Prologue: The Story of Psychology Name ____________________________________

Name
____________________________________
Prescientific Psychology
Prologue:
The Story of Psychology
Is the mind connected
to the body or distinct?
Are ideas inborn or is
the mind a blank slate
filled by experience?
James A. McCubbin, PhD
Clemson University
Worth Publishers
The science of behavior and the mind
behavior - observable actions of a person or animal
mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions,
memories, dreams, motives and other subjective
experiences
science
an objective way to answer questions
based on observable facts / data and well described
methods
Psychological Science Is Born
Empiricism
Knowledge comes from experience via
the senses
Science flourishes through observation
and experiment
A set of questions about mental functioning
trace back to philosophy
Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.
A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering
questions
the scientific method
evolved over centuries, first in physics
A product of history
A
Question: How are mind and
body related?
Dualism - body and soul are separate but
interrelated
origins in medieval religion
soul is seat of intellectual function and will
mind is product of the soul
to challenge this was punishable by death
philosophy asked many of the basic questions
physiology used similar methods
mind not subject to scientific inquiry
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Name
____________________________________
A
Question: How are mind and body
related?
Rene Descartes (1596-1650) - modified
dualism
since animals have no soul, much behavior does not
require soul
the body can therefore control much behavior
A
led him to study reflexes
the soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human
attribute
What is the purpose of education?
Can intellect be changed by experience?
Are abilities determined by our genes or our
experiences?
This is known as Nature vs. Nurture
appears throughout modern psychology
Question: How are mind and body related?
Natural selection
principle that those
inherited trait
variations
contributing to
survival will most
likely be passed on to
succeeding
generations
mind is a product of the brain
soul is not involved in human behavior
Empiricism:
Question: Empiricism vs. Nativism
Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are
innate
If knowledge is innate
Materialism: Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
Another
knowledge and intellect are acquired
sensory experiences produce elementary ideas
elementary ideas become associated into complex thought
and ideas
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Theory of natural selection (1859)
physical characteristics evolve through natural
selection
behavioral patterns also influence selection
inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with
survival value are passed on
Human beings are part of nature and can be
understood through the methods of science
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Name
____________________________________
Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry
19th century developments in physiology
demonstrated the approach to use
based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory
experiments
influential beliefs from early physiology
reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes
localization of function - specific structures of the brain serve
specific functions in the control of mental experiences and
behavior
Wilhelm Wundt
opened the first
psychology
laboratory at the
University of
Liepzig (c. 1879)
Edward Titchener (1867-1927)
Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University
William James (1842-1910)
started psychology at Harvard in 1870s
opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach
functionalism - influenced by Darwin to focus on how
behaviors help us adapt to the environment
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Austrian physician that focused on illness
psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders
Separated from philosophy in 19th century
influences from physiology remain
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
Leipzig, Germany
wrote the first psychology textbook
applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind
structuralism - identify ‘atoms’ of the mind
focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes
measured reaction times
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/10/freudian-slips-politicians_n_806871.html
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Name
____________________________________
Structuralism used
introspection
(looking in) to
explore the
elemental
structure of the
human mind
Alfred Binet (1857-1911)
French intelligence researcher
developed first intelligence test
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
Russian physiologist
discovered conditioned reflexes
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
American psychologist at Harvard
studied learning and effect of reinforcement
behaviorism
Functionalism
focused on how
behavioral
processes
function- how
they enable
organism to
adapt, survive,
and flourish
Psychological Science Develops
Wundt--German philosopher and
physiologist
James--American philosopher
Pavlov--Russian physiologist
Freud--Austrian physician
Piaget--Swiss biologist
http://quizlet.com/4521323/psychologyflash-cards/
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Name
____________________________________
Psychology’s Big Issues
Nature-nurture controversy
the relative contribution that genes
and experience make to
development of psychological traits
and behaviors
