Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

1. Prologue: Psychology’s Roots • Definition of Psychology • The science of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings) • Psyche – Soul • Logos – The Study of

2. Prologue: Psychology’s Roots Prescientific Psychology • Are we controlled by natural elements or supernatural elements? • Religion vs. Science • Religion/Supernatural • Hippocrates/Natural • Galen/4 Greek Humors • Gall/Phrenology • Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience? • Aristotle (heart) • Plato (head)

3. Philosophical Developments BIG The Question: Nature vs. Nurture • The relative contribution that genes and experience make to development of psychological traits and behaviors • Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences? • What are the interactions between genetics and environment? • What effect does it have on behavior? • Where do you stand?

4. Prologue: Contemporary Psychology • John Locke empiricist; believed that knowledge is acquired solely through life experiences. Tabula Rasa: blank tablet Claimed each of us is born a blank slate on which are written the life experiences we acquire through our senses. (Plato believed just the opposite)

5. Prologue: Contemporary Psychology • Rene Descartes rationalist; insisted we should doubt everything that is not proved by our own reasoning. True knowledge comes through correct reasoning and it is inborn.

6. Prologue: Psychology’s Roots • Psychological Science Is Born • Empiricism • Knowledge comes from experience via the senses • Science flourishes through observation and experiment

7. Wundt is referred to as the “father of psychology” because in 1879 he started the first laboratory in psychology for studying humans. He broke into parts the elements of feelings and thought. Using a procedure called “introspection” he introduced scientific procedure to study feelings. Wilhelm Wundt

8. Prologue: Psychology’s Roots • Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structures or “atoms” of the human mind

9. E. B. Titchener (1867–1927)

10. Other Pioneers • Edward Titchener (1867–1927) • Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University • G. Stanley Hall (1844-1924) • Wundt’s student, brought lab to USA at John’s Hopkins University • William James (1842–1910) • started psychology at Harvard in 1870s • opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach • functionalism – influenced by Darwin to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment • Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) • Austrian physician that focused on illness • psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders

11. James is considered to be one of the founders of American psychology. In 1890, he published Principles of Psychology. The book was 1400 pages long, two volumes in length and it took him 12 years to write. Unlike Wundt, he did not want to break behavior into parts; instead, he never wanted to lose sight of the individual as a whole. His goal was to uncover the “functions” of the mind …FUNCTIONALISM William James

12. Prologue: Psychology’s Roots • Functionalism focused on how behavioral processes function- how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

13. Other Pioneers • Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) • Austrian physician that focused on illness • psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders • John B. Watson (1878–1958) • psychologists should study overt behavior • Adapted Pavlovian learning theory to humans • B. F. Skinner (1904–1990) • American psychologist at Harvard • studied learning and effect of reinforcement • behaviorism

14. John B. Watson (1878–1958)

15. B. F. Skinner (1904–1990)

16. Prologue: Psychology’s Roots • Psychological Science Develops • Wundt--German philosopher and physiologist • James--American philosopher • Pavlov--Russian physiologist • Freud--Austrian physician • Piaget--Swiss biologist • Wortheimer, Kohler, Koffka – Czech perceptual psychologists

17. Prologue: Contemporary Psychology • Psychology’s Perspectives

18. Approaches to Psychology Biological Behavioral Psychoanalytic Humanistic Cognitive Sociocultural

19. A. Biological/Neuroscience Perspective • Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior • Focus may be at various levels • individual neurons • areas of the brain • specific functions like eating, emotion, or learning • Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

20. B. Evolutionary Perspective • Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns • Application of principles of evolution to explain behavior and psychological processes

21. On the Origin of Species was published in 1859. His theory was that humans and animals had evolved and changed. His theory inspired scientists to study animals in order to understand human behavior. Charles Darwin

22. Prologue: Contemporary Psychology Charles Darwin • Natural selection • principle that those inherited trait variations contributing to survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

23. C. Behavior-Genetics Perspective • Influenced by Nature vs. Nurture Debate • How do our genes influence behavior and how does our environment influence our mental processes?

