1. The Story of Psychology Prologue

2. What is Psychology? “The scientific study of
behavior AND mental processes.”
Uses scientific research methods
Behavior includes all observable behavior
Mental processes include thoughts, feelings & dreams…

3. Early Approaches of the 19th Century
Structuralism
Focused on the basic structure of consciousness
Relied on introspection – the self-reporting of inner thoughts relating to simple experiences
The Problem:
Training people
to be introspective is difficult
& people experience/report
similar experiences differently

4. Famous Structuralists
Wilhelm Wundt is known as the “Father of
Modern Psychology” since he created the first psych lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879
Edward Titchener (he studied
under Wundt) and later
established a lab at Cornell
University

5. Early Approaches of the 19th Century
Functionalism
Focused on how mental & behavioral processes function - how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, & flourish
Also relied on introspection
Structuralism (builder) = basic structure (walls, floors, ceilings, etc.)
Functionalism (architect) = conscious function (organization, floor plan)

6. Famous Functionalists, Etc.
William James is known
as the “Father of American Psychology” since he was the first American to teach the subject in 1876 at Harvard (wrote the Principles of Psychology in 1890)
Stanley Hall studied under James, created the first psych lab in America at Johns Hopkins & was the first president of the APA in 1892
Mary Whiton Calkins studied (animal research) under James at Harvard (denied PhD) & became the first female president of the APA in 1905
Margaret Floy Washburn was the first woman to be granted a PhD in Psychology by Cornell in 1894 (was 2nd female president of the APA in 1921)
Francis Cecil Sumer was the first African-American to be granted a PhD in Psychology (Neo-Freudian) by Clark University in 1920
Beverly Inez Prosser was the first African-American woman to be granted a PhD in Psychology (memory) by University of Cincinnati in the 1930s

7. Early Approaches of the 19th Century
Gestalt
Focused on how people construct “perceptual wholes” instead of focusing on the parts
Gestalt is German for “meaningful whole”
Focuses on perception & perceptual learning to understand the workings of the brain
Pretty much the exact opposite
of the Structuralism approach

8. Famous Gestaltists
Max Wertheimer
Kurt Koffka
Wolfgang Köhler

9. Smaller Aspects (lines, dots, curves, colors) v. Bigger Picture (man)

10. Emergence
Dog is perceived as “a whole” rather than parts (ears, nose, tail, spots, etc.)

11. Multistability – The Necker Cube

13. The Psychodynamic Approach
Focuses on how behavior is affected by
unconscious drives (dreams, etc.) and conflicts
Behavior is explained through unconscious
motivation and unresolved inner conflicts from one’s
childhood
- It is also known as
the Psychoanalytic
or Freudian approach

14. Famous Psychodynamic Psychologists
Sigmund Freud
Alfred Adler
Carl Jung
Karen Horney

16. The Behavioral Approach
Focuses on how we learn through rewards, punishment & observation
(relies observable behaviors, not internal
processes like the unconscious)
Behavior is explained
by previous learning
(conditioning)

17. Famous Behaviorists Ivan Pavlov John B. Watson Edward Thorndike
B.F. Skinner

19. The Humanistic Approach
Focuses on how healthy people strive to reach their full potential
(self-actualization)
Behavior is explained as being
motivated by satisfying basic
needs (hunger, thirst, etc.), with
the goal of reaching one’s full
potential once basic needs are met.
Behaviors are tied to feelings of self-worth.

20. Famous Humanists Abraham Maslow Carl Rogers Harry Harlow
Mary Ainsworth
Erik Erikson

21. The Cognitive Approach
Focuses on how people interpret & mentally process their experiences
Behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situation
- Mental processes = Cognitions =
thoughts, feelings, expectations,
perceptions, memories, etc.

22. Famous Cognitive Psychologists
Howard Gardner
Robert Sternberg
Jean Piaget
Konrad Lorenz

23. The Biological Approach
Focuses on how our biological structures and substances underlie behaviors
Behavior is explained by the workings
& interrelationships of the brain,
nervous system & endocrine system
A subdivision is the Evolutionary Approach which focuses on the fact that behavior is hereditary & adaptive (coded in genes & has developed over time)

24. Famous Biological Psychologists
William James & Carl Lange
Stanley Schachter
Walter Cannon & Philip Bard

25. The Socio-Cultural Approach
Focuses on how our thinking and behavior change depending on the setting or situation
Behavior is explained
by the influence of other
people and social
context &/or culture

26. Famous Social Psychologists
Stanley Milgram
Solomon Asch
Phillip Zimbardo
Albert Bandura

28. Psychologist v. Psychiatrist
Psychologist – branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders (requires an advanced degree)
Psychiatrist – branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders (requires a medical degree - can prescribe drugs )

31. Summary Structuralism = structure of mind
Functionalism = function of mind
Gestalt = perceptual wholes (the big picture)
Behavioral = conditioning & observable actions
Psychodynamic = unconscious mind
Humanistic = development & self-fulfillment
Biological = brain, nervous & endocrine systems
Cognitive = thought/mental processes
Socio-Cultural = social behaviors
Used introspection