Prologue: The Story of Psychology

Psychology Roots  Behavior and Mental Process Definition of Psychology : Definition of Psychology : the science that seeks to understand behavior and mental processes, and to apply that understanding to the service of human welfare the science that seeks to understand behavior and mental processes, and to apply that understanding to the service of human welfare

Psychology Roots  The word “Psychology” comes from the Greek Psyche: meaning mind or soul Psyche: meaning mind or soul Logos: meaning study of Logos: meaning study of

Psychology Roots  Science: psychology is based on empirically collected data, NOT hunches psychology is based on empirically collected data, NOT hunches  Behavior: any action we can record and measure  Mental Processes: cognitive activities, sensation, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, feelings cognitive activities, sensation, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, feelings

Psychology Roots  The Goals of Psychology Observe Behavior Observe Behavior Describe Behavior Describe Behavior Explain Behavior Explain Behavior Predict Behavior Predict Behavior Control Behavior Control Behavior

Prescientific Psychology  Ancient Greece Socrates and Plato: Socrates and Plato: Believed that the mind and body were separate and that the mind continued after death. They also believed that knowledge is innate Believed that the mind and body were separate and that the mind continued after death. They also believed that knowledge is innate SocratesPlato

Prescientific Psychology  Ancient Greece Aristotle: Believed that knowledge is an outgrowth of experience Aristotle: Believed that knowledge is an outgrowth of experience Aristotle ( B.C.)

Prescientific Psychology  Modern Science Descartes ( ): Descartes ( ): Believed that knowledge is innate Knew that nerve paths are important Knew that nerve paths are important and that they enable reflexes and that they enable reflexes

Prescientific Psychology  Modern Science Francis Bacon ( ): Francis Bacon ( ): was one of the founders of modern science modern science He relied on experiments, and He relied on experiments, and experience experience

Prescientific Psychology  Modern Science John Locke ( ): John Locke ( ): He believed that at birth He believed that at birth our mind is a blank slate our mind is a blank slate Tabula Rasa: blank slate on which experience writesTabula Rasa: blank slate on which experience writes

Prescientific Psychology  Modern Science John Locke John Locke Empiricism: The belief that knowledge is gained through observation and experimentation. Psychologists use the methods of science to conduct empirical research (meaning that they perform experiments and other scientific procedures to systematically gather and analyze information about psychological phenomena)Empiricism: The belief that knowledge is gained through observation and experimentation. Psychologists use the methods of science to conduct empirical research (meaning that they perform experiments and other scientific procedures to systematically gather and analyze information about psychological phenomena)

Psychological Science is Born  Wilhelm Wundt: Opened the first laboratory devoted exclusively to psychological research. He wanted to make psychology an independent discipline rather than a stepchild of philosophy or physiology. He believed that consciousness: the awareness of immediate experience should be the subject matter of psychology

Psychological Science is Born  Wilhelm Wundt Leipzig, Germany: Leipzig, Germany: in 1879 (which is in 1879 (which is considered to be the considered to be the birthday of psychology) Wundt opened the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany birthday of psychology) Wundt opened the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany

Psychological Science is Born  Wilhelm Wundt: Structuralism: Introduced by Wundt’s student, Edward Titchener, it is an approach to studying Structuralism: Introduced by Wundt’s student, Edward Titchener, it is an approach to studying consciousness where one consciousness where one attempts to discover the attempts to discover the elements that make up the elements that make up the mind mind

Psychological Science is Born  Classic Experiment Wundt measured how quickly people could respond to a light by releasing a button they had been holding down. He then determined how much longer the response took when people held down one button with each hand and had to decide, based on the color of the light, which one to release. Wundt reasoned that the additional time revealed how long it took to perceive the color and decide which hand to move. The logic behind this experiment remains a part of research on cognitive processes today. Wundt measured how quickly people could respond to a light by releasing a button they had been holding down. He then determined how much longer the response took when people held down one button with each hand and had to decide, based on the color of the light, which one to release. Wundt reasoned that the additional time revealed how long it took to perceive the color and decide which hand to move. The logic behind this experiment remains a part of research on cognitive processes today.

Psychological Science is Born  Edward Titchener: Titchener was Wundt’s student who introduced the structuralist approach to studying psychology. Titchener was Wundt’s student who introduced the structuralist approach to studying psychology. Structuralism:Structuralism: it is an approach to studying consciousness where one attempts to discover the elements that make up the mind

Psychological Science is Born  Edward Tichener: Introspection: Introspection: a technique of “inward looking” that was used by structuralists in an attempt to discover the elements of the mind. a technique of “inward looking” that was used by structuralists in an attempt to discover the elements of the mind. However, introspection has its limitations. What are they? However, introspection has its limitations. What are they?

Psychological Science is Born   William James: James rejected studying the elements of consciousness. He advocated studying the functions of consciousness. He founded the first U.S. laboratory at Harvard University.

Psychological Science is Born  Influenced by: Charles Darwin

Psychological Science is Born  Functionalism: the study of how our thoughts and feelings function to increase our chances of survival.

