Introduction to Psychology

What do we hope to gain from studying psychology?

Gain insight into the mind Understanding of people Understanding yourself

So, What is Psychology?

Psychology relies on research to lead to the development of theories about Behavior, Cognition and the Great Why
Scientific study
Behavior Human process (mind) or (cognitive activities)

Greek word mean

Psycho = mind or soul Logo = study of

What is Behavior?
Any action that others can observe and measures:
Walking Talking Physical movements

What are Cognitive Activities?

Emotion
Behavior or mental process

Feelings Thoughts Dreams

Brain waves or privates thoughts

Perception Memories

5 Goals of Psychology
Observe
Exam, watch, or

Predict
Determine how a

interview a persons behavior

Describe
Record specific

person will behave under a certain situation based on ODE

behavior under certain situations

Control
Change the behavior or

Explain
Give reasons for

behavior in terms of feeling of anxiety or distraction

mental process by teaching patient new ways of keeping their anxiety under control

Why Psychology is considered a Science?

Social Science
Study the structure, of human society and the nature of the individual in the society.
anthropology, history, sociology, & economics

Natural Science
Study the nature of the physical world (Brain or mind) must follow scientific research: hypothesis conducting experiment, collecting and analyzing data, draw conclusion.

The Helping Professions

People tend to view psychology primarily as a helping profession Clinical psychologists, focus on resolving mental health problems

Psychiatrists (M. D.), also licensed to prescribe drugs

LUPOSLIPAPHOBIA: The fear of being pursued by timber wolves around a kitchen table while wearing socks on a newly-waxed floor. newly-

History of Psychology

PRE - GREEK
Behavior is influenced by gods/nature
thoughts, dreams, madness

Mind centered in the heart, or other organs Brain throw out by Egyptians

THE GREEK (300 BC)

SOCRATES & PLATO

Know Thyself motto of Learn about ourselves by examining ones thoughts and feelings Introspection - modern term meaning looking within

ARISTOTLE
Student of Plato who wrote Peri Psyches
means about the mind

Human behavior is subject to laws Motivated to seek pleasure, not pain Addressed modern issues

HIPPOCRATES
Father of Medicine Suggested the brain was root of behavioral problems thoughts, and feelings cause behavior

Middle Ages/Age of Enlightenment 500 - 1800 AD

DEMONIC POSSESSON
Devil / Demons caused abnormal behavior Trial by Ordeal
Water Float Test

Idea that you are motivated to do bad behavior by unseen forces

SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
John Locke (philosopher)
the mind is a blank slate theorized that knowledge is not inborn but is learned from experiences

Human behavior and mental processes should be supported by evidence In 1800s, psychological laboratories were established in Europe and United States

History of the Modern Age

1879 - PRESENT

How it all started

PHILOSOPHY PHYSIOLOGY

PSYCHOLOGY

William Wundt

Psychologys Roots
Early History
Trephining hollow tubes Bumps on the head

Structuralism
Focused on the basic building blocks of perception, consciousness, thinking, and emotions Introspection

Gestalt Psychology
the whole is different from the sum of its parts

Functionalism
Moved from structure to what the mind does and how behavior functions

STRUCTURALISM 1879:
Elements of the Mind
The study of the most basic elements, primarily sensations and perceptions, that make up our conscious mental experiences, also involves Introspection.
What are the elements of

Psychological processes?

WILHELM WUNDT
Father of Modern 1st psychology laboratory (Germany, 1879) Studied simplest mental process (used measures of reaction time) Objective sensation reflects the outside world
Example - Sight/ taste: the apple

Subjective feeling emotion response and mental images

Example Emotion: the apple

FUNCTIONALISM 1890:
Functions of the Mind
The study of the function rather than the structure of consciousness; was interested in how our minds adapt to our changing environment; behavioral observations conducted in a laboratory.
What do certain behaviors and mental processes accomplish for the person?

FUNCTIONALISM

Adoptive behavior patterns are learned and maintain because they are successful. Riding a bike and driving a car requires full attention at first, through repetition and success, they become automatic.

William James
1st American born psychologist Wrote The Principles of Psychology 1st modern textbook Experience is a fluid and continuous stream of consciousness may have had the first psychology laboratory in America in 1876 Adoptive Action
Behavior + success = Habit

Gestalt Approach 1920s:

Sensation verse Perception
Emphasized that perception is more than the sum of its parts and studied how sensation are assembled into meaningful perceptual experiences

Max Wertheimer
Several German Founders Idea that the whole is greater than its parts He believed that the mind must be studied in terms of large meaningful units instead of the small units of structuralism Deals with perceptions
how we see and understand things

Insight
enables the individual to solve problem.

Psychoanalysis 1900s:
A look into the Early Mind The belief that childhood experiences greatly influences the development of later personality traits and psychological problems
people frequently associate this perspective with psychology (the psychodynamic perspective); emphasizes unconscious conflict & past events (early childhood traumas)

Sigmund Freud
A Viennese physician One of the most famous psychologists Studied the unconscious to understand behavior
The Interpretation of

Dreams

Developed Ideas:
Therapy Internal conflict Study of impulses, dreams,

wishes
Slip-of-the-Tongue

Behaviorism 1950s:
Observable Behaviors
Emphasized the objective, scientific analysis of observable behaviors Interested in behavior and its precise measurement rather than consciousness of Wundt and James

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John Watson
established radical behaviorism in 1912 in the United States should be an objective, experimental science Analyze observable behavior, predict and attempt to control those behavior Can teach people to do anything

B. F. Skinner
American, graduated from Harvard Contrasted psychoanalysis Environment factors mold behavior Behavior is reinforced
Reward & Punishment

Change behavior through conditioning

similar to Ivan Pavlov

Founding Mothers of Psychology

Leta Stetter Hollingworth
Child development and womens issues

Mary Calkins
First female president of the APA

Karen Horney
Social and cultural aspects to personality

June Etta Downey

Personality trait theorist

Anna Freud
Continue her father work

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