Introduction to Psychology Philosophical Foundations of the Psychological Sciences

What comes to mind when you think of psychology?

Common myths from psychological psuedo-science Our lives are determined by our childhood experiences (it’s all Mom’s fault) Our lives are determined by our childhood experiences (it’s all Mom’s fault) Our desires are hidden in our unconscious and emerge in our dreams Our desires are hidden in our unconscious and emerge in our dreams

Science can answer some questions but not others The best things in life are free. The best things in life are free. Shakespeare’s Richard III is a better play than Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s Richard III is a better play than Romeo and Juliet. The death penalty is wrong. The death penalty is wrong. There is a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. There is a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. Attitudes affect the course of cancer. Attitudes affect the course of cancer = = 4

Folk wisdom can be contradictory “Opposites attract” vs “birds of a feather flock together” “Opposites attract” vs “birds of a feather flock together” “Better safe than sorry” vs “nothing ventured, nothing gained” “Better safe than sorry” vs “nothing ventured, nothing gained” “Look before you leap” vs “he who hesitates is lost” “Look before you leap” vs “he who hesitates is lost” “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” vs “out of sight, out of mind” “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” vs “out of sight, out of mind”

True or False? Opposites generally attract Opposites generally attract We use only 10 percent of our brain power We use only 10 percent of our brain power If you don’t vent your anger you’ll ‘explode’ If you don’t vent your anger you’ll ‘explode’ Most of us suffer from low self-esteem Most of us suffer from low self-esteem Talking about your depression only makes it worse Talking about your depression only makes it worse Women crave chocolate when they have PMS Women crave chocolate when they have PMS

Psychology is: A set of questions A set of questions A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions A product of history A product of history

What is psychology? The science of behavior and mental processes The science of behavior and mental processes Also… Also… Explanation Explanation Understanding Understanding Scientific investigation Scientific investigation

Before Psychology: A classical view of the body’s control centers Liver  metabolic processes Liver  metabolic processes Heart  emotions & perception Heart  emotions & perception Brain  thought & reason Brain  thought & reason

Personality determined by bodily fluids The theory of Humors Black bile  moody Black bile  moody Blood  optimistic Blood  optimistic Yellow bile  hot-tempered Yellow bile  hot-tempered Phlegm  passive Phlegm  passive

Philosophical developments Descartes Descartes –Dualism: human body contains 2 distinct entities: Material body Material body Mind/soul Mind/soul –What separates man from animals is thought (which requires having a soul) Soul and mind are used interchangeably, here.Soul and mind are used interchangeably, here. Mind-body movie

Problems with Descartes How can a non-material entity (soul/mind) have a material effect on the body? How can a non-material entity (soul/mind) have a material effect on the body? How can the body follow natural laws, yet be moved by a mind that does not? How can the body follow natural laws, yet be moved by a mind that does not? Precludes a scientific investigation of the mind. Precludes a scientific investigation of the mind.

Hobbes: Materialism Basic axiom: everything (behavior, thought, etc.) can be understood in terms of the body’s physical processes, especially the brain. Basic axiom: everything (behavior, thought, etc.) can be understood in terms of the body’s physical processes, especially the brain. –Sort of the anti-Descartes –Paved the way for empiricism –Founder of materialism

Roots of Psychology Rationalism Empiricism Emphasis on theory Emphasis on data Philosophy Psychology Emphasis on reason and logic Emphasis on data

Willhelm Wundt Considered the founder of scientific psychology Considered the founder of scientific psychology Interested in the speed of mental processes Interested in the speed of mental processes –Used reaction-time tests to determine the amount of time it took to perform cognitive tasks. –Basis for cognitive psychology

Wilhelm Wundt "we learn little about our minds from casual, haphazard self-observation...It is essential that observations be made by trained observers under carefully specified conditions for the purpose of answering a well-defined question "we learn little about our minds from casual, haphazard self-observation...It is essential that observations be made by trained observers under carefully specified conditions for the purpose of answering a well-defined question