Psychological Science is Born  Stream of consciousness: the ever changing pattern of images, sensations, memories and other mental events— was James’ method was James’ method of studying of studying consciousness consciousness rather than rather than introspection introspection

Psychological Science is Born Functionalists question the function of behavior and thinking. For example: Why do we sleep? What function does sleep serve? How does it contribute to our survival?

Psychological Science is Born  Principles of Psychology: First psychology text book. It took William James 12 years to write. 897 pages

Psychological Science Develops  Psychodynamic Perspective: Has its roots in Freudian psychoanalysis Has its roots in Freudian psychoanalysis Believes that behavior reflects unconscious internal conflict between Believes that behavior reflects unconscious internal conflict between inherited instincts inherited instincts and society’s and society’s behavioral rules behavioral rules

Psychological Science Develops  Psychodynamic Perspective This approach analyzed personality traits and disorders in terms This approach analyzed personality traits and disorders in terms of sexual and aggressive of sexual and aggressive drives or as the disguised effect of unfulfilled drives or as the disguised effect of unfulfilled wishes and childhood wishes and childhood trauma trauma

Psychological Science Develops  Evolutionary Perspective: (Charles Darwin) (Charles Darwin) Natural Selection: Natural Selection: genes that result in characteristics and behaviors that are adaptive and useful in a certain environment will enable the creatures that possess them to survive, reproduce, and thereby pass these genes on to subsequent generations. genes that result in characteristics and behaviors that are adaptive and useful in a certain environment will enable the creatures that possess them to survive, reproduce, and thereby pass these genes on to subsequent generations.

Psychological Science Develops  Evolutionary Perspective: Natural selection (continued): Natural selection (continued): Genes that result in characteristics that are not adaptive in that environment will not be passed on to subsequent generations because the creatures possessing them will not be able to survive and reproduce. Genes that result in characteristics that are not adaptive in that environment will not be passed on to subsequent generations because the creatures possessing them will not be able to survive and reproduce.

Psychological Science Develops  Evolutionary Perspective: Natural Selection: Natural Selection:

Psychological Science Develops  Evolutionary Perspective: Ethnologist: Ethnologist: scientists who study animal behavior in the natural environment scientists who study animal behavior in the natural environment

Psychological Science Develops  Neuroscience (Biological): Studies how the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences Studies how the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences

Psychological Science Develops  Neuroscience (Biological): Studies the psychological effects of hormones, genes, and the activity of the nervous system, especially the brain Studies the psychological effects of hormones, genes, and the activity of the nervous system, especially the brain

Psychological Science Develops  Humanistic: (Maslow and Rogers) An approach to psychology that emphasizes human beings’ inborn unborn desire for personal growth and their ability to consciously make choices.

Psychological Science Develops  Behavior Genetics: Studies how much our genes and our environment influence our individual differences

Psychological Science Develops  Behavioral: Founded by John B. Watson Founded by John B. Watson This approach characterizes behavior and mental processes as primarily the result of learning. It examines how observable responses are acquired and changed This approach characterizes behavior and mental processes as primarily the result of learning. It examines how observable responses are acquired and changed

Psychological Science Develops " Give me a dozen healthy infants, well- formed, and my own specified world to bringthem up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select–doctor, lawyer,artist–regardless of his talents penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations and race of his ancestors"

Psychological Science Develops  Cognitive: Studies how we process, store, and retrieve information. Sees behavior as the result of behavior as the result of information processing information processing (for example, perception, (for example, perception, memory, thought, judgment, memory, thought, judgment, and decision making) and decision making)

Psychological Science Develops  Cognitive: Cognitive Psychologists work with biologists, linguists, computer scientists, and engineers to Cognitive Psychologists work with biologists, linguists, computer scientists, and engineers to identify the components identify the components of thought that interact of thought that interact to produce behavior. to produce behavior.

Psychological Science Develops  Social-Cultural: How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures. How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures. The Social-cultural Perspective addresses such issues as: Ethnicity Culture Socioeconomic Status They also examine gender

Card Sort  Psychodynamic Instincts Instincts Unconscious Unconscious Drives Drives Childhood Trauma Childhood Trauma Freud Freud  Humanistic Potentiality Perception of Reality Free Will Choice

Card Sort  Biological Hormones Hormones Heredity Heredity Genetics Genetics Brain Activity Brain Activity Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters  Behavioral Punishment Rewards Overt Actions Watson Learning Environment Directly Observable Experiences

Card Sort  Evolutionary Darwin Darwin Survival of the Fittest Survival of the Fittest Natural Selection Natural Selection  Cognitive Problem Solving Decision Making Thinking Information Processing Patterns of Thought Process, Store & Retrieve Information

Psychology’s Big Debate  Nature: the belief that everything we are is due to our genes/our heredity  Nurture: the belief that everything we are is due to experiences and environment

Psychology’s Big Debate  Nature Heredity Heredity Genetics Genetics Inborn Inborn Innate Innate Descartes Descartes Plato Plato  Nurture Environment Learning Culture Tabula Rasa Experience Locke Watson Aristotle

Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

Psychology’s Subfields