Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Chapter 1 Introduction and History of Psychology

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Is Psychology – and What Is It Not? Psychology is a broad field, with many specialties, but fundamentally, psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Is Psychology? Psychology – The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Must use an empirical approach Psychology is Not: Mere speculation about human nature. A body of folk wisdom about people that “everybody knows” to be true.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Pseudopsychology – Erroneous assertions or practices set forth as being scientific psychology. Confirmation bias – The tendency to attend to evidence that confirms our beliefs or expectations, while ignoring evidence that does not. What Is Psychology – and What Is It Not? What Is Psychology – and What Is It Not?

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Do Psychologists Do? Psychology is a broad field with many specialties, grouped in three major categories: experimental psychology, teaching of psychology, and applied psychology. video clip

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Do Psychologists Do? Experimental psychologists: Conduct most research across psychological spectrum. May work in private industry or for the government. Often teach at colleges and universities.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 I/OSports School Counseling Engineering Rehabilitation Use knowledge developed by experimental psychologists to solve human problems. Clinical What Do Psychologists Do? Applied psychologists

Psychology vs. Psychiatry Psychiatry – a medical specialty dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Emphasis on mental illness Licensed to prescribe medications Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

What Are Psychology’s Historical Roots? Modern psychology developed from several conflicting traditions, including structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt psychology, behaviorism, and psychoanalysis.

Wilhelm Wundt “What are the components of experience and the mind?” 1 st Psychological Laboratory in /8 of a second to switch our attention INTROSPECTION

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Devoted to uncovering basic structures that make up mind and thought. Tradition Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Gestalt psychology Behaviorism

Functionalism William James Focused on function of consciousness not just it’s structure. Mental processes can best be understood in terms of their adaptive purpose.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Believed mental processes could best be understood in terms of their adaptive purpose and function. Tradition Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Gestalt psychology Behaviorism

Gestalt Psychology Seeks to understand how the brain works by studying perception. An approach to psychology that seeks to explain how we perceive whole patterns.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Interested in how we construct “perceptual wholes.” Tradition Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Gestalt psychology Behaviorism

Behaviorism John Watson Concentrates on observable behaviors. Does not examine the role of mental processes. “Little Albert”

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Argued psychology should deal solely with observable events. Tradition Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Gestalt psychology Behaviorism

Psychoanalytic Sigmund Freud Psychoanalysis Unconscious processes Free association Dream analysis Childhood experiences

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Asserted mental disorders arise from conflicts in the unconscious mind. Tradition Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Gestalt psychology Behaviorism

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What are the Perspectives Psychologists Use Today? Nine main perspectives characterize modern psychology: the biological, developmental, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, behavioral, sociocultural, evolutionary, and trait views.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Nine Modern Perspectives of Psychology Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: We are complex systems that respond to hereditary and environmental influences What Determines Behavior: Neural structures, biochemistry, and inborn responses to external cues Question for Study: How do heredity, the nervous system, and the endocrine system produce behavior and mental processes? Perspective Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: We undergo predictable patterns of change throughout our lives What Determines Behavior: Interaction between heredity and environment Questions for Study: What are the patterns that characterize developmental change? What are the genetic and environmental influences underlying these patterns? Perspective Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: People are information- processing systems What Determines Behavior: Mental interpretation of our experience Question for Study: How do mental processes, including sensation, perception, learning, memory, and language, influence behavior? Perspective Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: We are driven by dark forces of the unconscious Perspective What Determines Behavior: Unconscious needs, conflicts, repressed memories, and childhood experiences Question for Study: How does the energy generated in the unconscious mind motivate our actions and account for mental disorders? Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: Emphasizes human growth and potential Perspective What Determines Behavior: The influence of self-concept, perceptions, and interpersonal relationships, and our need for personal growth Question for Study: How can humanistic theory be applied to enhance mental health through counseling and therapy? Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: Behavior is primarily shaped by learning Perspective What Determines Behavior: Our history of rewards and punishments Questions for Study: What are the “laws” that associate our responses with stimulus conditions? How can they be applied to improve the human condition? Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: People are social animals, so human behavior must be interpreted in social context Perspective What Determines Behavior: Cultures, social norms and expectations, social learning Questions for Study: Under what conditions is the social and cultural situation predictive of behavior? How are social influences different across cultures? Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: Behavior is developed and adapted over time Perspective What Determines Behavior: Natural selection Question for Study: How do behavior and individual differences develop and change? Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 View of Human Nature: Individual differences result from differences in our underlying patterns of stable characteristics Perspective What Determines Behavior: Each person’s unique combination of traits Question for Study: How many fundamental traits are there? How can we use trait patterns to predict behavior? Biological Developmental Psychodynamic Sociocultural Cognitive Behavioral Trait Humanistic Evolutionary/ Sociobiological

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Changing Face of Psychology In 1906 – 12% of psychologists were women By 1921 – 20% of psychologists were women Now – women receive 2/3 of the doctorates awarded in psychology each year Video

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Psychology as a Major Bachelor’s degree 4 years Master’s degree Additional 2 years (6 years) Doctorate Additional 4 years + internship (8-10 years) PhD EdD PsyD MD

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 End of Chapter 1