Chapter 1 - History of Psychology

1. Chapter 1 - History of Psychology

2. Degrees in Psychology • 1. BA-this degree is not very helpful in getting a job, but there are some out there • 2. Masters-this degree may allow one to get a job in a clinic and hospital settings, but often under the supervision of someone with a higher degree

3. 3. PhD-this degree goes beyond a masters and is highly recognized as a superior degree. This degree is more research-oriented and there are many who are opting for the PsyD today. • 4. PsyD-This is a newer degree that is becoming one of the most competitive degrees around. A PsyD is more application-oriented, in that you do a lot of practical work in lieu of research.

4. 5. EdD-This degree is a doctorate in the field of education, usually for the position of an educational psychologist or a school psychologist • 6. M.D. – psychiatrists. Able to provide medication-not trained in therapy as much. • Many states also require licensure. In the state of New Jersey, you cannot call yourself a psychologist until you pass your licensing exams (this is beyond your PhD work)

5. Careers in Psychology • 1. Academics-While some teach classes, many are expected to be doing research. Need an undergraduate degree in psychology and a masters in a specialized area.

6. 2. Educational psychologist-Studies how people behave, think and learn. Deal with special education, counseling, assessment. • Try to understand: • - the process of learning, i.e., how students learn (e.g., learning styles) • - best ways to teach (e.g., block scheduling) • - best school environment for learning (e.g., placement of desks, color of walls, safety) • - achievement and motivation, curriculum and instruction and assessment. • (Requires Masters degree).

7. 3. School Psychologist

8. 4. Industrial/Organizational- • -try to make the workplace better for employees • -try to determine best work environment (e.g., how to best position desks (better worker output, how stress affects employees, how to motivate others, deal with problems amongst employees and others).

9. Industrial-Organizational Psych cont’d • -may tell companies, such as those who design cars or airplanes where to place instruments so as to cause the least amount of stress • -need Masters degree but moving toward doctorate. Most states require a license and PhD may be necessary

10. 5. Consumer Psychologist- • Study people and the processes they pursue as they purchase consume goods and services. • Look at how attitudes influence behavior and how groups influence individuals. • Advise companies as to how to best package an item, slogans, etc.

11. Bellevue 6. Clinical Psychologist- May work in private practice, hospitals, do psychological testing, etc. Do a lot of individual therapy and deal with major problems such as schizophrenia, major depression, psychosis, etc. Should have PhD, but many find work with a Masters

12. 7. Counseling Psychologist- • Work with those who have more everyday adjustment problems, such as depression, divorce, family problems, self-esteem issues, etc. • Help to prevent these problems from becoming a major disruption in a person’s life.

13. 8. Community Psychologist- • May act as a crisis intervention center within the community they serve. • Deal with situations that may involve grief, racial tensions, and those released from mental institutions. • In states that require licensing, a PhD is required.

14. 9. Environmental Psychologist-This person may deal with looking at how crowding, temperature and multiculturalism affect an area or the society as a whole (e.g., why the suicide rate in Seattle is so high). Masters or PhD

15. 10. Forensics-Diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and testimony regarding criminal’s behavior, psychopathology, and the law. • They do expert testimony, psychological assessment, consultation for law firms, corporations, judge competency of accused to stand trial, assist with jury selection, trial strategy, eyewitness testimony and cross examinations. May testify at custody hearings.

16. Forensics cont’d • Also visit crime scenes to determine how a crime was committed, who most likely committed the crime, and determine a motive for the crime (now called criminal profiling). This area pays very well, but there are psychological consequences for the psychologist as well very often.

17. 11. Criminal psychologist-This person deals with the hows and whys of the criminal-that is, what made this person become a criminal in the first place? They research the backgrounds of criminal’s, often by conducting interviews with the criminal to determine what went wrong in their lives.

18. 12. Sports Psychologist-This person may work with athletes in regards to pain management, motivation, and advice on how to make a team better.

19. 13. Health Psychologist – This is a newer field in which people study how a person’s health affects them psychologically and vice versa • Study why ulcers and heart disease occur and how diseases may cause depression as well as how depression may cause diseases

20. Schools of Thought in Psychology • 1. Structuralism-Edward Titchener-Studies the relationship between sensation, feelings and images • Studied sensation and perception (such as vision, hearing and touch).

