Psychology: An Introduction

Psychology Defined: The scientific study of mental processes and behavior in both animals & humans.

Psychology uses a scientific approach Psychological theories are general frameworks for the scientific study of human & animal behavior

Psychological Theories Theories are used to develop testable assumptions or ideas about human behavior Theories in psychology can become confusing because human behavior is difficult to explain

Psychological Theories There are many possible causes for a particular behavior Often, psychological theories contradict each other

Areas of Specialization in Psychology Experimental Clinical Teaching Psychotherapy Industrial Research Pharmacology Consumer Behavior Military

Types of Psychologists Research psychologists: those who study the origin, cause,or results of certain behaviors Applied psychologists: those who make direct use of the research findings of research psychologists by dealing directly with patients

Historical Psychologists & Their Theories

Wilhelm Wundt (pronounced Voont) “The work which I here present to the public is an attempt to mark out a new domain of science.”

Wundt’s Accomplishments Started the first laboratory for studying humans Known as the “Father of Psychology”

Wundt’s Theories Wundt sought to understand the basics that go into making up our thoughts & feelings Wundt tried to train people to accurately describe the sensations that they experienced when touching certain objects Wundt found that human sensation and experiences were too complex to be generally classified

Wundt’s Theories Developed the process known as introspection Introspection means looking within yourself and explaining what is there Wundt demonstrated that some aspects of human behavior and thought processes can be observed scientifically

Sigmund Freud “A man like me cannot live… without a dominating passion…It is psychology.”

Freud’s Accomplishments Austrian Physician Developed one of the first comprehensive theories of personality Developed psychoanalysis which examines the base human desires and impulses to determine the cause for psychological problems

Freud’s Theories Problems that appear in adolescence or adulthood can be traced to things that happened in the first five or six years of life His primary theory is based on how unconscious conflicts affect personality

Freud’s Theories People are influenced by their early childhood experiences Freud had many other theories which will be discussed later in this course

William James “ Psychology is the science of mental life.”

James’ Accomplisments Philosopher and Harvard professor One of the founders of American psychology

James’ Theories Interested in how humans adapt to their environment He preferred to examine human experiences in their entirety rather than breaking them down

James’ Theories Tried to understand thinking as a “stream of ideas” Kept the needs of the individual in mind while studying human thinking processes

John B. Watson “No one today knows enough to raise a child.”

Watson’s Accomplishments Studied the impact of learning on human emotion He is associated with behaviorism due to his concentration on human learning

Watson’s Theories He believed associations with either positive or negative experiences shape our emotions and behavior He believed psychological problems could be prevented through good parenting

Six Main Psychological Approaches Neurobiological Behavioral Humanistic Psychoanalytic Cognitive Sociocultural

Neurobiological Approach Serotonin Acetylcholine Norepinephrine Dopamine Endorphins Antidepressants: neurotransmitters The Brain Prozac Paxil Zoloft Celexa Wellbutrin

Neurobiological Behavior is viewed in terms of biological response

Neurobiological For example: Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain causes depression

Neurobiological Research on depression has demonstrated that the brain’s chemistry changes dramatically during depressive states This research has led to the development of powerful antidepressants known as SSRI’s. SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Behavioral Approach Behavior is viewed as a product of learned responses

Behavioral Approach Humans become who they are through a process of learning and associations with things that have been learned

People act as they do because of the “rewards” they have received for previous behavior Behavioral Approach

Humanistic Approach Humans are basically good If allowed to develop to their fullest potential, then humans will reach their goals

Psychoanalytic Approach Sexual and aggressive impulses experienced in early childhood continue to affect our behavior throughout adolescence and adulthood We are not aware of these impulses but they affect our behavior nonetheless

Psychoanalytic Approach By analyzing these impulses, we gain an understanding of them as well as insight into how to control them

Cognitive Approach Behavior is viewed as a product of various internal sentences or thoughts Rodin’s “The Thinker”

Sociocultural Approach Society greatly influences our behavior Behavior is viewed as strongly influenced by the rules and expectations of our society and culture Calista Flockhart Is her body-size “Normal”?

by: Scott Jones

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