Psychology: A journey through perspectives

What is psychology?

Psychology Defined The science of behavior and mental processes –Behavior - observable actions of a person –Mental processes - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences –Science An objective way to answer questions Based on observable facts / data and well described methods

Psychology vs. Psychobabble Valid psychological claims provide evidence in the form of scientific research “Pop” psychology is often focused on WANTS –influence of the media

Characteristics of pseudoscience 1.associates itself with true science 2.relies on/accepts anecdotal evidence 3.can’t be disproved 4.reduces complexity to simplicity (esp. to consumers)

The Limits of Common Sense Common sense and intuition often tell us about psychology can be inconsistent and based on hindsight

7 Guidelines for any claim: 1.Define terms. 2.Support with evidence. 3.Analyze assumptions and biases. 4.Avoid emotional reasoning. 5.Don’t oversimplify. 6.Consider other interpretations. 7.Tolerate uncertainty.

Great Questions of Psychology Nature vs. Nurture Monism vs. Dualism: the mind/body problem Commonalities vs. Individual Differences MEANING…

Ancient Greece Plato: –Nativism = humans enter the world with knowledge present –Rationalism = reasoning and logic give access to this knowledge  Aristotle:  Empiricism = senses are sources of knowledge

Renaissance Rene Descartes –First modern rationalist –Used reasoning to prove he existed! –Mind/body problem

Renaissance John Locke –Sided with Aristotle: tabula rasa Immanuel Kant –Nature AND Nurture?

Advent of Science Studies of Nervous System Darwin’s evolutionary theory

Psychology as Science Willhelm Wundt- 1 st experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, 1879 Different approaches emerged based on –Object of study –Goals –Methods

Different Schools Emerge Titchener: Structuralism –analytic introspection to understand What? –e.g. there are 4 basic tastes James: Functionalism –to understand how behavior is affected, and Why? –e.g. why might we spit out something that is bitter? –applied research

Schools (Perspectives) of Psychology Psychoanalysis (or Psychodynamic perspective) –Originated with Sigmund Freud –concerned with unconscious conflicts Behaviorism (or Learning perspective) –John Watson (1913) –B. F. Skinner – ‘Baby in a Box’ (1945)

Other schools Humanist/Existentialist approach –Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Viktor Frankl –person-centered, free will Cognitive approach –how the mind processes information –e.g. memory, thinking, reasoning

Other schools Biological approach –brain, nervous system functions –genes and heredity Sociocultural approach –group dynamics –social and cultural impacts on behavior

The Profession of Psychology American Psychological Association has 53 divisions in 2006 –areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical) –applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

Areas of Specialization Clinical –abnormal behavior and psychological disorders –psychologist vs. psychiatrist Counseling –dealing with normal life situations –provide guidance Health psychology –psychological factors in physical health

Areas of Specialization Developmental –psychological change over the life span –social, cognitive, personality School –counseling and guidance in school settings Educational –learning and teaching

Areas of Specialization Physiological –brain and behavior –often uses animals as research model Cognitive –experimental methods –human memory, perception, etc.

Areas of Specialization Social –social influences on cognition and emotion-importance of situation –attitudes and beliefs Personality –individual differences Industrial/organizational –people and work –job satisfaction –training and selection

Professional Work Settings Colleges and universities (33%) Clinical settings (32%) Government (18%) Business (12%) Elementary and secondary schools (5%) Private Practice Government Universities & Colleges Business & Industry Schools Employment Settings of Psychologists