1. History and Scope of Psychology – Module 1 Person vs. Situation General Psychology 1 Dr. Stephen Weiss January 25, 2005 Class #1

2. What is Psychology? Psychology Psychology The science (or study) of behavior and mental processesThe science (or study) of behavior and mental processes How we try to explain behaviorHow we try to explain behavior A systematic study A systematic study Having a method or a planHaving a method or a plan

3. Relatively speaking, it’s a new field… Philosophy’s been around “forever”… Philosophy’s been around “forever”… Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc. since 400 B.C.Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc. since 400 B.C. In contrast, psychology’s first laboratory was established in Germany in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt In contrast, psychology’s first laboratory was established in Germany in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt Its really not until the late 1800’s and early 1900’s that psychology starts making its mark Its really not until the late 1800’s and early 1900’s that psychology starts making its mark So, we’re just 125 years old or so So, we’re just 125 years old or so

4. Is it the Person or is it the Situation? Internal and External influences: Internal and External influences: InternalInternal Inner personality Inner personality ExternalExternal Specific situational factors Specific situational factors What's more influential insofar as prediction of a person’s behavior is concerned? What's more influential insofar as prediction of a person’s behavior is concerned?

5. Is it the Person or is it the Situation? Or both??? To address this issue, we will be analyzing real-life and experimental examples all semester To address this issue, we will be analyzing real-life and experimental examples all semester Today’s examples:Today’s examples: Subway Conductor Subway Conductor Kitty Genovese tragedy Kitty Genovese tragedy

6. Perspectives of Psychology Biological (Neuroscience) Biological (Neuroscience) Genes, hormones, drugs, etc.Genes, hormones, drugs, etc. Psychoanalytic Psychoanalytic Unconscious drives (Freud)Unconscious drives (Freud) Behavioral Behavioral We are shaped by the external environment (Watson)We are shaped by the external environment (Watson) Humanistic Humanistic Free will to make decisions (Rogers)Free will to make decisions (Rogers) Cognitive Cognitive How we process information to help us perceive situationsHow we process information to help us perceive situations Evolutionary Evolutionary SurvivalSurvival Social-Cultural Social-Cultural How behavior varies across culturesHow behavior varies across cultures

7. Emotion of Anger How would a psychologist from each perspective explain the why someone has a “short fuse”? How would a psychologist from each perspective explain the why someone has a “short fuse”? Biological? Psychoanalytic? Behavioral? Humanistic?Cognitive? Evolutionary?Social-Cultural? Biological? Psychoanalytic? Behavioral? Humanistic?Cognitive? Evolutionary?Social-Cultural?

8. Subfields of Psychology Cognitive Cognitive Biological Biological Personality Personality Developmental Developmental Quantitative Quantitative Clinical Clinical Experimental Experimental Environmental Environmental Counseling Counseling Community Community Educational Educational School School Social Social Industrial/ Organizational Industrial/ Organizational Forensic Forensic