Psychology

1. Psychology History & Perspectives

2. Psychology = Science of behavior and mental processes A specific way of asking and answering questions. Any action that is observable and thus recordable. Internal experiences such as sensations, dreams, thoughts, and feelings

3. Life Before Psychology • Philosophy asks questions about the mind: • Does perception accurately reflect reality? • How is sensation turned into perception? Problem - No “scientific” way of studying problems René Descartes (1596-1650) Physiology asks similar questions about the mind Predict what will happen Systematically observe events Do events support predictions SCIENTIFIC METHOD

4. Founders • John Locke (1600’s) • Experience shapes the mind • “Tabula Rasa” or blank slate • Charles Darwin (mid-1800s) • His idea of natural selection says that nature chooses those characteristics or behaviors that best enable an organism to survive. • This helped explain why organisms behave the way they do.

5. Psychology Is Born First Experimental Psych Lab (1879) Focuses on the scientific study of the mind. WW insists that Psych methods be as rigorous as the methods of chemistry & physics. Wundt’s students start labs across USA (1880-1900) Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) University of Leipzig Harvard University Yale University Columbia University Catholic University Univ of Pennsylvania Cornell University Stanford University

6. Looking inward will show us structure! Structuralism • Introspection was a technique used in which subjects report in response to stimuli (red light). • Introspection means to look inside oneself. • If we can understand the building blocks of basic processes, we will be able to put it together to understand complex processes. • Edward Titchener came to the U.S. and used Wundt’s approach.

7. Functionalism How do people function? • William James, the first American psychologist, felt that structuralism was too limited. • Founded functionalism, which studied how complex mind processes evolve because of life preserving functions. • He studied not only observations, but how mental processes, emotions, and self-concept worked to influence behavior.

8. Structuralism vs Functionalism Structuralism Analyze consciousness into basic elements and study how they are related Introspection - self-observation of one’s own conscious experiences Wilhelm Wundt Functionalism Investigate the function, or purpose of consciousness rather than its structure Leaned toward applied work (natural surroundings) William James (1842-1910)

9. Early Psychologists • Mary Calkins (1863-1930) was one of James’ students at Harvard. • She became the first woman to earn a PhD in Psychology at Harvard, but never received it. • She later became the 1st female President of the APA.

10. Different Perspectives in Psychology Psychoanalytic Psychology Biological Psychology Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Social-Cultural Psychology Humanistic Psychology

11. Freud & Psychoanalysis Proposes the idea of the UNCONSCIOUS Thoughts, memories & desires exist below conscious awareness and exert an influence on our behavior Unconscious expressed in dreams & “slips of the tongue” Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Psychoanalytic Theory attempts to explain personality, mental disorders & motivation in terms of unconscious determinants of behavior

12. Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Physiologist & Perceptual Psychologist Founder of Psychology as a Science Experiments Edward Titchner (1867-1927) Student of Wundt Formed Y at Cornell Introspection Psychology Understanding Mental Processes Psychology (pre-1920) William James (1842-1910) Philosopher & Psychologist Formed Y at Harvard

13. Psych = the Science of Behavior Behaviorism Scientific Psychology should focus on observable behavior not introspection. Mental Processes cannot be studied directly John Watson (1878-1958) Stimulus Response Psychology

14. Behaviorist Perspective • Ivan Pavlov used conditioning of dogs to show that behavior is learned. • The dogs were conditioned to salivate when a tone was sounded.

15. Psychology Science of Observable Behavior Behaviorism Psychology (1920s-1960s) John B. Watson (1878-1958) Behavior without Reference to Thought The RAT & S-R Psychology B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) Behaviorism with a Twist The PIGEON & The Skinner Box

16. Behavioral/Clinical Perspective Focus How we learn from observable responses. How to best study, assess and treat troubled people. • Sample Issues • How do we learn to fear particular objects or situations? • What is the most effective way to alter certain behaviors? • What are the underlying causes of: • Anxiety Disorders • Phobic Disorders • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

17. Biological Perspective • Our behavior is a result of our physiological processes and biological development. • Study psychological effects of genes, hormones, activity of the nervous system and the brain.

18. Biological Perspective Focus How the body and brain create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences. • Sample Issues • How do evolution and heredity influence behavior? • How are messages transmitted within the body? • How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives?

19. Cognitive Psychology Cognition the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing & using information Cognitive Psychologists return to the study of learning, memory, language, development & problem solving Noam Chomsky “Language” Advent of computers (late 1950s) provides a new model for thinking about the mind

20. Psychology Science of Behavior & Mental Processes Cognitive Y Cognitive Psychology (1960s-1990s) Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) The Dynamic Unconscious Mind Psychoanalysis Computers as Metaphor for Mind Study Mind through Inferences Drawn From Observable Behavior

21. Cognitive example • Shoe • Sandwich • Fruit • Blouse • Pants • Potato • Soup • Skirt

22. Cognitive Example • Count backward from 100 by threes. • Write down the list of words from before. • Shoe Sandwich • Blouse Fruit • Pants Potato • Skirt Soup • Did you categorized them? • This is a basic finding of cognitive psychologists.

