Chapter 1
Psychology: The Search for Understanding
What is Psychology?
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Psychology
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Psyche: Mind
Logos: Knowledge or study
Definition: The scientific study of behavior
and mental processes
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Behavior: Overt i.e. can be directly observed
(crying)
Mental Processes: Covert i.e. cannot be directly
observed (remembering)
What are the Goals of Psychology?
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Description of behaviors: naming and classifying
various observable, measurable behaviors
Understanding: the causes of behavior(s)
Prediction: predicting behavior accurately
Control: Altering conditions that influence
behaviors.
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Positive use: to control unwanted behaviors e.g.
smoking, tantrums.
Negative use: To control peoples’ behaviors without
their knowledge.
CARL ROGER’S
HUMANISTIC PERSONALITY THEORY
What is me?
What is not me?
Organism
Imposed by others
Innate
Should not be forced to live “what is not me”
Fully Functional Person
SEEKING PERFECTION
Growth is an innate urge
 Not just a simple an accidental by product of
conflict resolution.
 Thus positive regard… unconditional approval
 Lowest to Highest 1------------------------------10
1.
 2.
 3.
 4.
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WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
EXPERIMENT
RESULTS
WHAT ARE COMMON ELEMENTS TO
STATEMENTS?
WHAT ARE MISCONCEPTIONS?
Define
Empiricism
Page 3
Figure 1.1
Results of an empirical study. The graph shows that horn honking by frustrated motorists
becomes more likely as air temperature increases. This suggests that physical discomfort is
associated with interpersonal hostility. Riots and assaults also increase during hot weather.
Here we see a steady rise in aggression as temperatures go higher. However, research done
by other psychologists has shown that hostile actions that require physical exertion, such as a
fist fight, may become less likely at very high temperatures. (Data from Kenrick &
MacFarlane, 1986.)
INTROSPECTION
THE METHODOLOGY OF
STRUCTURALISM
People do not doubt the truthfulness of their own
sensory experiences.
Structuralists attempted to discover the “mind” by
discovering the “building blocks” of
conscious experiences by
Reporting “pure” immediate sensory experiences
INTROSPECTION EXPERIMENT
PAIR UP EXPERIMENTER AND
INTROSPECTIONISTS
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1. Experimenter should present objects (in bag) to
introspectionist briefly (2 seconds) then remove it from
sight.
2. Introspectionist should say whatever comes in to
mind about qualities of the object. Do not report on
emotional experience, but on sensory experience.
3. Experimenter record responses on data sheet.
4. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
Answer questions
 How does this methodology violate empiricism?
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STOP SIGN BEHAVIOR EXPERIMENT
Identify location and date and time of
observation.
 For each car, record the sex of the driver and
type of stop
 Draw conclusions about information that was
gathered.
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History of Psychology (Brief!): Beginnings
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Wilhelm Wundt: “Father” of Psychology
 1879: Set up first lab to study conscious experience
 Introspection: Looking inward i.e. examining and reporting your
thoughts, feelings, etc.
 Wundt’s ideas brought to the USA by Tichener and renamed
Structuralism
 Structuralists disagreed and no way to prove who was correct!
William James (American) and Functionalism
 How the mind functions to adapt to our environment
 Functionalists admired Darwin and his theory of Natural
Selection: Animals keep features through evolution that help
them to adapt to environments
History of Psychology: Behaviorism and Cognitive Behaviorism
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Behaviorism: Watson and Skinner
 Psychology must only study observable behavior objectively
 Watson studied Little Albert with Rosalie Raynor; Skinner
studied animals almost exclusively
Cognitive Behaviorism: Ellis and Bandura
 Our thoughts influence our behaviors. Used often in treatment
of depression.
History of Psychology: Freud and Gestalt
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Psychoanalytic: Freud
 Our behavior is largely influenced by our unconscious wishes,
thoughts and desires, especially sex and aggression.
 Freud performed dream analysis and was an interactionist
(combination of our biology and environment make us who we
are).
 Recent research has hypothesized that our unconscious mind is
partially responsible for our behaviors.
Gestalt: Studies whole, not parts.
 Key Names: Wertheimer, Perls
Figure 1.2
The design you see here is entirely made up of the two elements shown below it. If you stare at
the design for a moment, you should quickly see that as a whole it contains patterns and
complexities that greatly exceed the sum of its parts.
History of Psychology: Neo-Freudians
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Neo-Freudians: Jung, Adler, Horney
 Jung: Unconscious is a combination of our personal and
ancestors’ experiences
 Adler: Inferiority and superiority complexes; our birth order with
respect to siblings helps to determine our personalities
 Horney: Women are not biologically inferior but are pushed into
believing they’re inferior by society.
 Neurotic needs and tyranny of shoulds
History of Psychology: Humanism
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Humanism: Rogers and Maslow
 Goal of psychology is to study unique aspects of the person.
 Each person has innate goodness and is able to make free
choices (Contrast with Skinner and Freud).
Psychology Today
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Biopsychology: Our behavior can be explained through
physiological processes
 Uses brain scans to gather data (CT, MRI, PET)
 Looks at neurotransmitters
 Treats psychological problems with medications.
Cultural Awareness
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Many thoughts and behaviors influenced by our culture
Psychologists need to be aware of impact cultural diversity may
have on our behaviors.
What is acceptable in one culture might be unacceptable in
another.
Many Flavors of Psychologists
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Psychiatrist: MD; usually uses medications to treat problems.
Generally does not have extensive training in providing “talk”
therapy.
Psychoanalysts: Receive additional training post-Ph.D. at an
institute
Psychiatric Social Workers: Many have masters degrees and
perform psychotherapy.
 Presently very popular profession
Not all psychologists perform therapy!
Figure 1.3
(a) Specialties in psychology. Percentages
are approximate. (b) Where psychologists
work. (c) This chart shows the main
activities psychologists do at work. Any
particular psychologist might do several of
these activities during a work week (APA,
1998). The percentages shown here are
based on membership in the American
Psychological Association (APA). The APA
welcomes both scientists and practitioners.
However, some psychological researchers
belong to other organizations, such as the
American Psychological Society. As a
result, the percentage of clinical and
counseling psychologists working in the
United States may be a little lower than
shown in chart a. Nevertheless, it is
accurate to say that most psychologists
specialize in applied areas and work in
applied settings.
American Psychological Association
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Largest professional organization for psychologists
Student membership available and advisable
Annual convention draws 10-20,000 people
Critical Thinking
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Ability to analyze, evaluate and synthesize information.
 What would you expect to see if the claim is true?
 Gather evidence relevant to the claim
 Evaluate the evidence
 Draw a conclusion
Oftentimes used in research
Pseudo-Psychologies
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Pseudo means “false.” Any unfounded “system” that resembles
psychology and is NOT based on scientific testing
 Palmistry: Lines on your hands (palms) predict future and reveal
personality.
 Phrenology: Personality traits revealed by shape of skull and
bumps on your head.
Pseudo-Psychologies
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Graphology: Personality revealed by your handwriting
Astrology: The positions of the stars and planets at birth
determine your personality and affect your behavior.
 Extremely popular today (“What’s your sign?”).
Barnum Effect: Always have a little something for everyone.
Make sure all palm readings, horoscopes etc. are so general
that something in them will always apply to any one person!