result of internal natural causes (disease etc.) or from an external cause (head injury). His theories were primitive, but are still used today at the root of modern medicine, Especially his theories on chemical imbalances.

The Middle Ages through 1600 & 1700’s If you were deemed “unstable” during the middle ages, good and evil spirits were (and their imbalance) likely to blame. Behave badly = possessed by demons Possessed by demons = exorcism 1600’s -1700’s, science came back into the picture Descartes proposed similar ideas to Aristotle & Hippocrates (mind + body = one) Psychology was back in the realm of science yet again…

What – and who – lead us to today… William Wundt: Started in 1879 Wanted to know more about human consciousness Developed two techniques Introspection (examine own thoughts) Experimentation (set forth structured procedures) His approach became known as structuralism He is referred to a ‘Wundt’

Next on the list… William James: First American to develop psychological study in his own country (Germany was place to be) Focused study on human brain function vs. structure How we adapt Father of functionalism

A third to speak of… Sigmund Freud: Late 1800’s in Austria Developed ‘psychoanalysis’ Human behaviour is based on feelings and wishes buried deep inside Used hypnosis, free association (say what you want), and dream analysis to get to the root of all man’s problems…

Also Important: Behaviourists & Gestalt Psychology Behaviourism is rooted in the belief that “our behaviour is totally rooted in our surroundings” They do not believe in the notion of ‘free will’ We do what we do not because we want to, but because we have been conditioned to… Gestalt Psychology follows the notion that our overall form, shape, or pattern of things is “determined by how people perceive or interpret” sensations around them… The whole is more important than the individual.