1. Approaches to Psychology

2. Historical Approaches

3. Structuralism: Elements of the Mind
Wilhelm Wundt
The study of the most basic elements of the mind including sensation and perception. The elements that make up our conscious mental experiences.
Introspection- the method of exploring conscious mental processes by asking subjects to report their sensations and perceptions.

4. Functionalism: Functions of the Mind
William James
The study of the function of the mind (how it works) in regards to consciousness.
Focused on how our minds adapt to our changing environment and scenarios.

5. Gestalt Approach: Sensations VS. Perception
Max Wertheimer
Emphasized that perception is more than reality.
Studied how sensations are put together into meaningful perceptual experiences.
Sensations affected by our experiences and our perceptions.

6. Behaviorism: Observable Behaviors
John Watson
Emphasized the objective and scientific analysis of behavior.
Psychological experiments through observing subjects through different stages of life and consciousness.

7. Modern Approaches

8. Biological
Genes, hormones, and nervous systems interact with our environments to influence learning, personality, memory, motivation, emotions, and coping.

9. Cognitive How we process, store, and use information.
How this information influences what we attend to, perceive, learn, remember, believe, and feel.

10. Behavioral
How organisms (humans) learn new behaviors or modify existing ones.
Largely experimented and proved by observation.

11. Psychoanalytic
Based on the belief that childhood experiences influence the development of later personality traits and psychological problems.
Stresses the influence of unconscious fears, desires, and motivations.

12. Humanistic
Each individual has great freedom in directing his/her future.
Large capacity for achievement and personal growth.
Potential for self-fulfillment.

13. Cross-Cultural
Influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences on psychological and social functioning.