What is Psychology? zThe science of behavior and the mind ybehavior - observable actions of a person or animal ymind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences yscience x an objective way to answer questions x based on observable facts / data and well described methods

What is Psychology? zA set of questions about mental functioning ytrace back to philosophy yAristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc. zA set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions ythe scientific method yevolved over centuries, first in physics zA product of history yphilosophy asked many of the basic questions yphysiology used similar methods

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

Foundations of Modern Psychology zSeparated from philosophy in 19th century yinfluences from physiology remain zWilhelm Wundt ( ) yLeipzig, Germany ywrote the first psychology textbook yapplied laboratory techniques to study of the mind ystructuralism - identify ‘atoms’ of the mind xfocused on basic sensory and perceptual processes xmeasured reaction times

Other Pioneers zEdward Titchener ( ) yWundt’s student, professor at Cornell University zWilliam James ( ) ystarted psychology at Harvard in 1870s yopposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach yfunctionalism - influenced by Darwin to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment zSigmund Freud ( ) yAustrian physician that focused on illness ypsychoanalytic theory of mental disorders

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

Perspectives zPerspective is a way of viewing phenomena zPsychology has multiple perspectives yethological ybiological ypsychoanalytic ycognitive ycross- cultural ysocial

Ethology zThe study of animal behavior in the natural environment rather than in a lab setting zInfluenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns zEuropean approach to studying behavior founded by animal researchers, Lorenz and Tinbergen

Biological Perspective zStudy the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior zFocus may be at various levels yindividual neurons yareas of the brain yspecific functions like eating, emotion or learning zInterest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

Clinical Perspective zView of behavior based on experience treating patients zPsychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud ) yboth a method of treatment and a theory of the mind ybehavior reflects combinations of conscious and unconscious influences ydrives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior yearly childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations

Clinical Perspective zView of behavior based on experience treating patients yHumanistic approach xdeveloped by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers xbehavior reflects innate ‘actualization’ xfocus on conscious forces and self perception yMore positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

Cultural Psychology zThe study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups zHow are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture? zWhat are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?

Cognitive Perspective zHow is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ? zInfluences include yPiaget - studied intellectual development yChomsky - studied language yCybernetics - science of information processing

The Profession of Psychology zAmerican Psychological Association had 52 divisions in 1998 zSome represent areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical) zSome are applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

Areas of Specialization zClinical yabnormal behavior and psychological disorders ypsychologist vs. psychiatrist zHealth psychology ypsychological factors in physical health zCounseling ydealing with normal life situations yprovide guidance Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School 3% Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization zDevelopmental ypsychological change over the life span ysocial, cognitive, personality zSchool ycounseling and guidance in school settings zEducational ylearning and teaching Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School 3% Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization zPsychobiology ybrain and behavior ystudied at many levels yoften uses animals as research model zExperimental ybasic laboratory focus yanimals or humans ylearning, memory, motivation zCognitive yexperimental yhuman memory, perception, etc. Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School 3% Counseling 10%

Areas of Specialization zSocial ysocial influences on cognition and emotion yattitudes and beliefs zPersonality yindividual differences yperception by others zIndustrial/organizational ypeople and work yjob satisfaction ytraining and selection Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School 3% Counseling 10%

Professional Work Settings zColleges and universities zClinical settings zElementary and secondary schools zBusiness zGovernment Private Practice Government Universities & College Business & Industry School Employment Settings of Psychologists