History and
Approaches to
Psychology
Psychology: The scientific study of behavior and
mental processes
Let’s break down the definition:
• Behavior: Anything that you do that can be observed
• Mental Processes: Internal experiences such as thoughts,
feelings, sensations, and perceptions
Psychology was not considered an area of
scientific study until the 1870’s when the
ideas philosophy and physiology were
combined
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Psychoanalytic
Behavioral
Humanistic
Cognitive
Biological
Socio-Cultural
Evolutionary
Sigmund Freud: viewed person as being
pushed and pulled by unconscious wants &
desires
Repression of wants & desires leads to
mental disorders later in life
PSYCHOANALTIC THEORY: Explains personality,
motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on
unconscious determinants of behavior
• People are not the masters of their own minds
• Emphasizes role of conflict in our lives and early
childhood experiences
• Because we cannot accept them in our conscious,
thoughts find their expression in dreams, slips of the
tongue that appear as accidents and even jokes
• “Freudian Slips”
• Pros:
– Impact of childhood on development
– Many ideas still used in mainstream psychology
• Cons:
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No focus on observable behavior
Can’t be scientifically proven
Ignores other explanations
Doesn’t look at changing behavior, just underlying causes
BEHAVIORAL: emphasizes observable behavior rather than
the role of the consciousness.
Believe behavior is governed by the environment
John B. Watson (1913): Father of Behaviorism - observe & measure
behavior. Known for “Little Albert” study
Ivan Pavlov: Classical Conditioning - Involuntary behavior =
Associative Learning in dogs through saliva responses after hearing a
bell.
B. F. Skinner: Operant Conditioning. Voluntary behavior and learning
due to consequences (reinforcement & punishment).
Controlled by rewards = NO FREE WILL
Nature: Certain elementary
ideas are innate to the human
mind; not gained through
experience
• Men are born, not made
Nurture: Anything we know we
have learned through
experience
• Men are made, not born
Nature or Nurture?
HUMANISM: emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, especially their
their potential for personal growth
Thought other approaches were “dehumanizing” and suggested people
weren’t masters of their own destinies
People have a basic need to continue to evolve and fulfill their potential;
many psychological disturbances are due to thwarting these needs
Abraham Maslow: Hierarchy of Needs - each level of needs must be
satisfied before one moves onto the next.
Self Actualization- strive to be the best one can.
Carl Rogers: Focused on the feelings of the client. Unconditional positive regard
Fostered a therapeutic approach to therapy.
Fully functioning: personal growth, free will, self-determination
COGNITIVE: refers to mental activity including thinking,
remembering, problem solving, decision making, learning
& using language.
Thoughts impact behavior. “People act because they
think.”
Emphasizes the importance of receiving, storing, and
processing information
Jean Piaget: identified 4 stages of cognitive development in children
BIOLOGICAL: behavior can be explained in terms of
brain structures and biochemical processes that
allow organisms to behave.
SOCIO-CULTURAL APPROACH: Examines the cultural differences in an
attempt to understand, predict, and control behavior
As time progressed more people were traveling and visiting other
cultures
Psychologists soon recognized the difference in cultural gestures, body
language, and spoken language.
Lev Vygotsky: those we interact with are
responsible for the development of higher
order functions.
EVOLUTIONARY: Examines behavioral processes in
terms of their adaptive value for members over the
course of many generations
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by
natural selection.
Those organisms best suited to their
environments will flourish & pass on
genes more successfully than those with
poorer adaptations.
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Year
Intro to Psych Crash Course
• Clinical Psychologists: Evaluate
and treat mental, emotional, and
behavioral disorders
• Counseling Psychologists: Help
people adapt to change or make
changes in their lifestyle
• Developmental Psychologists:
Study psychological development
throughout a lifespan
• Engineering Psychologists: Do
research on how people function
best with machines
• Educational Psychologists: Focus on
how effective teaching and learning
take place
• Forensic Psychologists: Apply
psychological principles to legal/criminal
issues
• Health Psychologists: Concentrate on
biological, psychological, and social
factors associated with health and
illness
• Industrial/Organizational Psychologists:
Aim to improve productivity and the
quality of work life by applying
psychological principles and methods to
the workplace
• Neuropsychologists: Explore the
relationship between brain/nervous
systems and behavior
• Psychometricians: Focus on methods for
acquiring and analyzing psychological data
• Rehabilitation Psychologists: Help clients
with mental retardation, developmental
disabilities, and disabilities resulting from
neurological injury
• School Psychologists: Assess and counsel
students, consult with educators and
parents, and perform behavioral
intervention when necessary
• Social Psychologists:
Focus on how a person’s
mental life and behavior
are shaped by interactions
with other people
• Sports Psychologists: Help
athletes refine their focus
on competition goals,
increase motivation, and
deal with anxiety and fear
of failure