psychology
the science of behavior and mental processes
behavior
any action able to be observed and recorded on a medical instrument
mental processes
internal, subjective experiences we infer from behavior
-example: dreaming, thoughts or feelings
Socrates and Plato
-believed in introspection
-mind and body are separate; mind continues after body dies (dualism)
-knowledge is innate: born within us
-derived principles from logic
introspection
looking within and examining thoughts and feelings
Aristotle
-derived principles from careful observation
-knowledge grows from experiences stored in our memories
Rene Descartes
-dualist (mind and body are separate)
-described the soul as physical to explain how the internal mind and physical body communicate
dualism
mind and body are separate, mind survives after body dies
Francis Bacon
-centered theories on experience, common sense, and judgement
-Studied the brain and its failings, how it always looks for patterns, and how it's always looking for confirmation (Empiricism)
John Locke
-mind is a blank slate that experience writes on "tabula rasa"
-knowledge is learned from experiences
-helped, with Francis Bacon's ideas, to form modern empiricism
empiricism
idea that what we know comes from experience and that observation and experimentation enable scientific knowledge
Tabula rasa
mind is a blank slate"; used by John Locke
Wilhelm Wundt
-began the first psychology laboratory in Germany
-studied peoples reaction time to sounds, Measured 'atoms of the mind'- the fastest and simplest mental processes
Three Branches of Psychology
-functionalism
-structuralism
-behaviorism
structuralism
uses introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind
functionalism
explored how mental and behavioral processes function (how they enable organisms to survive, adapt, and flourish)
behaviorism
studies behavior without reference to mental processes
Edward Bradford Titchener
-Introduced structuralism
-Method was to engage people in self-reflective introspection and trained them to report elements of their experience as they, for example, looked at a rose or smelled a scent.
William James
-functionalist
-Considered the evolved functions of our thoughts and feelings
-Thinking developed because it was adaptive; contributed to ancestor's survival
-Consciousness enables us to consider our past, adjust to our present, and plan our future
Mary Whiton Calkins
-First female president of the APA
Margaret Floy Washburn
-First female to recieve a psychology PhD
-Second female president of the APA
-experimental psychologist
experimental psychology
the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method
John B. Watson
-Studied the pioneering conditioning experiments of Ivan Pavlov
-redefined psychology as "the scientific study of observable behavior"
-science is rooted in observation; can observe and record behavior
-behaviorist
B.F. Skinner
-expanded the basic ideas of behaviorism to include the idea of reinforcement
Sigmund Freud
-emphasized the ways of our unconscious thought processes and our emotional responses to childhood experiences affect our behavior
-psychodynamic psychologist
Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
-lead humanistic psychology
-stressed individual choice and free will
-drew attention to ways that current environmental influences can nurture or limit our growth potential, and to the importance of having our needs for love and acceptance satisfied
humanistic psychology
a historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of human people
G. Stanley Hall
-pioneered the study of child development
-first president of the APA
Max Wertheimer
-Gestalt psychologist
-Gestalt psychology tried to examine a person's total experience because the way we experience the world is more than an accumulation of various perceptual experiences
-Argued against dividing human thought and behavior into discrete
Jean Piaget
-Cognitive psychologist
-Developed a cognitive developmental theory which focuses on how our cognitions develop in stages as we mature
nature vs. nurture
-the controversy over whether an individual's behavior is shaped by biology or experience
Charles Darwin
-Evolutionist
-proposed evolutionary process of natural selection
-believed his theory explained animal structures (ex. polar bear's white coat) but also animal expressions (such as expressions associated with human lust and rage)
natural selection
principle that those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
biopsychosocial approach
integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and sociocultural levels of analysis
biological approaches of behavior and mental processes
-natural selection of adaptive traits
-genetic predispositions responding to the environment
-brain mechanics
-hormonal influences
psychological influences of behavior and mental processes
-learned fears and other
learned expectations
-emotional responses
-cognitive processing
and perceptual interpretations
socio-cultural influences of behavior and mental processes
-presence of others
-cultural, societal, and family expectations
-peers & other group influences
-compelling models (such as media)
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic approach
-Emphasizes unconscious aspects of the mind and the influence of early childhood experiences
-People are driven by sexual and aggressive urges
Behavioral approach
-Stresses the scientific study of observable behavior
-Emphasizes environmental demands such as rewards and punishments
-Emphasizes importance of the external environment and/or how thought processes modify and impact the environment
-Better to use positi
Sociocultural approach
-Humans are influenced by the presence of others
-Focuses on social interaction, socialization, gender, race, ethnicity, and cross-cultural differences
Humanistic approach
-Stresses the individual's capacity for personal growth
-Emphasizes the importance of free will
-Humans are good, but society causes undesirable behavior
-People have the potential for good and strive for self-actualization
Cognitive approach
-Emphasizes cognition (thought processes)
-Mental processes control behavior
-Studies the storage and retrieval of memories
Biological approach
-Emphasizes the brain and the nervous system
-Cognitions have a basis in brain activity through neurons and neurotransmitters
-Sleep and dreaming can be studied to reveal the intricate workings of the brain
-Studies the actions of hormones and the role of
Evolutionary approach
-Behavior and mental processes are adaptive for survival
-Traits are products of natural selection
-Evolution has shaped the mind and behavior
Developmental Psychology
-Study our changing abilities from birth to death
-Apply knowledge to educational, child-care, policy, and related settings
Cognitive Psychology
-Study thought processes and focus on perception, language, attention, problem solving, memory, judgement and decision making, forgetting, and intelligence
cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition
Educational Psychology
-Study influences between teaching and learning; and learning and physical and social environments
-Develop strategies for enhancing the learning process
Personality Psychology
-Study an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting
Social Psychology
-Study how we think about, relate to, and influence one another
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
-Study human behavior in the workplace and apply psychological theories and principles to organizations and individuals in their environment
Human Factor Psychology
-discover and apply information about human behavior, abilities, limitations, and other characteristics to the design and evaluation of products, systems, jobs, tools, and environments for enhancing productive, safe, and comfortable human use.
Clinical Psychology
-Diagnose and treat patients with psychological problems
-Largest number of professional psychologists
Counseling Psychologists
-Use interviews and tests to identify their clients' problems
-Typically treat people who have adjustment
-Often employed in businesses and colleges
Psychiatrists
-Provide psychotherapy and are medical doctors licensed to prescribe drugs
Positive Psychology
-Established by Martin and Seligman
-Explore "positive emotions, positive character traits, and enabling institutions
Community Psychology
-Work to create social and physical environments that are healthy for all
Themes of Psychology
1. Psychology is Empirical
2. Psychology is Theoretically Diverse
3. People's experience of the world is highly subjective
4. Nature vs. Nurture