History of Psychology

1. History of Psychology Questions, theories, methods & possible answers that have been passed on & changed from generation to generation

2. Origins of Psychology Throughout this discussion, think about how the time period, the events of the era, the available knowledge and new discoveries affected these different psychological theories. It’s a real puzzle!

3. Ancient Greece---5th & 6th century BCE Greeks decided that our lives were dominated not by gods, but by our own minds we were rational beings Perceived everything from perspective of man things were hot/cold, hard/soft, wet/dry This is called HUMANISM No systematic study but this set the stage for development of sciences

4. 16th century---Renaissance • Mid 1500’s • Copernicus offered theory that earth was not center of universe • revolved around sun • This theory later proved by Galileo • using telescopes • Man is NOT the center of existence---Oh no!!!

5. 17th century Philosophers developed concept of dualism believed mind & body were separate and distinct Rene Descartes (philosopher) disagreed believed a definite link between mind & body believed the mind controlled movements, sensations, perceptions believed mind & body influence each other (we’re still figuring out HOW!)

6. SCIENCE TAKES LEAPS & BOUNDS! 19th century Discovery that cells are building blocks of life Industrial Revolution---huge changes inventions advancements in science periodic table physics—atomic theories

7. (Some “BUMPS” in the road…)  19th Century Phrenology Marmaduke Sampson Examined shapes of skull also bumps on a skull Pseudoscience---incorrect! Positive: inspired scientists to consider the brain, rather than the heart, as responsible for human behavior

8. Historical Approaches • Structuralism • Functionalism • Heredity • Gestalt

9. Structuralism • Germany, 1879 • Wilhelm Wundt • Trained in physiology (how body works) • 1st laboratory of Psychology • study human behavior in systematic/scientific manner • Structuralist—study basic elements that make up conscious mental experiences • Developed introspection • participants report their thoughts & feelings • scientist observes & collects data

10. Functionalism • William James • Taught first class in psychology • Harvard, 1875 • Often called “Father of Psychology” in U.S. • Wrote first textbook (Principles of Psychology) • Believed all activities of the mind serve one function: • to help us survive as a species • thinking, feeling, learning, • remembering I just wanna SURVIVE!

11. Inheritable Traits Sir Francis Galton, 19th century Wanted to understand how heredity influences abilities, character, behavior Found that greatness runs in families Incorrectly concluded that genius, leadership, eminence are inherited… Also believed (incorrectly) that the wealthiest people were the most intelligent… Why were his theories incorrect?

12. Inheritable Traits, continued Never considered that distinguished families would likely have exceptional environments & enormous advantages world travel, health & nutrition, best schools, etc. Galton encouraged “good marriages” selective breeding weed out undesirable traits

13. Inheritable Traits, continued Later, scientists all over the world recognized the flaws in his theory • Both heredity AND environment interact to influence intelligence

14. Inheritable Traits, continued Galton raised an important issue heredity vs. environment??? He also developed procedures for testing the abilities and characteristics of a wide range of people • precursors to modern personality and IQ tests!

15. Gestalt A group of German psychologists Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler, Kurt Koffka Disagreed with Structuralism & Behaviorism Believed perception is more than sum of its parts Believed perception involves WHOLE PATTERN “Gestalt” Studied how sensations are assembled into perceptual experiences (ex: chair, flashing lights)

16. Gestalt http://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/704997/flashing-neon-lights-and-bulbs.html http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-video-11723668-flashing-neon-lights-in-the-night-water.php

17. Contemporary Approaches • Psychoanalysis • Behavioral • Humanistic • Cognitive • Biological • Sociocultural Many ideas of these approaches derive from historical approaches.

