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Psychology…What is it?

Psychology…What is it?. Where did it come from?. What is Psychology?. study of behavior and mental processes What’s a mental process ?. Psychology is a Science. Empirical approach Think critically “Show me the evidence”. Psychology is a Science. Mind and Body are One Spiritual

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Psychology…What is it?

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  1. Psychology…Whatis it? Where did it come from?

  2. What is Psychology? • study of behavior and mental processes • What’s a mental process?

  3. Psychology is a Science • Empirical approach • Think critically “Show me the evidence”

  4. Psychology is a Science Mind and Body are One • Spiritual • Physical Body influences: • Mental processes • Emotion • Perceptions • Feelings Mind is Like a Blank Slate • All behavior is a result of experiences

  5. Historical Roots Socrates (469-399 B.C.) and Plato (428-348 B.C.) Socrates Plato Emotions distort thinking Perceptions are interpretations of our environment Mind & body are distinct. Ideas are inborn.

  6. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) Mind & body are the same. We do not have ideas inborn. Knowledge (ideas) grow from experience.

  7. Sensation and behavior based on nervous system Debates Continue

  8. Other Contributions • Renee Descartes – agreed with Socrates and Plato -Mind and body are separate -Ideas are inborn • Francis Bacon – interested in the human mind’s failings and tried to explain them scientifically

  9. Empiricism • knowledge comes from experience via the senses • science flourishes through observation and experiment

  10. Psychology’s Roots Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig (c. 1879)

  11. The Growth of Psychology Wilhelm Wundt Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind • STRUCTUALISM Elements of the mind are like the periodic table • Focus on components • Not what it does

  12. Structuralism Edward Bradford Titchner Student of Wundt Developed idea of Introspection Introspection Thinking which takes place while behaving • Self reflection • Feelings while responding • Sensations

  13. Structuralismcontinued • broken into 2 parts • Objective sensations • Subjective feelings Introspection

  14. Use introspection- look and report what we see. Sense the world not how it really is but how we perceive it to be by adding our own interpretations.

  15. Growth of Psychology William James establishes Functionalism – tries to understand the purpose or function of behavior • Consciousness is continuous • Influenced by Darwin – natural selection • Used pragmatism – practical consequences • or practical value of a behavior

  16. Growth of Psychology : Women in Psychology • Mary Calkins (functionalist) • Student of William James • 1890 admitted into Harvard graduate studies for Ph.D. by James • All other students drop studies • Finished Ph.D. and outscored all males • Harvard denied Ph.D. • First woman Pres. APA • Margaret Floy Washburn (structuralist) -Student of E.B. Titchner (Cornell University) -1st Female to receive Ph.D. -2nd woman Pres. APA

  17. Growth of PsychologyBehaviorism Behaviorism – studies behavior that is observable, examines environmental influences Places little value on mental processes John Watson B.F.Skinner

  18. Growth of Psychology continued Gestalt Psychology Max Wertheimer Wolfgang Kohler - whole is greater than the sum of its parts

  19. What do you see?

  20. What do you see?

  21. Perspectives used today • Neuroscience • Evolutionary • Behavior Genetics • Psychodynamic • Behavioral • Cognitive • Sociocultural

  22. Neuroscience perspective • Physical make up and operation of our brains • Causes linked to heredity, neurotransmitters, endocrine system • Emotions, memories and sensory experiences – body & brain link

  23. Evolutionary Perspective • Factors that are passed down to aid survival • Fears, senses, promiscuity • Focus on the past

  24. Behavior Genetics perspective • Genes and environment and operation of our brains influence us • Individuality from the combination of genes and environment • I.Q. • Personality • Sexual Orientation

  25. Psychodynamic Perspective FREUD • Motivated by irrational desires • In unconscious mind • Holds memories of traumatic experiences • Stems from childhood • Emphasizes treatment of disorders over scientific research (why?)

  26. Behavioral Perspective • Study observable behavior • JOHN WATSON, SKINNER, PAVLOV • Environmental cause, rewards & punishments

  27. Cognitive Perspective • Interpreting our experiences • Thoughts, expectations, memories, decisions • Remembering • Problem Solving

  28. Sociocultural Perspective • Zimbardo, Ashe, Milgram • Behavior influenced by culture, norms, expectation. • Social influence • Cultural differences

  29. Questions for Review • The statement “Behavior has developed over eons of time” most directly reflects the perspective of ____________. • Wundt’s technique of reporting one’s conscious mental experiences is known as _____________. • The perspective that asserts behavior is shaped by experience is ______________. evolutionary introspection behavioral

  30. What do psychologists do? • Not all are therapists • Three ways of doing psychology • Experimental psychologists-researchers do research, work at colleges -- Teachers of psychology-academic me- community colleges and universities -- Applied psychologists-practioners use info gathered by the experimenters

  31. Some Applied Psychological Specialties • Developmental Psychology • Personality Psychology • Clinical and Counseling Psychology • Social Psychology • Industrial and Organizational Psychology

  32. 1. Developmental Psychology • Study of physical and mental growth from birth to old age • Subfields • Child psychology • Adolescent psychology • Life-span psychology

  33. 2. Personality Psychology • Study of how people differ from one another on traits such as • Anxiety • Sociability • Self-esteem • Need for achievement • Aggressiveness

  34. 3.Clinical and Counseling Psychology • Clinical psychologists • More severe disorders, hospital or long-term setting • Counseling psychologists • Adjustment, relationships, stress

  35. Clinical Psychology vs. Psychiatry A clinical psychologist (Ph.D.) uses psychotherapy (talk therapy) to help with adjustment and stress. Psychiatrists (M.D.) who can prescribe drugs and psychotherapy to treat psychologically diseased patients.

  36. 4. Social Psychology • Study of how people influence one another • Topics include: • First impressions • Interpersonal attraction • Attitude formation • Prejudice • Behavior in a group

  37. 5.Industrial and Organizational Psychology • Study of psychological principles in industry and business • Examples • Selecting and training personnel • Productivity improvement • Working conditions • Impact of automation on workers

  38. Psychology’s Subfields: Applied Data: APA 1997

  39. Psychology’s Subfields: Applied

  40. Questions for Review • Dr. Smith works at a research facility where her team is trying to establish a link between a specific protein and a specific mental illness. Dr. Smith is engaged in which type of professional psychology? ___________ • Dr. Lee is a medical doctor who works in a hospital setting and specializes in diagnosing and treating people with psychological disorders. His treatment included prescribing medicine. Dr. Lee is most likely a _____________. experimental psychiatrist

  41. Quiz next class

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