1. What is psychology? Definition
From the Greek terms psyche meaning mind or soul
and logos meaning study of
Thus, the study of the mind (and later behavior is added)

2. Prior to the 1920s The study of the mind Structuralism (Titchener)
introspection
Functionalism (William James)
observable behavior

3. From the 1920s to 1960s The scientific study of observable behavior
Behaviorism
(John B. Watson)

4. Current definition
The systematic, scientific study of behavioral and mental processes of human and other animals
(This is Dr. Zimbardo, Stanford University)

5. Goals of modern psychology
1) Describe
2) Explain
3) Predict
4) Control behavior
5) Improve the quality of life

6. Basic vs. Applied Psychologist
Basic Psychologist study phenomenon for the accumulation of accurate knowledge
Where might a basic psychologist work?
Applied psychologist find solutions to practical problems
Where might an applied psychologist work?
Review Appendix C for a brief discussion on IO Psychology

7. Roots of Psychology Pre-scientific Psychology
To include a few notable names:
Rene Descartes
John Locke
George Berkeley
James and John Stuart Mill

8. Rene Descartes A bit of his background
Viewed the mind and the body as two separate entities
Ruled out organs other than the brain as location of mental functioning
Human minds consist of two kinds of ideas (innate and derived)

9. John Locke A bit of background
The mind is a blank slate (Aristotle’s idea of tabula rasa)
Opposed the notion of innate ideas, life’s experience makes the man
Empiricist approach- knowledge acquired by careful observation

10. George Berkeley His story
Two early works that exert an influence on psychology
An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision (1709)
A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710)

11. James Mill
A good Scot
Applied the doctrine of mechanism to the human mind, the mind is a machine
No Free Will (Skinner)
The mind has no creative function; association is an automatic, passive process

12. John Stuart Mill James Mill’s son Early life. . .
Argued against his father saying the mind plays an active role in the association of ideas
Suggested that there could be a “science of psychology” The mind could be studied scientifically

13. Founders of Scientific Psychology
In Germany. . . Why?

14. Wilhelm Wundt
First research laboratory in psychology at University of Leipzig (1879)
Research methods included: introspection, psychophysical measurements and reaction time
Methods of scientific study lasted

15. Hermann Ebbinghaus
Published classic studies on memory (1885)

16. Early Milestones Over the Pond (in the US)
Clark University on Freud’s only trip to the US (G. Stanley Hall in center)

17. G. Stanley Hall
Established the first research psychology lab in the US at Johns Hopkins University (1883)
First President of APA
First American psychology journal(1887)

18. William James Wrote the influential Principles of Psychology (1890)
Associated with functionalism, a perspective emphasizing the functions (purpose) of behavior rather than the structures
Said first psychology lecture he attend was the first on he gave (Harvard man)
Established “first” experimental laboratory

19. Edward B. Titchener
Student of Wundt who spent career at Cornell University
Founded structuralism, based partially on Wundtian concepts
Sought to explain consciousness by analyzing structural elements

20. Mary Whiton Calkins First woman president of APA (1905)
Harvard would not allow her graduate studies under William James
James informally administered her exams
Harvard would not give her a Ph. D.
Radcliffe College offered her a degree, she declined

21. Margaret Floy Washburn
First woman to receive a Ph. D in psychology (1894) at Cornell
Wanted to go to Columbia, but they would not admit women into the programs
Was Titchener’s student
Had a successful career in psychology

22. Back to Austria and the study of consciousness
Sigmund Freud
Published Interpretation of Dreams (1900), his major theoretical work on psychoanalysis
Psychoanalytic theory as the first theory of personality

23. Psychologists and Perspectives
Historical Perspectives
Early Schools of Thought
Reference: psychology/history/history_nonflash.html

24. Five Early Schools of Thought
Structuralism – E. B. Titchener (Wundt’s student)
Functionalism – William James (in US)
Psychoanalytic – Sigmund Freud (outside university setting)
Behaviorism – John B. Watson (trained as a functionalist but revolted)
Gestalt – Max Wertheimer (revolt against Wundt)

25. Structuralism
Leading proponent was Edward B. Titchener (a student of Wundt)
1896
Views suggest that all mental experience can be understood as a combination of simple elements or events
Approach focuses on the contents of the mind
Method of study: introspection

26. Functionalism
An early school of psychology that focuses on the acts and functions of the mind rather than its internal contents
1896
Most prominent advocates were William James and John Dewey

27. Psychoanalytic Perspective
Founder is Sigmund Freud
1900
Introduces the term, psychoanalytic, in scholarly papers
Asserts that people are motivated by powerful, unconscious drives and conflicts
Develops an influential therapy based on this assertion, using free association and dream analysis

28. Behaviorism
John B. Watson publishes “Psychology as Behavior” launching behaviorism
Watson trained as a functionalist
1913
In contrast to psychoanalysis, focuses on observable behavior and measurable behavior

29. Gestalt Perspective Gestalt (German for “whole” or “essence”)
A reaction to structuralism
Asserts that psychological phenomena must be viewed not as individual elements but as a coherent whole
1935
“The whole is different than the sum of its parts.”
Kurt Koffka and Max Wertheimer

30. Modern Perspectives Refer to textbook (Weiten,p. 11)
Psychoanalytic
Behavioral
Biological
Cognitive
Humanistic
Evolutionary
Social-Cultural- THIS ONE IS NOT IN YOUR TEXTBOOK. College Board RECOGNIZES IT AS AN ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVE. INVESTIGATE ITS DEFINITION USING ALTERNATE SOURCES