Chapter 1: What is Psychology and what are its roots?

1. Chapter 1: What is Psychology and what are its roots?

2. What is Psychology? • Psychology derives its roots from ancient Greek culture. It literally means “the study of the mind.” • According to modern day psychologists, the science of behavior and mental processes is called psychology.

3. Greeks and Philosophy/Psychology 1. The Greek philosophers Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato are credited with the inception of psychology. 2. These philosophers developed two practical theories concerning psychology: a) Emotions can distort behavior. b) And, our perceptions are merely interpretation of the external world. 3. The Greeks also developed some bizarre notions regarding psychology: a) Emotions flow from the heart, liver, and spleen. • b) Mental disorders can be caused by excessive bile.

4. History of Psych • 4. When the medieval Roman Catholic Church ruled over Europe, they began to preach that the mind was an “unsolvable mystery.” It operates completely outside the natural laws that govern this world. • 5. In the 17th century, French philosopher Rene Decartes asserted that emotional activity comes from your central nervous system, and this system is triggered by brain waves.

5. Early Perspectives • Structuralism—viewpoint that looks to discover the basic structures of the mind and how they influence behavior. • This idea was pursued by Wilhelm Wundt, and he built the first experimental psych lab. • Wundt used the practice of introspection to study the elements of the conscious mind.

6. Introspection – the process of reporting on one’s own inner conscious experience

7. Introspection • Through introspection, subjects were given an experience and were required to report on his/her thoughts about it. • Most experiences analyzed were perceptual or sensory.

8. Once you see the cube change, you won’t be able to prevent it shifting back and forth, seemingly at random. TURN TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND TRY TO EXPLAIN WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE CUBE. Your description will be an introspective report of your mental experience.

9. Early Perspectives • Functionalism—took structuralism further in order to determine how consciousness could help us deal with problems of everyday life. • John Dewey and William James pursued functionalism as a means to see how adaptive behavior can lead to mental disorders.

10. Structuralism and Functionalism • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW6nm69Z_IE&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active • 1:11

11. 6 Major Psychological Perspectives • Biological View -inherit some behaviors from your parents -measure function of nervous and endocrine (hormone) system -strong roots in medicine and biological science -have discovered things such as how damage to certain parts of the brain can destroy certain abilities

13. 6 Major Psychological Perspectives 2. Psychodynamic View • Humans are largely motivated by our unconscious needs, desires, memories and conflicts • Focuses more on treatment then research • A big supporter of this viewpoint is Sigmund Freud

14. 6 Major Psychological Perspectives 3) Cognitive View -our actions are influenced by the way process information from our environment

15. 6 Major Psychological Perspectives 4) Behavioral View • Measures people’s actions in terms of direct observation • They do not look to examine the inner reasons for actions but the effects of people, objects, and events on behavior • Most strongly influenced by B.F. Skinner

16. 6 Major Psychological Perspectives 5) Humanistic View • Your actions are influenced by your self- worth and need for growth and fulfillment • Emphasizes the positive side of human behavior- human ability, growth and potential • Led by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers

17. 6 Major Psychological Perspectives 6) Socio-Cultural • Emphasizes the importance of social interactions, social learning, and cultural perspective • Culture- blend of human language, beliefs, customs, values, traditions • Why certain cultures have certain behaviors

18. Psychodynamic • Past experiences (repressed experiences) impact our current experiences

19. Cognitive • Cognitive and decision making process- Thinking….

20. Behaviorism • Learn by watching others (modeling)

21. Humanism • Need help to reach full potential

22. Biology • Our knowledge of the brain and the influence of genetics on our behavior is small (like the pinky)

23. Socio-Cultural • To understand others we must understand their cultural background

24. How do Psychologist do their work? • Psychologists use a process called the scientific method in order to develop their knowledge of mental disorders and behaviors.

26. Types of Research • Experimental: • Research where the relationship between two or more variables are being tested • The experimenter deliberately manipulates one condition (independent variable) to measure a change • Manipulated OR Independent Variable- the variable that is changed or tested in the experiment • Responding OR Dependent Variable- the variable that is the result of the manipulated or independent variable.

27. Scientific Experiment • An exercise physiologist counsels his clients to exercise in the morning rather than at night to facilitate weight loss. Design an experiment to test whether this is the correct advice.

28. Scientific Experiment • Do you need to define any terms for the experiment?

29. Scientific Experiment • What is your independent variable?

30. Scientific Experiment • What is your independent variable? • Whether the client exercises in the am or pm

31. Scientific Experiment • What is your dependent variable?

32. Scientific Experiment • What is your dependent variable? • weight loss

33. Scientific Experiment • How will you select and assign your subjects to a group?

34. Scientific Experiment • How will you select and assign your subjects to a group? • Gender • Age • Current weight • Body fat composition

35. Scientific Experiment • What treatment will the experimental group be given?

36. Scientific Experiment • What treatment will the experimental group be given? • exercise in the am

37. Scientific Experiment • What treatment will the control group be given?

38. Scientific Experiment • What treatment will the control group be given? • Workout anytime throughout the day

39. Scientific Experiment • What controls will you use in your experiment?

40. Scientific Experiment • What controls will you use in your experiment? • The group of people in the experiment • Weighing participants at the same time everyday

41. Scientific Experiment • Is there anything you should control but aren’t sure how?

42. Scientific Experiment • Is there anything you should control but aren’t sure how? • Diet of participants • What workouts they are doing • How much sleep participants get

43. Types of Research • Correlation Studies • Examiner studies relationship between multiple variables without specifically manipulating variable • They assess if there is a “correlation” between variables • Ex: The more TV you watch decreases your life span • Problems?

44. Types of Research • Surveys: • Used within correlation studies • People are asked their attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, and are supposed to reflect the larger population • Ex: Voting surveys • Problems?

45. Types of Research • Naturalistic Observation: • Form of correlation research • Involves behavioral assessment of people or animals in their home surroundings • EX: Jane Goodall – Chimpanzee culture • Problems?

46. Types of Research • Case Studies: • An intensive investigation of an individual or small group • Often include psychological testing • EX: Mass homicide/Terrorism • Problems?