The Evolution of Psychology Chapter 1

1. The Evolution of PsychologyChapter 1 George S. Robinson, Jr., Ph.D. Department of Psychology North Carolina A&T State University

2. What is Psychology? • Psychology • Psyche = soul / mind • Logos = study of a subject • “the study of the mind”

3. How Psychology Developed • Wilhelm Wundt (1832 – 1920) • 1879 – 1st psychology laboratory; at the university of Leipzig Germany • 1881 – 1st psychology journal • “the scientific study of conscious experience”

4. How Psychology Developed – cont. • G. Stanley Hall (1846 – 1924) • Wundt’s student • 1st psychology laboratory in America at Johns Hopkins University in 1883 • 1st American psychology journal • 1st president of the APA (American Psychological Association) in 1892 • http://www.apa.org (American Psychological Association)

5. How Psychology Developed – cont. • Structuralism • Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener (1892 at Cornell University) • What is the structure of the mind? • What are the components of conscious experiences? (e.g., sensations, feelings, etc.) • Introspection – systematic self-observation of one’s conscious experiences

6. How Psychology Developed – cont. • Functionalism • What is the function of the mind? • William James (1842 – 1910) – Harvard University • James’ book: “Principles of Psychology” – 1890 • Stream of consciousness instead of breaking it down into elements • Studied child development, sex differences, mental testing, etc.

7. Early Research Laboratories in North America

8. How Psychology Developed – cont. • Gestalt Psychology • Max Wertheimer (1880 – 1943) • “the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts” • Phi phenomenon • Perception

9. How Psychology Developed – cont. • Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939) • The unconscious mind • Slips of the tongue • Dreams • Sexual and aggressive urges • Psychoanalytic theory • Id, Ego, Superego

10. How Psychology Developed – cont. • John B. Watson (1878 – 1958) • Behaviorism – scientific psychology should only study observable behavior • Nature versus nurture; nurture (the environment has the greatest influence on behavior • S-R (stimulus – response) psychology

11. How Psychology Developed – cont. • B.F. Skinner (1904 – 1990) • Behaviorism • Rewards, reinforcement, punishment • “Beyond Freedom and Dignity” – 1971 • “free will is an illusion”

12. How Psychology Developed – cont. • Humanism (1950s) • Carl Rogers (1902 – 1987) and Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) • Self-concept • Humans are unique • The freedom to choose • Potential for full growth and self-actualization

13. Women Pioneers in the History of Psychology

14. African Americans in the History of Psychology • Gilbert Jones • First African American Professor of psychology • Ph.D. at the University of Jena, Germany 1901 • J. Henry Alston • First published research article by an African American psychologists

15. African Americans in the History of Psychology – cont. • Inez Prosser (1897 – 1934) • First African American female to get a Ph.D. in psychology • University of Cincinnati, 1933

16. African Americans in the History of Psychology – cont. • Francis Sumner (1895 - 1954) • first African American to receive a Ph.D. in psychology in the U.S.;1920, Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts • established the psychology department at Howard University

17. African Americans in the History of Psychology – cont. • Mamie Clark (1917 – 1983) and Kenneth Clark (1914 - 2005) • Studied the self-concept (racial identification) in African American children • Brown versus Board of Education (1954) • Kenneth Clark – first African American president of the APA

18. Even the Rat was White

19. Even the Rat was White – Partial Table of Contents • Part I – Psychology and Racial Differences • “The Noble Savage” and Science • Brass Instruments and Dark Skin • Psychometric Scientism • Psychology and Race • Part II Psychology and Psychologists • The Psychology of Survival and Education • Black Psychologists: Training, Employment, and Organizations • Production of Black Psychologists in America • Francis Cecil Sumner: Father of Black American Psychologists • Part III Conclusion • The Past is Prologue • The Myth of Mental Measurement • Psychology and Politics • Old Wine, New Bottles • The Bell Curve: Round and Round We Go

20. Psychology Comes of Age • Applied Psychology • The branch of psychology concerned with everyday, practical problems • Clinical Psychology • The branch of psychology concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems and disorders

21. Renewed Interest in Cognition and Physiology • Cognition • Refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge.

22. Psychology Broadens Its Horizons: Increased Interest in Cultural Diversity • Beyond Western Psychology • Cross-Cultural Psychology

23. Psychology Adapts: The Emergence of Evolutionary Psychology • Evolutionary Psychology • Examines behavioral processes in terms of their adaptive value for members of a species over the course of many generations.

24. Psychology Moves in a Positive Direction • Positive Psychology • Uses theory and research to better understand the positive, adaptive, creative and fulfilling aspects of human existence. • Three areas of interest: • Positive subjective experiences • Positive individual traits • Positive institutions and communities

25. Psychology Today • Psychology Defined: • The science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie it, and it is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems.

26. Research Areas of Psychology • Developmental Psychology • Social Psychology • Educational Psychology • Health Psychology • Physiological Psychology • Experimental Psychology • Cognitive Psychology • Psychometrics • Personality

27. Major Research Areas

28. Professional Practice • Clinical Psychology • Counseling Psychology • Industrial and Organizational Psychology • School Psychology • Clinical Neuropsychology • Forensic Psychology

29. Employment of Psychologists

30. Careers in Psychology – Video Clip

31. Seven Themes in Psychology • Theme 1: Psychology is Empirical • Theme 2: Psychology is Theoretically Diverse • Theme 3: Psychology Evolves in a Sociohistorical context • Theme 4: Behavior is Determined by Multiple Causes • Theme 5: Behavior is Shaped by Culture Heritage • Theme 6: Heredity and Environment Jointly Influence Behavior • Theme 7: People’s Experience of the World is Highly Subjective

32. Improving Academic Performance • Set-up a schedule for studying • For every one hour in class, study at least 2 – 3 hours outside of class • Find a place to study where you can concentrate • Reward your studying • Eat properly, play, and sleep well • SQ3R • survey, question, read, recite, review • See the tips on taking test in your textbook