1. History and Perspectives in Psychological Science
Module 01
History and Perspectives in Psychological Science

2. Module Overview The Definition of Psychology Modern Psychology’s Roots
Psychology in the Twentieth Century
Psychology’s American Groundbreakers
Six Psychological Perspectives
Psychology in the Twenty-First Century
Click on the any of the above hyperlinks to go to that section in the presentation.

3. The Definition of Psychology
Module 01: History and Perspectives in Psychological Science

4. Psychology Scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Uses scientific research methods.
Behavior includes all observable behavior.
Mental processes include thoughts, feelings and dreams.

5. Basic Research
Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.
Research with the explicit purpose of finding new information

6. Applied Research
Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.
Research with the purpose of using psychology to better the world.

7. Modern Psychology’s Roots
Module 01: History and Perspectives in Psychological Science

8. Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Founder of modern psychology;
he opened the first psychology laboratory.
The “father of psychology”
The opening of the lab in 1879 in Leipzig is considered the beginning of the field of psychology.

9. Wilhelm Wundt ( )
Used introspection (describing one’s conscious experience)
First to use of the scientific method in studying consciousness

10. E.B. Titchener (1867-1927) Founder of structuralism
Analyzed the intensity, clarity and quality of the parts of consciousness
Stressed psychology as a descriptive science

11. Structuralism
Theory that the structure of conscious experience could be understood by analyzing the basic elements of thoughts and sensations.

13. Gestalt Psychology
Psychological perspective that emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.
The whole is different from the sum of its parts.

15. William James (1842-1910) First American psychologist and
author of the first psychology textbook
Founder of Functionalism

16. Functionalism
Theory that emphasized the functions of consciousness or the ways consciousness helps people adapt to their environment

18. Psychology in the Twentieth Century
Module 01: History and Perspectives in Psychological Science

19. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Founder of psychoanalysis,
a controversial theory about the workings of the unconscious mind.
Believed that abnormal behavior originated from unconscious drives and conflicts

20. Psychoanalysis Freud’s theory of personality; also,
a therapeutic technique that attempts to provide insights into thoughts and actions by exposing and interpreting the underlying unconscious motives and conflicts

21. Freud’s Influence Influence on “pop culture” Freudian slips
Anal-retentive
Influence on psychology
Psychodynamic theory
Unconscious thoughts
Significance of childhood experiences

22. Ivan Pavlov ( )
Russian physiologist and learning theorist famous for the discovery of classical conditioning, in which learning occurs through associations.
Studied learning in animals
Emphasized the study of observable behaviors

23. John B. Watson (1878-1958) Founder of behaviorism,
the theory that psychology should restrict its efforts to studying observable behaviors, not mental processes.
Emphasized objective and scientific methodology
Little Albert study

24. Behaviorism
The theory that psychology should only study observable behaviors, not mental processes.
Today focuses on learning through rewards and observation

25. B.F. Skinner ( )
American behavioral psychologist who developed the fundamental principles and techniques of operant conditioning and
devised ways to apply them to the real world.

26. Humanistic Psychology
A perspective that focuses on the study of conscious experience, the individual’s freedom to choose, and the capacity for personal growth
Stressed the study of conscious experience and an individual’s free will
Healthy individuals should strive to reach their full potential.
Rejected idea that behavior is controlled by rewards and punishments

27. Carl Rogers ( )
Humanist psychologist who developed client-centered therapy and
stressed the importance of acceptance, genuineness, and empathy in fostering human growth.

28. Abraham Maslow ( )
Humanistic psychologist who proposed the hierarchy of needs,
with self-actualization as one of the ultimate psychological needs.

29. Jean Piaget ( )
Pioneer in the study of developmental psychology who introduced a stage theory of cognitive development that led to a better understanding of children’s thought processes.
Interested in how thinking develops
Believed younger children thought differently than older children

30. Psychology’s American Groundbreakers
Module 01: History and Perspectives in Psychological Science

31. G. Stanley Hall ( )
First American with a doctorate in psychology
Open the first psychology lab in U.S. at John Hopkins University
First president of the APA

32. Mary Whiton Calkins (1863-1930)
First woman to complete the requirements for a Ph.D. in psychology
President of the APA in 1905

33. Margaret Floy Washburn (1871-1930)
First woman to receive a Ph.D. in psychology in the U.S.

34. Francis Cecil Sumner (1895-1954)
First African-American to receive a Ph.D. in psychology

35. Inez Beverly Prosser (1897-1934)
First African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in psychology

36. Kenneth Clark (1914-2005) Mamie Philips Clark (1917-1983)
Researchers whose work was used in the Brown vs. Board of Education case that overturned segregation in schools.
Educational psychologists
Studied institutionalized racism

37. Six Psychological Perspectives
Module 01: History and Perspectives in Psychological Science

38. Cognitive Perspective
School of thought that focuses on how people think – how we
take in,
process, store, and
retrieve information.
Emphasizes how people think about and interpret a situation

41. Biological Perspective
School of thought that focuses on the physical structures and substances underlying a particular behavior, thought, or emotion
Behavior is explained by brain chemistry, genetics, glands, etc.

44. Social-Cultural Perspective
School of thought that focuses on how thinking or behavior changes in different situations or as a result of cultural influences.

47. Behavioral Perspective
Focus: How we learn through rewards, punishments, and observation
Behavior is explained by previous learning

50. Humanistic Perspective
Focus: How healthy people strive to reach their full potential
Behavior is explained as being motivated by satisfying needs (safety, hunger, thirst, etc.), with the goal of reaching one’s full potential once basic needs are met.

53. Psychodynamic Perspective
Focus: How behavior is affected by unconscious drives and conflicts
Behavior is explained through unconscious motivation and unresolved inner conflicts from one’s childhood.
Modern version of psychoanalytic perspective.

56. Psychology in the Twenty-First Century
Module 01: History and Perspectives in Psychological Science

57. Behavior Genetics
The school of thought that focuses on how much our genes and our environment influence our individual differences
Focus: How behavior is affected by genes and the environment
Combines biology and behaviorism

58. Evolutionary Psychology
School of thought that focuses on the principles of natural selection to study the roots of behavior and mental processes.
Combines aspects of biological, psychological, and social aspects of human behavior
Behavior is explained by how the behavior may have helped our ancestors survive long enough to reproduce successfully.

59. Positive Psychology
A movement in psychology that focuses on the study of optimal human functioning
and the factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive
Focus: To study and promote optimal human functioning
Martin E.P. Seligman is a major advocate
Should promote building positive qualities of people

60. The End