Figure 1.6 Membership in the American Psychological Association, 1900–2004
Psychology’s Perspectives
A lot depends on your viewpoint
Figure 1- British Psychological Society membership
Definition of Psychology
The science of behavior (what we do)
and mental processes (sensations,
perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs,
and feelings)
Perspective is a way of viewing
phenomena
Psychology has multiple perspectives
ethological
biological
psychoanalytic
cognitive
cross- cultural
social
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Name
____________________________________
The study of animal behavior in the
natural environment rather than in a lab
setting
Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis
on innate, adaptive behavior patterns
European approach to studying behavior
founded by animal researchers, Lorenz
and Tinbergen
Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and
nervous system that organize and control behavior
Focus may be at various levels
individual neurons
areas of the brain
specific functions like eating, emotion or learning
Interest in behavior distinguishes biological
psychology from many other biological sciences
View of behavior based on experience treating patients
Psychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud)
both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind
behavior reflects combinations of conscious and
unconscious influences
drives and urges within the unconscious component of
mind influence thought and behavior
early childhood experiences shape unconscious
motivations
View of behavior based on experience
treating patients
Humanistic approach
developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’
focus on conscious forces and self perception
http://www.wadsworth.com/psychology_d/templates/stud
ent_resources/0534642667_weiten/dd_figs/12.11.html
More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s
The study of psychological differences
among people living in different
cultural groups
How are people’s thoughts, feelings
and behavior influenced by their
culture?
What are the common elements across
culture? Are these innate?
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Name
____________________________________
How is knowledge acquired, organized,
American Psychological Association
remembered, and used to guide
behavior ?
Influences include
Some represent areas of training and
Piaget - studied intellectual development
Chomsky - studied language
Cybernetics - science of information processing
had 52 divisions in 1998
specialization (e.g., developmental,
clinical)
Some are applied (i.e., teaching in
psychology, psychology and the law)
The Eclectic Model
People pick and choose from the previous models and come up with a
personal set of values that guide behavior.
"Thought is action in rehearsal."
-Sigmund Freud
Psychology’s Subfields
Basic Research
Biological psychologists explore the links
between brain and mind
Developmental psychologists study
changing abilities from womb to tomb
Cognitive psychologists study how we
perceive, think, and solve problems
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Name
____________________________________
Psychology’s Subfields
Basic Research
Personality psychologists investigate our
persistent traits
Social psychologists explore how we view
and affect one another
Clinical
abnormal behavior and
psychological disorders
psychologist vs. psychiatrist
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Other
Psychology
15%
Health psychology
psychological factors in
physical health
Counseling
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Educational 3%
Developmental 6%
School 3%
dealing with normal life
Clinical
36%
situations
Counseling 10%
provide guidance
Psychology’s Subfields
Applied Research
Industrial/organizational psychologists
study and advise on behavior in the
workplace
Clinical psychologists study, assess, and
treat people with psychological disorders
Developmental
psychological change
over the life span
social, cognitive,
personality
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Other
Psychology
15%
School
counseling and guidance
in school settings
Educational
learning and teaching
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Educational 3%
Developmental 6%
School 3%
Clinical
36%
Counseling 10%
Psychobiology
Psychiatry
A branch of medicine dealing with
psychological disorders
Practiced by physicians who sometimes use
medical (for example, drug) treatments as
well as psychotherapy
brain and behavior
studied at many levels
often uses animals as research
model
Experimental
basic laboratory focus
animals or humans
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Other
Psychology
15%
experimental
Educational 3%
Developmental 6%
School 3%
learning, memory, motivation
Cognitive
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Clinical
36%
Counseling 10%
human memory, perception,
etc.
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Name
____________________________________
Social
social influences on cognition
and emotion
attitudes and beliefs
Personality
individual differences
perception by others
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Other
Psychology
15%
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Educational 3%
Developmental 6%
School 3%
Industrial/organization
Clinical
36%
al
Counseling 10%
people and work
job satisfaction
training and selection
Colleges and
Employment Settings of
Psychologists
universities
Clinical settings
Elementary and
secondary schools
Business
Government
Business
& Industry
Private
School
Practice
Universities &
College
Government
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