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What is Psychology?

What is Psychology?. The science of behavior and the mind behavior - observable actions of a person or animal mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences science an objective way to answer questions

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What is Psychology?

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  1. What is Psychology? • The science of behavior and the mind • behavior - observable actions of a person or animal • mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences • science • an objective way to answer questions • based on observable facts / data and well described methods

  2. What is Psychology? • A set of questions about mental functioning • trace back to philosophy • Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc. • A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions • the scientific method • evolved over centuries, first in physics • A product of history • philosophy asked many of the basic questions • physiology used similar methods

  3. Philosophical Developments BIG • A Question: How are mind and body related? • Dualism - body and soul are separate but interrelated • origins in medieval religion • soul is seat of intellectual function and will • mind is product of the soul • mind not subject to scientific inquiry • to challenge this was punishable by death

  4. Philosophical Developments BIG • A Question: How are mind and body related? • Rene Descartes (1596-1650) - modified dualism • since animals have no soul, much behavior does not require soul • the body can therefore control much behavior • led him to study reflexes • the soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human attribute

  5. Philosophical Developments BIG • A Question: How are mind and body related? • Materialism: Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • mind is a product of the brain • soul is not involved in human behavior • Empiricism: • knowledge and intellect are acquired • sensory experiences produce elementary ideas • elementary ideas become associated into complex thought and ideas

  6. Philosophical Developments BIG • Another Question: Empiricism vs. Nativism • Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are innate • If knowledge is innate • What is the purpose of education? • Can intellect be changed by experience? • Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences? • This is known as Nature vs. Nurture • appears throughout modern psychology

  7. Foundations of Modern Psychology • Charles Darwin (1809-1882) • Theory of natural selection (1859) • physical characteristics evolve through natural selection • behavioral patterns also influence selection • inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with survival value are passed on • Human beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science

  8. Foundations of Modern Psychology • Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry • 19th century developments in physiology demonstrated the approach to use • based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory experiments • influential beliefs from early physiology • reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes • localization of function - specific structures of the brain serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior

  9. Foundations of Modern Psychology • Separated from philosophy in 19th century • influences from physiology remain • Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) • Leipzig, Germany • wrote the first psychology textbook • applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind • structuralism - identify ‘atoms’ of the mind • focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes • measured reaction times

  10. Other Pioneers • Edward Titchener (1867-1927) • Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell 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. Other Pioneers • Alfred Binet (1857-1911) • French intelligence researcher • developed first intelligence test • Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) • Russian physiologist • discovered conditioned reflexes • B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) • American psychologist at Harvard • studied learning and effect of reinforcement • behaviorism

  12. Perspectives • Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena • Psychology has multiple perspectives • ethological • biological • psychoanalytic • cognitive • cross- cultural • social

  13. Ethology • The study of animal behavior in the natural environment rather than in a lab setting • Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns • European approach to studying behavior founded by animal researchers, Lorenz and Tinbergen

  14. Biological 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

  15. Clinical 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

  16. Clinical Perspective • View of behavior based on experience treating patients • Humanistic approach • developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers • behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’ • focus on conscious forces and self perception • More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

  17. Cultural Psychology • 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?

  18. Cognitive Perspective • How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ? • Influences include • Piaget - studied intellectual development • Chomsky - studied language • Cybernetics - science of information processing

  19. The Profession of Psychology • American Psychological Association had 52 divisions in 1998 • Some represent areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical) • Some are applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

  20. Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Biological and Experimental 16% Educational 3% Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% School 3% Clinical 36% Counseling 10% Areas of Specialization • Clinical • abnormal behavior and psychological disorders • psychologist vs. psychiatrist • Health psychology • psychological factors in physical health • Counseling • dealing with normal life situations • provide guidance

  21. Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Biological and Experimental 16% Educational 3% Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% School 3% Clinical 36% Counseling 10% Areas of Specialization • Developmental • psychological change over the life span • social, cognitive, personality • School • counseling and guidance in school settings • Educational • learning and teaching

  22. Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Biological and Experimental 16% Educational 3% Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% School 3% Clinical 36% Counseling 10% Areas of Specialization • Psychobiology • brain and behavior • studied at many levels • often uses animals as research model • Experimental • basic laboratory focus • animals or humans • learning, memory, motivation • Cognitive • experimental • human memory, perception, etc.

  23. Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Biological and Experimental 16% Educational 3% Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% School 3% Clinical 36% Counseling 10% Areas of Specialization • Social • social influences on cognition and emotion • attitudes and beliefs • Personality • individual differences • perception by others • Industrial/organizational • people and work • job satisfaction • training and selection

  24. Employment Settings of Psychologists Business & Industry Private Practice School Universities & College Government Professional Work Settings • Colleges and universities • Clinical settings • Elementary and secondary schools • Business • Government

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