21. Schools of Thought 2.  Functionalism-believed that psychology should investigate the function or purpose of consciousness. • Founder was William James (1842-1910). James said consciousness is a continuous flow of thoughts. • Wrote most influential text in Psychology “Principles of Psychology” (1890).

22. Schools of Thought • 3.  Psychoanalytic-Freud A. Freud is considered to be the father of psychology because of the revolution psychology had due to his work. Initially wanted to do work on the brain-interested in the physiology of the human being. Due to anti-Semitism in Europe, Freud was not allowed to work in this field.

23. Psychoanalytic cont’d • B. Carl Jung-Introduced concept of introvert (those who keep to themselves) and extravert (those who are outgoing and sociable). • Introduced the concepts of the personal and collective unconscious.

24. Psychoanalytic cont’d • C. Alfred Adler- • Believed that all humans suffer from feelings of inferiority and that we spend our whole lives trying to overcome this inferiority. • Some overcompensate by developing a superiority complex (believing that they are better than others-often a reflection of feelings of inferiority)

25. Psychoanalytic cont’d • D. Karen Horney- • Spoke out widely against Freud’s views saying they were sexist and underestimated the human being as a purely sexual being • Did not agree with Freud’s assessment of people’s sexual urges as driving most of their behavior.

26. Schools of Thought • 4.  Behaviorism-early 1900’s. • A. John Watson (1878-1958) founder. Stated that: • scientific psychology should be based on observable behavior. • psychologists should abandon consciousness altogether. • Behavior is deterministic, that is, all behavior is caused by past events and that one’s environment will shape who they become

27. Behaviorism cont’d • Believed scientific study should be verifiable which the study of consciousness was not, therefore behavior could be observed directly. • Behavior is any overt (observable) response or activity of an organism. Believed people are shaped to become who they are.

28. B.F. Skinner B. Skinner believed we are all controlled by our environment, not by ourselves. Said “free will”, that is, one’s choice as to who they become, is an illusion. • The Skinner Box (left) demonstrated that animals (therefore humans) could be trained in specific behaviors

30. Schools of Thought • 5. Cognitive-Jean Piaget. This area of psychology deals with the thought processes and growth of human beings, but particularly with the changes that take place in children.

31. Cognitive cont’d (Piaget) • The cognitive school of thinking recognizes the irrational thinking of its patients and works towards changing the irrational beliefs one has about themselves • Today, many psychologists are cognitive-behavioral psychologists

32. Schools of Thought • 6. Gestalt-1912-1940’s. Founded by Max Wertheimer (1880-1943). Stated that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. • That is, parts of the brain may have specific functions, but they often interact with other parts of the brain, thereby creating an interactive effect

34. Schools of Thought • 7.  Humanism-1950’s. Emphasize unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and potential for personal growth. They say personality is neither nature vs. nurture – it is one’s choice

35. A. Carl Rogers – Believed in the self Real self vs. ideal self Self-esteem Positive self-regard Humanism

36. Humanism • B. Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)-says people strive to self-actualize, that is, to reach their fullest human potential.

37. Schools of Thought • 8. Biological – believed that in order to understand human behavior and thinking, one must study (Roger Sperry): • Nervous system • Genetics • Endocrine system • Effects of drugs on the body and the brain

38. Schools of Thought • 9. Evolutionary – study thoughts and actions in terms of natural selection • Traits that are necessary for survival will continue to be passed on • Traits that are unnecessary for survival and may possibly be detrimental to a species will be weeded out

39. Schools of Thought • 10. Social-cultural – examine how thoughts and behaviors vary from culture to culture • Emphasize how one’s culture will impact on how they think and act • Looks at cultural norms and how they change over time

40. Schools of Thought • Today, when psychologists are asked which school of thinking or perspective they agree with, most will label themselves as eclectic • Eclectic – when one draws on more than one school of thinking or perspective when examining client’s behaviors and thinking; that there is no one right way to view behavior