Understanding Psychology: Behavioral Science and the Mind

Slide1What is Psychology?z The science of behavior and the mind y behavior - observable actions of a person or animal y mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences y science x  an objective way to answer questions x  based on observable facts / data and well described methods

Slide2What is Psychology?z A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions y the scientific method y evolved over centuries, first in physics z A product of history y philosophy asked many of the basic questions y physiology used similar methods

Slide3What is Psychology?z A set of questions about mental functioning y trace back to philosophy y Socrates (c. 470-399 B.C.) & Plato (c. 427-347 B.C)viewed mind as  separate  from the body & continuing after death; some ideas are inborn; x   “ The unexamined life is not worth living. ” y Aristotle (c. 384-322 B.C.) viewed mind and body as connected ; asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.;  established the Lyceum; developed “ deductive logic ”  through a system of  “ syllogism. ”

Slide4Philosophical Developmentsz A          Question:  How are mind and body related? z Dualism - body and soul are separate but interrelated y origins in medieval religion y soul is seat of intellectual function and will y mind is product of the soul x mind not subject to scientific inquiry y to challenge this was punishable by death

Slide5Philosophical Developmentsz A          Question:  How are mind and body related? z Rene Descartes (1596-1650) - modified dualism y since animals have no soul, much behavior does not require soul y the body can therefore control much behavior x led him to study reflexes x Dissected animals & identified  “ animal spirits ”  flowed through the body and provoked movement y the soul ’ s main function is thought, a uniquely human attribute

Slide6Philosophical Developmentsz Empiricism: y knowledge and intellect are acquired y John Locke (1632-1704) the mind at birth is a  “ white paper ”  or blank slate  (equal at birth…The Declaration of Independence!) y sensory experiences produce elementary ideas y Science should rely on observation & experimentation z A          Question:  How are mind and body related?

Slide7Philosophical Developmentsz Another            Question:  Empiricism vs. Nativism z Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are innate z If knowledge is innate y What is the purpose of education? y Can intellect be changed by experience? z Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences? z This is known as Nature vs. Nurture y appears throughout modern psychology

Slide8Foundations of ModernPsychology z Charles Darwin  (1809-1882) z Theory of natural selection (1859) y physical characteristics evolve through natural selection y behavioral patterns also influence selection y inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with survival value are passed on z Human beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science

Slide9Foundations of ModernPsychology z Darwin ’ s theory encouraged scientific inquiry z 19th century developments in physiology demonstrated the approach to use y based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory experiments y influential beliefs from early physiology x reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes x localization of function - specific structures of the brain serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior x The division from physiology begins in the 19 th century, yet connections remain today.

Slide10The Father of Psychologyz Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) y Leipzig, Germany (1879) y wrote the first psychology textbook y applied laboratory techniques  to study of the mind y structuralism  –  identify  ‘ atoms ’  of the mind x focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes x measured reaction times

Slide11Other Pioneersz Edward Titchener (1867-1927) y Wundt ’ s student, professor at Cornell University y Introspection - looking inward z William James (1842-1910) y started psychology at Harvard in 1870s y opposed Wundt and Titchener ’ s approach y functionalism  – how people (animals) adapt to their environment; influenced by Darwin

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Slide13GestaltPerception is more than the sum of its parts- it involves a  “ whole pattern ” z Max Wetheimer (1880-1943) z Wolfgang Kohler (1887-1967) z Disagreed with structuralism & behaviorism z Ex: you recognize a chair, not the individual components

Slide14Perspectivesz Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena z Psychology has multiple perspectives y biological y psychoanalytic y cognitive y cross- cultural y social

Slide15Sigmund Freud(1856-1939) Psychoanalytic Psychology y -Austrian physician that focused on illness y -interest in the unconscious mind y -psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders y - free association:  list without filter or logic y Believed dreams are expressions of our unconscious urges

Slide16Behaviorismz Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) y Russian physiologist y discovered conditioned reflexes , Pavlov ’ s dog z John B. Watson (1878-1958) z Focus on observable behavior z All behavior is conditioned; A-B-C z Little Albert experiment   z B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) y American psychologist at Harvard y studied learning and effect of reinforcement y behaviorism

Slide17Pavlov’ s Dog Pavlov ’ s Dog B.F. Skinner B.F. Skinner

Slide18Phrenology: examining bumps on the skull to make predictions about behavior & intellect & character  (19 th  century)

Slide19Biological Perspectivez Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior z Focus may be at various levels y individual neurons y areas of the brain y specific functions like eating, emotion or learning z Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

Slide20Cognitive Perspectivez How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ? z Influences include y Piaget - studied intellectual development y Chomsky - studied language y Cybernetics - science of information processing

Slide21zAbraham Maslow & Carl Rogers 1960s x behavior reflects innate  ‘ actualization ’ x focus on conscious forces and self perception y More positive view of basic forces than Freud ’ s y Individuals have freedom in directing his/her future and achieving personal growth Humanistic  Perspective

Slide22Sociocultural Psychologyz The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups (ethnicity, gender, culture, socioeconomic status, etc…) z How are people ’ s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture? z What are the common elements across culture?  Are these innate?

Slide23The Profession ofPsychology z American Psychological Association had 52 divisions in 1998 z Some represent areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical) z Some are applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

Slide24Areas of Specializationz Clinical y abnormal behavior and psychological disorders y psychologist vs. psychiatrist z Health psychology y psychological factors in physical health z Counseling y dealing with normal life situations y provide guidance Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School  3% Counseling  10%

Slide25Areas of Specializationz Developmental y psychological change over the life span y social,  cognitive, personality z School y counseling and guidance in school settings z Educational y learning and teaching Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School  3% Counseling  10%

Slide26Areas of Specializationz Psychobiology y brain and behavior y studied at many levels y often uses animals as research model z Experimental y basic laboratory focus y animals or humans y learning, memory, motivation z Cognitive y experimental y human memory, perception, etc. Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School  3% Counseling  10%

Slide27Areas of Specializationz Social y social influences on cognition and emotion y attitudes and beliefs z Personality y individual differences y perception by others z Industrial/organizational y people and work y job satisfaction y training and selection Other Psychology 15% Developmental 6% Clinical 36% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social and Personality 8% Educational 3% School  3% Counseling  10%

Slide28Professional Work Settingsz Colleges and universities z Clinical settings z Elementary and secondary schools z Business z Government Private Practice Government Universities & College Business & Industry School Employment Settings of Psychologists