1. Introduction and History of Psychology
Chapter 1
Introduction and History of Psychology
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2. What Is Psychology – and What Is It Not?
Psychology – The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psychology is not
Mere speculation about human nature
A body of folk wisdom about people that “everybody knows” to be true
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3. The Greeks! Psychology came from Greek words Psyche means the Mind
or Soul
-ology means:
the study of…
Olson

4. More about the geeks… errr Greeks
Believed in 4 types of blood called Humors
Black Bile – depressed and sad, melancholy
Yellow - bitter, hot tempered, angry, Choleric
White – Dull and sluggish, phlegmatic
Red – happy!
Olson

5. Famous figures Plato delved into cognition
He is considered the first philosopher with the study of gaining knowledge
Aristotle had many theories about sensation, perception, cognition, memory, problem solving, and most importantly ETHICS
In Asia, Yoga and Buddhism explored consciousness
Olson

6. What Are Psychology’s Historical Roots?
Modern psychology developed from several conflicting traditions, including structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt psychology, behaviorism, and psychoanalysis
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7. Devoted to uncovering basic structures that make up mind and thought
Tradition
Devoted to uncovering basic structures that make up mind and thought
Structuralism
Functionalism
Gestalt psychology
Behaviorism
Psychoanalysis
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8. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Tradition
Structuralism
Believed mental processes could best be understood in terms of their adaptive purpose and function
Functionalism
Gestalt psychology
Behaviorism
Psychoanalysis
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9. Interested in how we construct “perceptual wholes”
Tradition
Structuralism
Functionalism
Interested in how we construct “perceptual wholes”
Gestalt psychology
Behaviorism
Psychoanalysis
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10. Argued psychology should deal solely with observable events
Tradition
Structuralism
Functionalism
Gestalt psychology
Argued psychology should deal solely with observable events
Behaviorism
Psychoanalysis
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11. Asserted mental disorders arise from conflicts in the unconscious mind
Tradition
Structuralism
Functionalism
Gestalt psychology
Behaviorism
Asserted mental disorders arise from conflicts in the unconscious mind
Psychoanalysis
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12. Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

13. Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

14. Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

15. Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

16. Nine Modern Perspectives of Psychology
Biological
Developmental
Cognitive
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Trait
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17. Perspective View of Human Nature:
We are complex systems that respond to hereditary and environmental influences
Biological
Developmental
Cognitive
What Determines Behavior:
Neural structures, biochemistry, and inborn responses to external cues
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral
Sociocultural
Question for Study:
How do heredity, the nervous system, and the endocrine system produce behavior and mental processes?
Evolutionary
Trait
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18. Perspective View of Human Nature:
We undergo predictable patterns of change throughout our lives
Biological
Developmental
What Determines Behavior:
Interaction between heredity and environment
Cognitive
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Questions for Study:
What are the patterns that characterize developmental change?
What are the genetic and environmental influences underlying these patterns?
Behavioral
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Trait
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19. Perspective Biological View of Human Nature:
People are information-processing systems
Developmental
Cognitive
What Determines Behavior:
Mental interpretation of our experience
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral
Question for Study:
How do mental processes, including sensation, perception, learning, memory, and language, influence behavior?
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Trait
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20. Perspective Biological View of Human Nature:
We are driven by dark forces of the unconscious
Developmental
Cognitive
What Determines Behavior:
Unconscious needs, conflicts, repressed memories, and childhood experiences
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral
Question for Study:
How does the energy generated in the unconscious mind motivate our actions and account for mental disorders?
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Trait
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21. Perspective Biological View of Human Nature:
Emphasizes human growth and potential
Developmental
Cognitive
What Determines Behavior:
The influence of self-concept, perceptions, and interpersonal relationships, and on need for personal growth
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral
Sociocultural
Question for Study:
How can humanistic theory be applied to enhance mental health through counseling and therapy?
Evolutionary
Trait
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22. Perspective Biological View of Human Nature:
Behavior is primarily shaped by learning
Developmental
Cognitive
What Determines Behavior:
Stimulus cues and our history of rewards and punishments
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral
Questions for Study:
What are the “laws” that associate our responses with stimulus conditions?
How can they be applied to improve the human condition?
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Trait
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23. Perspective View of Human Nature:
People are social animals, so human behavior must be interpreted in social context
Biological
Developmental
Cognitive
What Determines Behavior:
Cultures, social norms and expectations, social learning
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Questions for Study:
Under what conditions is the social and cultural situation predictive of behavior?
How are social influences different across cultures?
Behavioral
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Trait
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24. Perspective Biological Developmental Cognitive View of Human Nature:
Behavior is developed and adapted over time
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral
What Determines Behavior:
Natural selection
Sociocultural
Question for Study:
How do behavior and individual differences develop and change?
Evolutionary
Trait
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25. Perspective View of Human Nature: Biological
Individual differences result from differences in our underlying patterns of stable characteristics
Biological
Developmental
Cognitive
Psychodynamic
What Determines Behavior:
Each person’s unique combination of traits
Humanistic
Behavioral
Question for Study:
How many fundamental traits are there?
How can we use trait patterns to predict behavior?
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Trait
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End of Chapter 1
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