Introduction to Psychology Psychology Defined Major schools of thought and perspectives in psychology.

How Much Do You Know About Psychology? Once damaged, brain cells never work again. All people dream during a night of normal sleep. As the number of bystanders at an emergency increases, the time it takes for the victim to get help decreases. Humans do not have a maternal instinct. It’s impossible for human beings to hear a watch ticking 20 feet away. Eyewitness testimony is often unreliable. Chimpanzees have been taught to speak. Creativity and high intelligence do not necessarily go together. When it comes to close personal relationships, opposites attract. The majority of teenagers have a good relationship with their parents. 1.1 What process do scientists use to answer questions about behavior and mental processes? Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychology Defined: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Psychology’s Roots The roots of psychology lie in philosophy and physiology. Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany and is considered the father of scientific pyschology.

Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) German physiologist Wilhelm Wundt is generally credited as being the founder of psychology as an experimental science. In 1879, he established the first psychology research laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. By the early 1900s, many American students had come to study at Wundt’s facilities, which now occupied several floors at the university. By that time, Wundt’s research had expanded to include such topics as cultural psychology and developmental psychology.

Structuralism First formal school of thought in psychology Edward Titchner The task of psychology is to investigate the basic elements of the conscious mind and examine how these elements are related. introspection

Edward B. Titchener (1867–1927) Born in England, Titchener studied with Wundt in Germany and then became a psychology professor at Cornell University in 1892. In contrast to the psychology programs at both Harvard and Columbia Universities at the time, Titchener welcomed women into his graduate program at Cornell. In fact, more women completed their psychology doctorates under Titchener’s direction than with any other male psychologist of his generation (Evans, 1991).

Functionalism An early school of psychology concerned with how humans and animals use mental processes to adapt to their environment. William James: first American psychologist

William James (1842–1910) Harvard professor William James was instrumental in establishing psychology in the United States. In 1890, James published a highly influential text, Principles of Psychology. James’s ideas became the basis of another early school of psychology, called functionalism, which stressed studying the adaptive and practical functions of human behavior.

Schools of Thought in Psychology Behaviorism: John Watson & B. F. Skinner Psychoanalytic theory: Sigmund Freud Humanism: Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow Cognitive perspective: George Miller Evolutionary perspective: David Buss

Behaviorism Views observable, measurable behavior as the appropriate subject matter. Emphasizes the key role of environment as a determinant of behavior. Helped establish psychology as a science. Founded by John Watson B. F. Skinner

Ivan Pavlov (1849–1936) John B. Watson (1878–1958) B. F. Skinner (1904–1990) Three Key Scientists in the Development of Behaviorism Building on the pioneering research of Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, American psychologist John B. Watson founded the school of behaviorism. Behaviorism advocated that psychology should study observable behaviors, not mental processes. Following Watson, B. F. Skinner continued to champion the ideas of behaviorism. Skinner became one of the most influential psychologists of the twentieth century. Like Watson, he strongly advocated the study of observable behaviors rather than mental processes.

Psychoanalytic Theory The unconscious is the primary focus of psychoanalytic theory. Freud believed that the unconscious is the storehouse for material that threatens the conscious life of the individual. Influential in psychology (modified form) though research volume diminishes.

Humanism Focuses on the uniqueness of human beings and their capacity for choice, growth, and psychological health. Rejects behavioral and psychoanalytic views. Emphasizes positive view of human nature. Important in research on human potential (Maslow) Carl Rogers: developed client-centered therapy

Carl Rogers (1902–1987) Abraham Maslow (1908–1970) Two Leaders in the Development of Humanistic Psychology Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow were key figures in establishing humanistic psychology. Humanistic psychology emphasized the importance of self-determination, free will, and human potential. The ideas of Carl Rogers have been particularly influential in modern psychotherapy. Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation emphasized the importance of psychological growth.

Cognitive perspective Views humans as active participants in their environment. Studies mental processes: Memory Problem solving Decision making Perception Language

Evolutionary Perspective Examines psychological traits, such as memory, perception or language, from a modern evolutionary perspective. Studies how humans have adapted the behaviors required for survival in the face of environmental pressures.

The Evolutionary Perspective The evolutionary perspective analyzes behavior in terms of how it increases a species’ chances to survive and reproduce. Comparing behaviors across species can often lead to new insights about the adaptive function of a particular behavior. For example, humans, monkeys, and apes are all members of the primate family. Close bonds with caregivers are essential to the primate infant’s survival—whether that infant is a golden monkey at a wildlife preserve in northern China or a human infant at a family picnic in Norway. As you’ll see in later chapters, the evolutionary perspective has been applied to many different areas of psychology, including human relationships, mate selection, eating behavior, and emotional responses (Caporael, 2001).

Sociocultural approach View that the cultural and social factors may be just as powerful as evolutionary and physiological factors in affecting behavior and mental processes.

Cultural Differences in Subway Norms Like thousands of commuters in the United States, many commuters in Tokyo take the subway to work each day. In Japan, however, commuters line up politely behind white lines on the subway platform and patiently wait their turn to board the train. White-gloved conductors obligingly “assist” passengers in boarding by shoving them in from behind, cramming as many people into the subway car as possible. Clearly, the norms that govern subway-riding behavior are very different in American and Japanese cultures.