The Science of Psychology

1. The Science of Psychology Chapter 1 Section 1 Pages 1-9

2. Objectives-#3 • Explain what psychology is and what it is not • Describe the genesis or beginning of psychology and identify the key figures (Wundt, James, Freud) • List the (5) major theoretical perspectives of psychology

3. Lets start at the beginning… • Psychology- the discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organisms physical state, mental state and external environment • Research • Testable • Like saying car is vehicle for transport… without saying different than bus or train, ford different than Ferrari, and how catalytic converter works.

4. What Psych. Is NOT • popular psych- self-help books, talk shows • Graphology (handwriting analysis), fortune telling, numerology, and astrology…NOT 1 Psychic or astrologer predicted events of Sep, 11. • Common sense is sometimes WRONG! • Psych IS empirical evidence- Gathered by careful observation, experimentation and measurement

5. Not psych

6. Nope

7. First Psychology Lab • 1879, Leipzig Germany: William Wundt (VIL-helm Voont) (1832-1920) • Used trained introspection: subjects carefully observe, analyze, and describe their own sensations, mental images, emotional reactions. • Break down (ANALYZE) behavior into basic elements. • Negitive is analysis to subjective: Only rich, German, Males • Positive is Spawns N.American psychologists

8. Wundt’s lab

9. More early psych approaches • Functionalism- function or purpose of behavior • Father of functionalism= William James • William James- (1842-1910) American philosopher, physician, psychiatrist • Inspired by Charles Darwin (1809-1882) • How actions assist an animal or person adapt to the environment? • Positive- cause and consequences (effects) of behavior sets course of psych.

10. William James- Functionalism

11. Psychotherapy- Psychoanalysis • Vienna, Austria • Others in labs, working on psy.science • Sigmund Freud- Neurologist, LISTINING to his patients • Nervous habits, problems, depression • WORD ASSOCIATION • Thought mind caused problems not body

12. How was your day?

13. chapter 1 Major Psychological perspectives • Biological perspective • Learning perspective • Cognitive perspective • Sociocultural perspective • Psychodynamic perspective

14. Psychology’s Present (5 major theoretical perspectives • 1. Biological-Body events affect behavior, feelings, thoughts. • Nervous system, electrical impulses. • Specialty: evolutionary psychology- functionalism+ genetics • Body interacts with environment

15. 2.Learning Perspective- how the environment and experiences effect Our human, animal actions • 2 different learning perspectives= • Behavioristsfocus on rewards, punishments • Social cognitive learning- focus on thoughts, values, intentions society teaches us (baby- boy blue) • many practical apps

16. 3. Cognitive Perspective • What goes on in peoples heads • Reason, understand, remember, explain experiences, acquire moral standards…How did you know? • “Cognitive” Latin for “to know” • Mental process: thinking effects behavior and feelings

17. 4. Sociocultural perspective • Social and cultural forces • How we kiss, how we eat, treat other people, run households • Study the “water” people swim in everyday • Thoughts, feelings, behavior

18. 5. Psychodynamic Perspective • Unconscious dynamic within individual • Inner forces, conflict, instinctual energy • Freud= psychodynamic • Emotional states • The Thumb on the hand of Psychology

19. Other recent additions • Humanistic psychology • Newer, 1960’s • Free will, personal growth, resilience • Positive psychology

20. Questions? • SUMMARY TIME! • What is psychology • Key figures • Approaches