23. Cognitive Perspective Focus How we process, store, and retrieve information. • Sample Issues • How do we use info in remembering and reasoning? • How do our senses govern the nature of perception? • (Is what you see really what you get?) • How much do infants “know” when they are born?

24. Social-Cultural Perspective Focus How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures. • Sample Issues • How are we, as members of different races and • nationalities, alike as members of one human family? • How do we differ, as products of different social contexts? • Why do people sometimes act differently in groups than • when alone?

25. Behavior is Shaped by Culture Personal Space Value of Education Punctuality Social Norms

26. Influence of Heredity & Environment Nature versus Nurture

27. Humanistic Perspective • This perspective emphasizes the unique qualities of humans. • Free will, self-concept, and self-fulfillment are emphasized. • People are naturally positive and growth seeking. • Ex. - desire for love, self-esteem, acceptance, etc.

28. The Biopsychosocial model • Takes into account all of the perspectives. • Views biological processes (genes, brain functions, etc.) psychological factors (learning, thinking, emotion, etc.) and social forces (family, school, culture, etc.) as interrelated influences.

29. Elementary/ Secondary Schools 4.2% Universities & Colleges 27.2% Independent Practice 33.1% Hospitals, Counseling, Clinics, etc. 22.3% Business, Government or Consulting 12.1% Work In Psychology (?)

30. Specialties In Psychology General/Quantitative 3.6% Cognitive/Physio 5.2% Clinical, Community & Counseling 51.1% I/O 5.7% Social/ Developmental 6.4% Other 8.6% Ed & School 19.4%

31. Clinical Psychologists • Help people with psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, or severe psychological disorders • Clinical psychologist help their clients overcome problems and adjust to the demands of life. • They also help people with problems in their relationships, addictions, or weight control.

32. Clinical Psychologists continued…. • Clinical psychologists are trained to evaluate psychological problems through use of interviews and psychological tests • Then they help clients understand and resolve their problems by changing ineffective or harmful behaviors.

33. Psychiatrists • A psychiatrist is a MEDICAL DOCTOR. • They specialize in treatment of psychological problems and can PRESCRIBE MEDICATION

34. Counseling Psychologists • Typically treat people with adjustment problems rather than those with serious psychological disorders • Ex: • Struggling making a decision about ones career • Having difficulty making friends • Having conflicts with family members, teachers, employers, etc • Dealing with parents’ divorce • Counseling psychologists help people identify their goals, overcome adjustment problems, and meet challenges

35. School Psychologists • School psychologists help identify and help students with problems by talking with teachers, parents, and the student themselves. • They may also administer tests such as intelligence tests and achievement tests. • School psychologists help identify and assist students with special needs, learning difficulties or disorders, and students who may be academically gifted. • In many school districts school psychologists help place students in certain classes to help them be successful

36. Education Psychologists • They are concerned with helping students learn, but focus more on planning and instructional methods for an entire system • They are concerned with theoretical issues that relate to how we measure student abilities, learning, and development • They help decide which tests are most effective in determining student success. • They also help consider how certain items on tests or certain instructional methods in the classroom account for student differences and promote their success.

37. Developmental Psychologists • Study the changes that occur throughout a person’s lifespan • Include: • Physical changes • emotional changes • Cognitive changes • social changes They also look at how heredity (genes) and the environment influence a person’s development

38. Personality Psychologists • Identify characteristics or traits • Looks for different traits people have and then study these traits • They share this information with clinical psychologists who are interested in the origins of certain psychological disorders

39. Social Psychologists • Concerned with people’s behavior in social situations • Look at how men and women act in same settings/ different settings • What attracts people to one another • Why people tend to conform to groups standards and expectations • How people change in groups • What effects prejudice • Why people act aggressive or why people help others in certain situations

40. Experimental Psychologists • Conduct research into basic human processes such as the nervous system • Engage in basic research • Has no immediate application, but is done for its own sake • Their findings are often put into practice by other psychological specialists.

41. Organizational/Industrial Psychologists • Focus on people and work • Improve working conditions • Job satisfaction • Help people who have problems on the job

42. Environmental Psychologists • Focus on the way in which people influence and are influenced by their environment.

43. Consumer Psychologists • Study behaviors of shoppers to explain and predict their behavior

44. Forensic Psychologists • Work within the criminal justice system • Can testify about the psychological competence of a defendant • They may be called to explain how psychological problems can give rise to certain criminal behaviors • Help select police officers • Train police officers in handling dangerous situations such as suicide threats, hostage crises, and family violence

45. Health Psychologists • May study the effects of stress on health problems such as headaches and heat disease • Try to explain why some people follow doctors advice and some disregard it • Help people adopt helpful lifestyle changes such as exercising