18. Psychoanalytical Psychology • Sigmund Freud Vienna, Austria Interested in unconscious mind Conscious experiences affected by unconscious primitive biological urges often in conflict with society & morality also believed this affected physical problems

19. Psychoanalysis/Freud, continued Freud used new method to study unconscious Free Association patient says what comes to mind no “filters”---no editing or censoring no matter how silly, irrelevant no attempt to rationalize Freud attempted to be completely objective careful listening interpretation

20. Free Association time

21. death

22. mother

23. fear

24. home

25. school

26. friend

27. love

28. hate

29. Psychoanalysis/Freud, continued Freud took extensive notes Case studies—an analysis of all notes, behaviors used to develop theories of personality Believed dreams express our most primitive unconscious urges Used dream analysis another form of free association Freud still a huge influence Free Association still used Case studies still used

30. Behavioral Psychology • Ivan Pavlov Russian, 1849-1936 Conditioned responses dog, tuning fork, meat powder continued to salivate---association of bell with food Conditioned reflex prompted by stimulus learned response based on prior experience

31. Pavlov’s Dog…

32. Behavioral Psychology, continued Behaviorists only concerned with observable behavior Believed all behavior is learned John Watson—defined behaviorism B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) introduced reinforcement believed could be applied to society

33. Behavioral Psychology, continued Skinner wrote Walden Two utopian small town everyone conditioned to display desirable behavior no one breaks rules

34. Humanistic Psychology Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers---1960’s Developed as reaction to behavioral psychology Believed human nature evolves & is self-directed We are NOT controlled by environment We are NOT controlled by unconscious forces Simply background to internal growth We have personal choice Believed each person is unique with self-concept & potential to develop fully Growth leads to a more satisfying life

35. Humanistic Psychology, cont’d Believed man is basically good Any problems are result of deviation from this natural tendency Issues Too subjective; cannot be verified Ethnocentric Positives Gives credit to individual for behavior Also takes environment into account Took stigma away from therapy

36. Cognitive Psychology cognitive means “thinking” Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky, Leon Festinger—1950’s Cognitists study how we process, store, use information how we think, perceive, remember, learn how this info influences attention, thinking, language, problem-solving, creativity Believed behavior is more than response to stimuli Believed behavior is influenced by many mental processes perceptions, memories, expectations

37. Cognitive Psychology, cont’d Concerned with internal mental states, but unlike behaviorism which focuses only on observable behaviors Uses scientific research methods to study mental processes but unlike psychoanalysis which relies heavily on subjective perceptions

38. Biological Psychology Emphasizes how biology impacts behavior Study how behavior is influenced by brain, nervous system, hormones, genetics Uses PET scans & CAT scans Studies show how genetics influence behavior Twin studies Identical twins vs. fraternal twins Believes behavior is result of physiological makeup

41. Sociocultural Psychology Newest approach Involves influence of cultural & ethnic variables both similarities & differences Behavior, knowledge, feeling, ways of thinking dependant on culture to which we belong Leonard Doob, 1990 sneezing example Sneezer: Try to suppress? Excuse yourself? Laugh? Cover/not? Others: God Bless You? Worry? Laugh? Disgusted? Contagious?

42. Sociocultural Psychology, continued Impact & integration of immigrants U.S. population changing rapidly---2010 • 15% Hispanic • 18% African American, Asian, Pacific Islander Study attitudes, values, beliefs, social norms, roles of these groups

43. Culture Clash?

45. Sociocultural Psychology, continued Study of intolerance & discrimination Testing bias Study of gender & socioeconomic status How would YOU be different?

46. Different approaches to Psychology… in a nutshell ApproachWhat influences our behavior?Possible ResearchQuestions PsychoanalyticalUnconscious motivations influenceHow have negative childhood Psychology our behavior experiences affected the way Freud I handle stressful situations? BehavioralEvents in the environment (rewardsCan good study habits Psychology and punishments) influence our behavior be learned? Pavlov, Watson, Skinner Humanistic Individual or self-directed choicesDo I believe I can prepare Psychology influence our behaviorfor and pass the test? Maslow, Rogers Cognitive How we process, store & retrieve information How does caffeine Psychology influences our behavior affect memory? Piaget, Chonsky, Festinger Biological Biological factors influence our behavior Do genes affect your Psychologyintelligence & personality? SocioculturalEthnicity, gender, culture & socio-economic How do people of different Psychology status influence our behavior genders & ethnicity interact Doob with one another? Temporal Three stages of time: Past, Present, Future PsychologyZimbardo