Experimental Psychology Begins with Structuralism Edward Titchener used methods such as introspection to develop a new school of thought that became known as structuralism. Edward Titchener used methods such as introspection to develop a new school of thought that became known as structuralism. The basic idea of structuralism is that conscious experience can be studied when it is broken down into its underlying components or elements. The basic idea of structuralism is that conscious experience can be studied when it is broken down into its underlying components or elements. Focused on sensation using introspection Focused on sensation using introspection

Rules of Introspection 1. Be impartial. Do not form a preconceived idea of what you are going to find by the experiment; do not hope or expect to find this or that process. Take consciousness as it is. 1. Be impartial. Do not form a preconceived idea of what you are going to find by the experiment; do not hope or expect to find this or that process. Take consciousness as it is. 2. Be attentive. Do not speculate as to what you are doing or why you are doing it, as to its value or uselessness, during the experiment. Take the experiment seriously. 2. Be attentive. Do not speculate as to what you are doing or why you are doing it, as to its value or uselessness, during the experiment. Take the experiment seriously. 3. Be comfortable. Do not begin to introspect till all the conditions are satisfactory; do not work if you feel nervous or irritated, if the chair is too high or the table too low for you, if you have a cold or a headache. Take the experiment pleasantly. 3. Be comfortable. Do not begin to introspect till all the conditions are satisfactory; do not work if you feel nervous or irritated, if the chair is too high or the table too low for you, if you have a cold or a headache. Take the experiment pleasantly. 4. Be perfectly fresh. Stop working the moment that you feel tired or jaded. Take the experiment vigorously. 4. Be perfectly fresh. Stop working the moment that you feel tired or jaded. Take the experiment vigorously.

What are the problems with the method of introspection? The problem with this approach is that experience is subjective. The problem with this approach is that experience is subjective. Each person brings to introspection a unique perceptual system, and it is difficult to determine whether subjects are using the criteria in a similar way. Each person brings to introspection a unique perceptual system, and it is difficult to determine whether subjects are using the criteria in a similar way. Accordingly over the course of time introspection was largely abandoned in psychology. Accordingly over the course of time introspection was largely abandoned in psychology.

Functionalism Addresses the Purpose of Behavior Functionalism, was more concerned with how the mind operates than with what the mind contains. Functionalism, was more concerned with how the mind operates than with what the mind contains. The mind came into existence over the course of human evolution, and it works the way it does because it is useful for preserving life and passing along genes to future generations The mind came into existence over the course of human evolution, and it works the way it does because it is useful for preserving life and passing along genes to future generations

William James and Functionalism Inspired by biology, Darwinism Inspired by biology, Darwinism What is the purpose of the behavior? What is the purpose of the behavior? –Focused on the purpose and function of the mind. Behaviors serve “adaptive” function Behaviors serve “adaptive” function Influenced by Darwin Influenced by Darwin Paid lip service to the experimental method, but relied on introspection Paid lip service to the experimental method, but relied on introspection

William James A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact. The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.

Gestalt Psychology Mind must be understood in terms of organized wholes, not parts. Mind must be understood in terms of organized wholes, not parts. –Looking at a duck, you first recognize it as “duck”, not a collection of wings, feathers, and a bill.

Gestalt Psychology Emphasizes Patterns and Context in Learning

Psychodynamic Approach  Founded by Freud  Emphasizes unconscious motivations (often sexual) & early childhood experiences

3 levels of mind Id Ego Superego

Behaviorism Took over psychology for the first half of the 20 th century Took over psychology for the first half of the 20 th century Experience “reinforces” behavior Experience “reinforces” behavior Possessed scientific qualities Possessed scientific qualities

Behaviorist Approach Skinner (“smiling”) Watson Rejected Freud’s dependence on unobservable phenomena Should study directly observable behaviors

 Displaced behaviorism  Focuses on ability to acquire, organize, remember, and use knowledge to guide behavior  Magic number 7 George Miller Cognitive Approach

Modern Psychology Return to cognitive psychology in late 20 th century Return to cognitive psychology in late 20 th century Cognition = mental processing Cognition = mental processing Fundamental cognitive abilities Fundamental cognitive abilities

Current fields in psychology Biopsychology Biopsychology Cognitive Cognitive Developmental Developmental Health Health Clinical Clinical Social Social Evolutionary Evolutionary

Psychological Science Crosses Levels of Analysis