Unit One – What is Psychology? Leochner – Spring 2011 (with contributions by Mr. Mitchell)

The Origins of Psychology Psychology: commonly defined today as “the study of human thought and behavior” Written records of psychological thought can be traced back over 1000 years ago – Ancient Egypt studied the brain and its illnesses – Greeks (Plato) philosophized on the mind/body link – China, 600AD: first record of intelligence tests – Arabia, 7 th cen.: first insane asylums, identified both physical and mental causes to physical ills Other Arab contributions: dream interpretation, experiments in sensation & perception, many others – European Renaissance and Enlightenment philosophy debated the nature of the mind/soul 19 th Century Psychology: “pseudo-science” – Mesmerism, animal magnetism, phrenology 1879: W. Wundt opens first psychological research laboratory in Leipzig, Germany – Marks the beginning of modern era of psychology “Psychology has a long past, but a relatively short history.” - Herrman Ebbinghaus

Historic Schools of Thought Structuralism (Wilhelm Wundt) – Argues the mind consists of sensations, feelings, & images that combine to form experience. – Introspection: one’s own thoughts & emotions Functionalism (William James) – Focuses on the uses or functions of the mind rather than the elements of experience – Notes evolutionary principles of adaptive behaviors Behaviorism (John B. Watson) – Psychology ought to be a natural science, thus only observable behaviors should be studied – Centers on learning (reinforcement, punishment) Gestalt Psych. (Wertheimer, Koffka, Kohler) – Emphasizes tendency to organize perceptions into wholes integrate separate stimuli into patterns Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud) – Emphasizes the importance of unconscious motives and conflicts as the root of our behaviors

Contemporary Approaches Evolutionary & Biological Perspectives – E: Interested in influence of heredity, instincts – B: focused on brain structures & chemistry, hormones, & their effects on thought & behavior – Arguably the most-popular approach today Behavioral Perspective – All things that oranisms do should be considered behaviors – Such behaviors can be studied and described scientifically – Evolved to compliment cognitive psych. Cognitive Perspective – Focus on mental processes like perception, learning, memory, problem solving, language, etc. – “Cognitive Revolution”: rapid expansion in past couple of decades

Contemporary Approaches Cont. Humanistic/Existential Perspectives – Cognitive in nature, emphasizes a more subjective (personal) experience of consciousness – Humanism: capacity to choose, “invent ourselves” – Existentialism: people free to choose, responsible Psychodynamic Perspective – Psychotherapy focused less on unconscious mind, more on conscious choice and direction – See value in dreams, unusual thoughts & desires

Goals of Psychology To observe, describe, explain, predict, and control events studied Observe and describe behavior and mental processes to better understand them. A better understanding of behavior allows psychologists to explain, predict, and control behavior. Why bother? What are the benefits of achieving these goals?

Psychological Research Process of scientifically collecting data to test hypotheses & form psychological theories Psychology aims to be an empirical science… – must be tested, supported by observable evidence Scientific Method: Putting Ideas to the Test – An organized way of using experience and testing ideas in order to expand of refine knowledge – Experiments attempt to identify cause-and-effect Hypothesis: specific statement about behavior or mental processes that is tested through research Independent variable: change that occurs in an experiment directly controlled by the experimenter Dependent variable: change that occurs as a result of the I.V. that are measured by experimenter Experimental group: receives independent variable Control group: does not receive independent variable Correlational Method: identify statistical links – Measure the degree in which variables are linked – DO NOT indicate cause and effect relationships Psychological theory Daily experiences Commonly held beliefs Research Question Hypothesis Testing Evidence (observations) Drawing Conclusions Hypothesis Test Research Question Theory Construction or Modification New Research Question/Hypothesis

Issues in Experimental Design Researchers go to great lengths in hopes that their findings generalize to non-participants – Sample: individuals that are being studied – Population: a group that is being targeted for study Problems in Generalizing from Research – Sampling Error: study participants do not reflect the intended population in one or more characteristics – Volunteer Bias: those who offer to participate may be substantially different than those who refuse Methods of Observation – Case study: carefully drawn biography that may be obtained through interviews, questionnaires, tests Often used to investigate rare occurrences that would impossible or unethical to create in laboratory setting – Survey: a large sample answers questions (interview, questionnaire) about their attitudes or behavior Used to learn about behavior and mental processes that cannot be observed or studied experimentally – Naturalistic Observation: organisms closely watched in their natural environments (least obtrusive) “All generalizations are dangerous, even this one.” - Alexandre Dumas

Ethical Issues in Psychological Research Commitment to a belief in human dignity – Right to make their own decisions, choose behavior – Psychologists aim to better understand—not control—influences on how we think and act – Pop culture, historic experiments create stigma Ethical Safeguards in Research with Humans – Institutional review boards weigh potential risks – Informed consent: subjects agree to participate after learning of the purpose and nature of research The use of deception is acceptable when the potential gains outweigh the potential harms (Milgram Study)(Milgram Study) – Subjects are debriefed after completion of study – Collected personal data is confidential, in most cases Ethics in Research with Nonhuman Animals – Used when human subjects impractical, unethical i.e. monkeys used to study maternal attachment i.e. monkeys used to study maternal attachment – Major advances have resulted from animal research – APA guidelines: animals may be harmed only when no alternative & belief that benefits outweigh harm