24. Watson studied the impact of learning on people. This led to the school of behaviorism. He believed that careful and structured parenting could eliminate psychological problems. Watson later wrote a book applying scientific methods to raising children. John B. Watson

25. People such as B. F. Skinner (pictured to the left) and John B. Watson are called behaviorists. This approach emphasizes that behavior is primarily the result of learning and not due to a person’s thoughts and unconscious processes. The Behavioral Approach

26. D. Behavioral Perspective • View of behavior based on experience or learning • Classical conditioning • Operant conditioning

27. E. Cognitive Perspective • How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior? • Influences include • Wortheimer, Kohler, Koffka – Gestalt • Find the “whole pattern” of our perceptions • Piaget – studied intellectual development • Chomsky – studied language • Cybernetics – science of information processing

28. This approach looks at the impact that society, culture, ethnicity, race, and religion have on personality. F. The Sociocultural Approach Cognitive Psychoanalytic

29. Cross-Cultural Perspective • The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups • How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture? • What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?

30. Freud developed the first comprehensive theory of human development and behavior, especially how the personality develops. He believed that childhood memories and thoughts influenced the behavior of people when they became adults. Sigmund Freud

31. G. Psychodynamic Perspective • View of behavior based on experience treating patients • Psychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud) • both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind • behavior reflects combinations of conscious and unconscious influences • drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior • early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations

32. H. Humanistic Perspective • Developed by Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers • behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’ • focus on conscious forces and self perception • more positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

33. Carl Rogers is the best known of the humanists. This approach emphasizes that people have free will, self-concepts and are basically good. Humanists believe that every person can fulfill his or her potential. The Humanistic Approach

34. Carl Rogers (1902–1987) Abraham Maslow (1908–1970)

35. Review

36. Psychology should study how behavior and mental processes allow organisms to adapt to their environments School/Approach Evolutionary perspective Founder Charles Darwin

37. Psychology should emphasize people’s unique potential for psychological growth School/Approach Humanistic Founder Maslow

38. Psychology should only study observable behavior? School/Approach Behaviorism Founder Watson/Skinner

39. Which Perspective? Which Perspective? Emily is anxious because of a hormonal imbalance. Once the doctors prescribe the right medicine, she feels “normal” again.

40. Which Perspective? Samantha won’t acknowledge that she has an addiction. She’d rather lie to herself than admit the truth. Even though she wants to quit, she keeps going back to the same old habits. Each time she finds herself giving in to her urges and using, she finds a way to “forget” it ever happened so she doesn’t feel guilty.

41. Which Perspective? Betty is a naughty child because her parents never give her consequences and they always give in to her demands. She often throws tantrums and acts out at the grocery store because she knows they will buy her treats to keep her quiet. They are training her to have a “naughty” personality.

42. Which Perspective? Bob is depressed because he keeps thinking self-defeating thoughts. He never looks at the bright side of things. Once he gets into a negative mood, his thoughts spiral him down emotionally into a state of depression.

43. Which Perspective? Fernando would like to be on the varsity team before he graduates. He sets a goal to works every day throughout the off season to get better. However, his parents didn’t think it is worth his time. They make him get a summer job. When tryouts arrive, he is not selected for the team. He feels defeated and his self-esteem suffers, causing him to perform poorly in school.

44. Which Perspective? Roger spent his entire childhood in a rough neighborhood. He learned that fighting is part of life. When he moved to a new neighborhood his junior year, his parents were embarrassed by the number of times he got suspended for fighting. If only the administration knew where he’s really coming from….

45. Free Responses in AP Psych • FR Tip Sheet • Andrea Yates Assignment – “Motherhood and Murder” • Evaluation Sheet/Rubric T D A A!

46. Field vs. Perspective Field – A career/job related (in this case) to psychology. Perspective – The lens through which you view your job/career/humans

47. Four Goals of Psychology(in every field) To: Describe Explain Predict Control (help) Human behavior and mental processes.

50. Prologue: Contemporary Psychology • Psychology’s Perspectives • A lot depends on your viewpoint