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Brain and behavior

Brain and behavior. Mind-body problem will not be solved through science; it is a matter for philosophy Modern physiological psychologists focus on examining the functioning of the brain and nervous systems and how these functions correspond to experience and behavior.

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Brain and behavior

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  1. Brain and behavior • Mind-body problem will not be solved through science; it is a matter for philosophy • Modern physiological psychologists focus on examining the functioning of the brain and nervous systems and how these functions correspond to experience and behavior

  2. Some history of modern physiological psychology • Period of decline in interest in physiological psychology • Behaviorists rejected the need for physiological explanations of behavior • Between 1930 and 1950, job prospects for physiological researchers were bleak • Wilder Penfield: behavioral effects of brain surgery (1940s-1960s)

  3. Donald O. Hebb (1904-1985) • Studied under Lashley; worked with Penfield • Believed childhood experiences were crucial to brain development • Cell assemblies • Phase sequences • Hebb synapses

  4. Social psychology begins • Floyd Allport (1890-1978) • Leon Festinger (1919-1989) • Cognitive dissonance theory • Famous for elaborate research designs creating “experimental reality” for participants

  5. Two approaches to psychology • Nomothetic approach: describe principles that are common to human beings in general (cognitive, biological and social psychology all do this) • Idiographic approach: describe how one individual differs from another; what makes each of us unique (personality psychology does this)

  6. Personality psychology develops • Gordon Allport (1897-1967) • Popularized the idea of the personality trait, a consistent pattern of thinking, feeling or behaving that distinguishes one person from another • Cardinal traits • Central traits • Secondary traits

  7. Developmental psychology: Jean Piaget (1896-1980) • Very bright child; published first scientific article at age of 10! • Earned Ph.D. in biology in 1918 • Interested in philosophical problem of epistemology--how do we obtain knowledge about the world? • Worked in Binet’s lab in Paris, testing children’s intelligence

  8. Piaget’s theories of development • Children think differently than adults! Difference is qualitative, not quantitative • Referred to his approach as “genetic epistemology” (genetic = developmental) • Focused on how mental structures (schemata) develop as a child grows • Saw children as active participants in their own learning

  9. Piaget’s stages of development • Sensory-motor stage • Pre-operational stage • Concrete operational stage • Formal operations stage

  10. A prototypical Piaget “problem” • Which glass has more milk in it?

  11. Development after Piaget • New techniques to study memory, even in infants • “Stage” idea giving way to more of an information-processing approach • Focus on how children learn strategies for remembering and problem-solving • Also greater focus on lifespan development, particularly the issue of aging

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