Approaches and History of Psychology

1. Approaches and History of Psychology

2. What is Psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. “Psychology” has its roots in the Greek words of “psyche,” or mind, and “-ology,” or a field of study.”

3. What do we mean by behavior? Behavior is any action or reaction which causes a human or animal to adapt to its environment. Behavior can be overt=observable Behavior can be covert=internal or hidden

4. 1.1 Why Study Psychology? Psychology provides tools to help us gain insight into our own behavior, as well as our relationships with others. Definition of Psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

5. 4 Goals of Psychology: • 1. Description: the kid at the candy aisle is having a melt down. • 2. Explanation:he wants the pretty candy • 3. Prediction:He will get the candy • 4. Influence: • Wal-Mart knows that moms have already lost patience with their kids by the time they get to the checkout line so they put the candy there to get the kids to wear mom down to buy the candy.

6. 1. Description Learning about psychology can help you gain… • a better understanding of your own behavior. • knowledge about how psychologists study human and animal behavior. • practical applications for enriching your life. fotosearch.com Example: The child throws a fit every time he goes to Wal-Mart and his mom says no by the candy aisle.

7. 2. Explanation Psychology is Empiricalthat means information is obtained through observation and experimentation not common sense or guessing. http://lewweb.net/science/images/SMflowchart.jpeg moisiadis.com

8. By accumulating knowledge we are able to predict what people or animals will do or think in certain situations and predict future behaviors. 3. Prediction

9. 4. Influence • Scientist seek to influence behavior in helpful ways. knychfamily.blogspot.com Chains like Wal-mart have done these scientific observations and place candy as you check out because when your kid is screaming sometimes it is easier to just buy the candy bar.

10. There are two types of science that influences psychology.

11. Last point: Psychology is a behavioral science. Psychologists rely on the scientific method to obtain their data.

12. Psychology vs. Psychiatry Psychiatrists hold MDs and have specialized training in the treatment of mental and behavioral problems. Psychology is a much broader field which has many different specialties.

13. Empirical Science: knowledge orginates in experience and that science should rely on observation and experimentation • The scientific method is used to reduce errors and biases. • A theory is a proposed explanation. In Psychology we will be studying different theories. • Hypothesis is an educated guess. Relationship between variables

14. Scientific Method The science of psychology is based on objective, verifiable evidence obtained using the scientific method.

15. Pseudoscience • Greek for “False Science” Examples: Horoscopes, Astrology, Phrenology 24medialabs.com scienceandsociety.emory.edu

16. What is Real Psychology & what is Pseudopsychology? • Pseudo-psychology is the phony or unscientific psychology which pretends to be the real thing.

17. Pseudo-psychology produces confirmation/hindsight bias

18. History of Psychology Aristotle and Plato (384-322 BCE.) Started asking how the mind and the body were related?? Were the separate or related?? • Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience? en.wikipedia.org The Greeks

19. Rene Descartes “I think therefore I am” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKLrqxC70c plato.stanford.edu

20. Dualism: the concept of the mind and body are separate and distinct. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEr8hnvzeHU

21. Getting closer to Modern Psychology… • Charles Darwin (1809-1882) • Theory of natural selection (1859) • Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry • Very controversial

22. John Locke One of his major contributions was to the field of psychology and he is often called the “Father of English Psychology.” In the essay, Locke proposes that we are all born with certain knowledge and principles that helps us to become part of society. The theory known as Tabula Rasa meaning white sheets helps explain development.  He states that it is through experience, of the world around us, this is how one forms ideas.  He further states that human knowledge is gathered in 2 distinct ways through sensation and reflection.

23. Okay Psychology is going to go through a transition. It actually goes through several transitions to brace for the ride. (Epcot)

24. Who’s Your Daddy??? Wilhelm Wundt is the father of Psychology 3 Things you need to remember about your daddy: 1. Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany. 2. Changed psychology from a philosophy to a science. 3. Studied introspection. Introspectionmeans looking within yourself. How do you feel about this or that. How does that rose make you feel?

