PSYCHOLOGY Module 1 The History and Scope of Psychology

Psychology’s Roots Prescientific Psychology  Is the mind connected to the body or distinct?  Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience?

Prescientific Psychology zRene Descartes ( ) Human Mind held two ideas: Innate (i.e., belief in “God”) Derived (all ideas acquired by experience)

zJohn Locke ( ) yEmpiricism – knowledge acquired by observation yAll ideas come from experience – no “innate ideas” yMind is a “blank slate” written on by experience

Psychology’s Roots  Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig (c. 1879)  Introspection, psychophysical measurements  Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind

Psychology’s Roots  Max Wertheimer ( ) Functionalism, however focused on how behavioral processes function—how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish  Gestalt Psychology

Early Milestones zStanley Hall – 1 st laboratory in U.S. (1883) zHerman Ebbinghaus – memory (1885) zWilliam James – founded Functionalism (1890) zSigmund Freud – Unconsciousness (1900) zAmerican Psychological Association (1892) zIvan Pavlov – Behaviorism (1906)

Psychology’s Roots Figure 1- British Psychological Society membership

Psychology’s Roots  Definition of Psychology  The science of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings)

How do we know? zValidity of knowledge: yGod is dead. yAbortion is wrong. yThere is a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. yThe mind is just like a computer yAttitudes affect cancer yPornography is harmful y

Philosophical Developments zA Question: How are mind and body related? zDualism - body and soul are separate but interrelated yorigins in medieval religion ysoul is seat of intellectual function and will ymind is product of the soul xmind not subject to scientific inquiry yto challenge this was punishable by death

Philosophical Developments zA Question: How are mind and body related? zRene Descartes ( ) - modified dualism ysince animals have no soul, much behavior does not require soul ythe body can therefore control much behavior xled him to study reflexes ythe soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human attribute

Philosophical Developments zMaterialism: Thomas Hobbes ( ) ymind is a product of the brain ysoul is not involved in human behavior zEmpiricism: yknowledge and intellect are acquired ysensory experiences produce elementary ideas yelementary ideas become associated into complex thought and ideas zA Question: How are mind and body related?

Philosophical Developments zAnother Question: Empiricism vs. Nativism zNativism is the view that elementary ideas are innate zIf knowledge is innate yWhat is the purpose of education? yCan intellect be changed by experience? zAre abilities determined by our genes or our experiences? zThis is known as Nature vs. Nurture yappears throughout modern psychology

Foundations of Modern Psychology zCharles Darwin ( ) zTheory of natural selection (1859) yphysical characteristics evolve through natural selection ybehavioral patterns also influence selection yinborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with survival value are passed on zHuman beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science

Foundations of Modern Psychology zDarwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry z19th century developments in physiology demonstrated the approach to use ybased on scientific methods, controlled laboratory experiments yinfluential beliefs from early physiology xreflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes xlocalization of function - specific structures of the brain serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior

Other Pioneers zAlfred Binet ( ) yFrench intelligence researcher ydeveloped first intelligence test zIvan Pavlov ( ) yRussian physiologist ydiscovered conditioned reflexes zB.F. Skinner ( ) yAmerican psychologist at Harvard ystudied learning and effect of reinforcement ybehaviorism

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Big Issues  Nature-nurture controversy  the relative contribution that genes and experience make to development of psychological traits and behaviors

Contemporary Psychology  Natural selection  principle that those inherited trait variations contributing to survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Andrea Yates zCognitive Perspective yPrivate mental functioning? zBiological Basis yBrain chemistry ydepression zSocial-Cultural yFamily affair? yExtended family Many factors shaping human behavior

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Perspectives  A lot depends on your point of view

Contemporary Psychology

 Psychology’s Subfields  Basic Research  biological psychologists explore the links between brain and mind  developmental psychologists study changing abilities from womb to tomb  cognitive psychologists study how we perceive, think, and solve problems

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Subfields  Basic Research  Personality psychologists investigate our persistent traits  Social psychologists explore how we view and affect one another

Contemporary Psychology  Psychology’s Subfields  Applied Research  Industrial/organizational psychologists study and advise on behavior in the workplace  Clinical psychologists study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders

Contemporary Psychology  Psychiatry  A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders  Practiced by physicians who sometimes use medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychotherapy