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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What are the Perspectives Psychologists Use Today? Seven main perspectives characterize modern psychology: the biological, developmental, cognitive, clinical, behavioral, trait, and socio-cultural 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