Psychology’s History and Approaches Unit I

Psychology Scientific study of behavior and mental processesScientific study of behavior and mental processes Behavior: any action/reaction of a living thing that can be formally observedBehavior: any action/reaction of a living thing that can be formally observed Mental processes: internal processes (ex: thinking, feeling, desiring) that can only be indirectly observedMental processes: internal processes (ex: thinking, feeling, desiring) that can only be indirectly observed

Psychology’s perspectives Early Approaches

Structuralism The analysis of the basic elements that make up the mindThe analysis of the basic elements that make up the mind Involved breaking consciousness down into sensations and feelingsInvolved breaking consciousness down into sensations and feelings Utilized introspection – subjective observation of one’s own experience Utilized introspection – subjective observation of one’s own experience Developed by William Wundt (c. 1879)Developed by William Wundt (c. 1879) Legacy:Legacy: Launched psychology as an independent scienceLaunched psychology as an independent science Influenced field for remainder of 1800sInfluenced field for remainder of 1800s

Criticisms:Criticisms: Introspective method lacks ability for replicable observationsIntrospective method lacks ability for replicable observations

How would you describe the taste of this apple? Can you use introspection to describe schizophrenia?

Functionalism The study of the purpose (or function) mental processes serve in allowing people to adapt to their environmentThe study of the purpose (or function) mental processes serve in allowing people to adapt to their environment Developed by William James (c. 1890)Developed by William James (c. 1890) Inspired by Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection – features of an organism that help it survive and reproduce are more likely than others to be passed on to future generationsInspired by Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection – features of an organism that help it survive and reproduce are more likely than others to be passed on to future generations

James believed mental abilities evolved b/c they were adaptive (helped people solve problems)James believed mental abilities evolved b/c they were adaptive (helped people solve problems) Functionalism became a dominant approach by 1920Functionalism became a dominant approach by 1920

Structuralism vs. Functionalism “Describe the emotion of fear.” “How does fear enable humans to adapt to the environment?”

Psychoanalytic Psychoanalytic theory –emphasizes the importance of unconscious mental processes in shaping feelings, belief, and behaviorsPsychoanalytic theory –emphasizes the importance of unconscious mental processes in shaping feelings, belief, and behaviors Developed by Sigmund Freud (c. 1900) with Carl Jung and Alfred AdlerDeveloped by Sigmund Freud (c. 1900) with Carl Jung and Alfred Adler Criticisms:Criticisms: Required exploration of person’s early sexual experiences/unconscious sexual desiresRequired exploration of person’s early sexual experiences/unconscious sexual desires Emphasis was on limitations and problems rather than possibilities and potentialsEmphasis was on limitations and problems rather than possibilities and potentials Ideas were difficult to testIdeas were difficult to test

Gestalt Emphasizes that we often perceive the whole rather than the sum of its partsEmphasizes that we often perceive the whole rather than the sum of its parts Developed by Max Wertheimer (c. 1924)Developed by Max Wertheimer (c. 1924)

Modern approaches to Psychology

How can we learn about this pigeon?

The Behavioral Perspective (1930s – 1950s) Psychologists should restrict themselves to the scientific study of o bjectively observable behaviorPsychologists should restrict themselves to the scientific study of o bjectively observable behavior Developed by John WatsonDeveloped by John Watson Influenced by Pavlov's work with dogsInfluenced by Pavlov's work with dogs Watson influenced B.F. Skinner (c. 1938)Watson influenced B.F. Skinner (c. 1938)

“Skinner Box” “Teaching Machine”

Criticisms:Criticisms: Ignored mental processesIgnored mental processes Ignored evolutionary history of organismsIgnored evolutionary history of organisms

The Humanistic Perspective Emphasizes the whole person and the positive potential of human beingsEmphasizes the whole person and the positive potential of human beings People are free agents who have a need to develop, grow and reach their full potentialPeople are free agents who have a need to develop, grow and reach their full potential Influenced by Carl Rogers and Abraham MaslowInfluenced by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow Peaked in 1960Peaked in 1960

The Psychodymnamic Perspective Emphasizes the importance of unconscious influences but places less emphasis on sexual instinctsEmphasizes the importance of unconscious influences but places less emphasis on sexual instincts Approach to therapy emphasizes repressed memories, free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of transferenceApproach to therapy emphasizes repressed memories, free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of transference

The Biological Perspective Studies the physical (body and brain) bases of human and animal behaviorStudies the physical (body and brain) bases of human and animal behavior

The Cognitive Perspective Scientific study of mental processes, including perception, thought, memory and reasoningScientific study of mental processes, including perception, thought, memory and reasoning Early influences: Sir Frederic Bartlett (c. 1932) and Jean Piaget (1960)Early influences: Sir Frederic Bartlett (c. 1932) and Jean Piaget (1960) Aided by the advent of the computerAided by the advent of the computer Cognitive neuroscience linked cognitive process to brain activityCognitive neuroscience linked cognitive process to brain activity

The Sociocultural Perspective Focuses on how culture and social situations affect our behavior and thinkingFocuses on how culture and social situations affect our behavior and thinking

The Evolutionary Perspective Explains mind and behavior in terms of the adaptive value of abilities that are preserved over time by natural selectionExplains mind and behavior in terms of the adaptive value of abilities that are preserved over time by natural selection Criticisms:Criticisms: Many traits probably evolved to serve different functions than those they currently serveMany traits probably evolved to serve different functions than those they currently serve

What is the evolutionary purpose of jealousy? Is ability to drive the result of natural selection?

So you want to major in psychology…

Psychology vs. Psychiatry Psychologist (Ph.D, Psy.D)Psychologist (Ph.D, Psy.D) Counseling psychologist - helps people cope with lifeCounseling psychologist - helps people cope with life Clinical psychologist - assess and treats mental, emotional and behavioral disordersClinical psychologist - assess and treats mental, emotional and behavioral disorders Psychiatrist (M.D.) - medical doctor who can prescribe drugs and treat physical causes of psychological disordersPsychiatrist (M.D.) - medical doctor who can prescribe drugs and treat physical causes of psychological disorders

Other Fields biological – workings of the brain, nerves, body, sensationsbiological – workings of the brain, nerves, body, sensations cognitive – higher level brain processes like language, thinkingcognitive – higher level brain processes like language, thinking developmental – changing abilities from womb to tombdevelopmental – changing abilities from womb to tomb educational – influences on teaching and learningeducational – influences on teaching and learning experimental – conducts research studies to further psychological knowledge baseexperimental – conducts research studies to further psychological knowledge base forensic- legal issues, criminal minds, insanityforensic- legal issues, criminal minds, insanity

human factors - ergonomics, workplace safety, human error, product design, human capability and human-computer interactionhuman factors - ergonomics, workplace safety, human error, product design, human capability and human-computer interaction industrial-organizational – psychological principles in industry and businessindustrial-organizational – psychological principles in industry and business personality – studies how people differ from each otherpersonality – studies how people differ from each other psychometric – measurement of human abilities, attitudes and traitspsychometric – measurement of human abilities, attitudes and traits social – studies how people influence each other and group behaviorsocial – studies how people influence each other and group behavior sports – applies psychology to sports and exercise, motivation, and social aspects of sportssports – applies psychology to sports and exercise, motivation, and social aspects of sports

2004 Graduate Study in Psychology

Where do U.S. psychologists work?