25. Structuralism vs. Broke down consciousness to basic thoughts. Introspection - self-observation of one’s own conscious experiences Wilhelm Wundt Functionalism Investigate the function, or purpose of consciousness rather than its structure Leaned toward applied work (natural surroundings) Environment William James (1842-1910)

26. William James Known as the Father of American Psychology. You also need to know he wrote the 1st Psychology Book.

27. Phrenology Phrenology led scientists to study the bumps on the head to determine human behavior Phrenology is considered a pseudoscience (False Science) sparkmuseum.com

28. Gestalt Psychology “The whole is different than the sum of its parts.” Max Wertheimer (1880-1943) alexbinetti.wordpress.com

29. Can you read this? This is bcuseae the huammnmniddeos not raederveylteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?

30. What is it?? We like to fill in the gaps so that we see objects as wholes.

31. Contemporary Psychology • Psychology’s Perspectives • A lot depends on your viewpoint • You have 7 to remember: • Psychoanalysis • Cognitive • Behavioral • Biological • Socio-cultural • Humanistic • evolutionary

32. Evolutionary Perspective • Focuses on Darwinism. • We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors. • Thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival. How could this behavior ensured Homer’s ancestors survival?

33. Psychodynamic Psychologypg. 18 Sigmund Freud: Father of Psychoanalysis NOT psychology!!!! • Also called Psychoanalytic. • Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that determine behavior. • Unconsciousare motives that you are not aware of. For instance if someone with brown hair rejects you, then you might not talk to people with that color hair. • Conscious are motives that you are aware of.

34. Psychoanalytic Psychologypg. 18 • Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that determine behavior. • Freud used the technique called free association He would say a word and you would say the first word that popped in your head and he would then analysis what is going on in your unconscious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz80yYvnWg4

35. Cognitive Approach Cognition is the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing & using information Cognitive Psychologists return to the study of learning, memory, perception, language, development & problem solvingExample: Is your boyfriend dumping you traumatic or do you just think it is therefore you are depressed? Or..your ability to do math compared to a 5 year old. You can understand abstract thinking that goes along with statistics. child-development-guide.com sciencedaily.com

36. Cognitive Approach

37. Cognitive Approach JEAN PIAGET 1896 – 1980 • Worked in France administering Binet’s IQ test. • Children do not think like adults. Why? • Created 4 stages of cognitive ability that accurately explain the behavior of children. • Influenced teachers and school system.

38. Biological Approach Focus How the body and brain create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences. • Sample Issues • Depression and antidepressants. Problems with thyroids. • How are messages transmitted within the body? • How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives?

39. Behavioral Approach Scientific Psychology should focus on observable behavior. John Watson (1878-1958) B.F. Skinner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Rb9n_sQDg&feature=related Ivan Pavlov

40. Social-Cultural Approach Focus How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures. • Sample Issues • How are we, as members of different races and • nationalities, alike as members of one human family? • How do we differ, as products of different social contexts? • Why do people sometimes act differently in groups than • when alone?

41. Humanistic Approach • You have the potential to be great. • Self Actualization. • Feel Good approach. • Client Centered Therapy • Hierarchy of needs. Carl Rogers believed in “client centered therapy” Abraham Maslow came up with the Hierarchy of needs

42. Psychology’s newest frontier…. Positive Psychology

43. Martin Seligman

44. The Science of Happiness… Happiness = Genetic Set + External Circumstances + Intentional Activities

45. The Nun Study… • 678 Participants- Sisters of Notre Dame • Longitudinal study-Alzheimer’s • All born before 1917 • At age 22, each asked to write a one-page autobiography

46. For example… “God started my life off well by bestowing upon me grace of inestimable value… The past year which I spent as a candidate studying at Notre Dame has been a very happy one. Now I look forward with eager joy to receiving the Holy Habit of Our Lady and to a life of union with Love Divine. “ “I was born on Sept. 26, 1909, the eldest of seven children, five girls and two boys… My candidate year was spent in the mother-house, teaching chemistry and second-year Latin at Notre Dame. With God’s grace, I intend to do my best for our Order, for the spread of religion and for my personal sanctification.”

47. Findings…. Strong positive correlation between positive emotional content and longevity (6-7 decades later) Optimism is associated with long life.