A Little History Psychology 1106

A little History Before the beginning of science (mid 1600s) psychology was clearly in the domain of the philosophers Before the beginning of science (mid 1600s) psychology was clearly in the domain of the philosophers Indeed, all sciences were Indeed, all sciences were Physics was the first to leave the nest Physics was the first to leave the nest Then chemistry Then chemistry Biology Biology Finally, us Finally, us

Aristotle Believed that the heart was the seat of behaviour Believed that the heart was the seat of behaviour He noted the importance of the brain (but it was for cooling blood he figured) He noted the importance of the brain (but it was for cooling blood he figured)

British Empiricists Thomas Hobbes ( ) Thomas Hobbes ( ) Contents of mind rest on experience Contents of mind rest on experience John Locke ( ) John Locke ( ) ‘white paper’ or tabula rasa ‘white paper’ or tabula rasa

Rene Descartes Descartes said that we were machines with a soul Descartes said that we were machines with a soul The notion was that the mind and the body were separate The notion was that the mind and the body were separate Animals have no soul Animals have no soul

And yadda yadda yadda…. By the 19 th century people were talking about psychology By the 19 th century people were talking about psychology Still the philosophers held sway Still the philosophers held sway Last half of the 19 th century changed this Last half of the 19 th century changed this The zeitgeist of the time changed The zeitgeist of the time changed

What the hell does zeitgeist mean? I don’t speak freaky deaky Dutch Mr. Goldmember I don’t speak freaky deaky Dutch Mr. Goldmember The spirit of history The spirit of history The enlightenment of the 18 th century was affecting the common person The enlightenment of the 18 th century was affecting the common person Science and technology could explain everything Science and technology could explain everything

Gesundheit Even the origins of humanity could be explained without appealing to religion! Even the origins of humanity could be explained without appealing to religion! Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species So like you could figure out anything with science!! So like you could figure out anything with science!!

Wilhelm Wundt 1879 Leipzig 1879 Leipzig Established his lab at the University of Leipzig Established his lab at the University of Leipzig Studied psychophysics Studied psychophysics Many of those methods are still used today Many of those methods are still used today

William James Published his ‘Principles of Psychology’ in 1890 Published his ‘Principles of Psychology’ in 1890 Lots of introspection Lots of introspection Looking into yourselfLooking into yourself Got lots of stuff right Got lots of stuff right

John B. Watson and Behaviourism Became president of the APA in 1915 Became president of the APA in 1915 A reaction against introspection A reaction against introspection For Watson and his ilk, introspection was a very bad thing For Watson and his ilk, introspection was a very bad thing Turning psychology back into philosophy Turning psychology back into philosophy

Behaviourism BF Skinner and Ivan Pavlov BF Skinner and Ivan Pavlov Consciousness is an epiphenomenon Consciousness is an epiphenomenon Only concerned with the observable Only concerned with the observable Skinner really became the spokesman for this view, Pavlov was not a behaviourist Skinner really became the spokesman for this view, Pavlov was not a behaviourist Skinner had a huge hold on psychological thinking in North America Skinner had a huge hold on psychological thinking in North America

Meanwhile in Europe…. Freud Freud BooooooooBoooooooo Dirty old man crack head from ViennaDirty old man crack head from Vienna PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis It is all about sex,It is all about sex, With your mother…. With your mother….

Those wacky Europeans, they are so, European Piaget Piaget Child developmentChild development Lorenz Lorenz ImprintingImprinting Kohler Kohler Insight learningInsight learning Gestalt psychology Gestalt psychology Clearly different from Behaviourism Clearly different from Behaviourism

Cognitive Revolution This stuff, and a lot of interesting data (especially HM) lead to the idea that we should be more concerned about thinking This stuff, and a lot of interesting data (especially HM) lead to the idea that we should be more concerned about thinking Brenda Milner Brenda Milner She is the one on the left…She is the one on the left… The cognitive revolution hit every part of psychology The cognitive revolution hit every part of psychology

More recent developments Brain imaging Brain imaging PET fMRIPET fMRI Watch people think!Watch people think! Computers Computers Modeling and AIModeling and AI Now we are splitting up into cognitive science, neuroscience and AI Now we are splitting up into cognitive science, neuroscience and AI Many old ideas have been rediscovered Many old ideas have been rediscovered Species differencesSpecies differences Ideas about memoryIdeas about memory Going through stagesGoing through stages

In Canada Psychology has always been strong in Canada Psychology has always been strong in Canada First lab in Canada was in 1890 at U of T First lab in Canada was in 1890 at U of T James Mark BaldwinJames Mark Baldwin Research in Canada is funded by NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR Research in Canada is funded by NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR

Many big names are from Canada Bandura Bandura Tulving Tulving Hebb Hebb Milner Milner Baldwin Baldwin Craik Craik Lockhart Lockhart Shettleworth Shettleworth Roberts Roberts MacLoed MacLoed Paivio Paivio Pylishyn Pylishyn Kolb Kolb Wishaw Wishaw Honig Honig Staddon Staddon The most cited psychology Department in the WORLD is U of T