1. Unit 1: Psychology’s History and Approaches

2. What is Psychology?

3. Prescientific Psychology What is the relationship of the mind to the body? Mind and body are connected Mind and body are distinct The Hebrews Socrates Aristotle Plato Augustine Descartes

4. Prescientific Psychology How are ideas formed? Some ideas are inbornThe mind is a blank slate SocratesAristotle PlatoLocke

5. Psychology as a Science STRUCURALISM Wilhelm Wundt…father of Psychology ● Established 1 st formal psychological laboratory in 1879 in Leipzig, Germany ● Goal was to study consciousness—how the elements of the mind are organized and related to one another ● Used introspection- looking inward

6. Psychology as a Science FUNCTIONALISM ● 1 ST American psychologist ● Criticized Wundt for ideas being too narrow and boring ● Influenced by Darwin ● Interested in understanding how consciousness (like thoughts and feelings) functions to help people adapt to their environments ● Used introspection but also questionnaires and mental tests William James

7. Psychological Science (modern) PSYCHOANALYSIS ● 1 ST to focus on abnormal behaviors ● Believed all behavior & mental processes are directed by unconscious forces ● Problems arise from unresolved conflict in the unconscious mind ● Used free association and dream analysis to explore unconscious mind ● Ideas were (and still are) controversial, yet have great influence on the field of psychology Sigmund Freud

8. Psychology as a science (modern) BEHAVIORISM ● Very popular from 1920s-1960s ● Disagreed with practically everyone in field ● Believed that psychology should only study what could be observed and measured objectively (Watson) ● Also insisted that solely external factors shape behaviors (Skinner) ● Thoughts & “hidden parts of the mind” not relevant. J.B Watson B.F Skinner

9. Contemporary Psychology We define psychology today as the scientific study of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (inner thoughts and feelings). Psychology’s Big Debate Nature vs. Nurture Controversy over whether human traits and behaviors are based on biology (nature) or one’s environment/experiences (nurture)

10. Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

14. Psychology’s Current Perspectives PerspectiveFocusQuestions for study NeuroscienceUnderstanding how the brain and body create thoughts, emotions and memories How are messages transmitted throughout the body? How is blood chemistry linked with motives? EvolutionaryHow the natural selection process has caused behavior (genes) to develop/adapt How does evolution influence behavior tendencies? Behavior geneticsHow much our genes and environment influence individual differences To what extent does our genes/environ. Impact personality, intelligence, or mental disorders? PsychodynamicEmphasis on the unconscious as director of all behavior How does the energy from the unconscious motivate our actions?

15. Psychology’s Current Perspectives PerspectiveFocusQuestions for study BehavioralHow our behavior is shaped by the learning processes How do we use information to remember? How does interpretation impact behavior? CognitiveHow we take in, store, and retrieve information, and how our perceptions influence our actions How do we use information to remember? How does interpretation impact behavior? HumanisticEmphasis on human growth and potential as well as self-concept How can I make myself a better person?

16. Psychology’s Current Perspectives PerspectiveFocusQuestions for study Social- CulturalHuman behavior must be interpreted in proper social and cultural context How are various ethnic groups alike? Different? How are social influences different across cultures?

17. Definition Slides

18. Empiricism = the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation.

19. Structuralism = an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of the human mind.

20. Functionalism = a school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function – how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish.

21. Experimental Psychology = the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method.

22. Behaviorism = the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. ● Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

23. Humanistic Psychology = historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual’s potential for personal growth.

24. Cognitive Neuroscience = the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

25. Psychology = the science of behavior and mental processes.

26. Nature-Nurture Issue = the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. ● Today’s science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

27. Natural Selection = the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

28. Levels of Analysis = the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.

29. Biopsychosocial Approach = an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

30. Biological Psychology = a branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes.

31. Evolutionary Psychology = the study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection.

32. Psychodynamic Psychology = a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders.

33. Behavioral Psychology = the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning.

34. Cognitive Psychology = the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

35. Social-Cultural Psychology = the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking.

36. Psychometrics = the scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.

37. Basic Research = pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

38. Developmental Psychology = the scientific study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

39. Educational Psychology = the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning.

40. Personality Psychology = the study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

41. Social Psychology = the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

42. Applied Research = scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

43. Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology = the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces.

44. Human Factors Psychology = the study of how people and machines interact resulting in the design of machines and environments.

45. Counseling Psychology = a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, and marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.

46. Clinical Psychology = a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

47. Psychiatry = a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

48. SQ3R = a study method incorporating five steps; Survey, Question, Read, Rehearse, Review.