AP Unit 1
Approaches and History
of Psychology
1.1 Why Study Psychology?
Psychology provides tools to help us gain
insight into our own behavior, as well
as our relationships with others.
Definition of Psychology:
the
scientific study of behavior and mental
processes.
Psychology falls under the Behavioral
Science.
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Psychological Needs are things
like love, comfort, security
Physiological Needs are
physical Needs are things you
have to have like food, water,
sleep.
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4 Goals of Psychology:
1. Description:
the kid at
2. Explanation:
he wants the
the candy aisle is having a melt down.
pretty candy
3. Prediction:
He will get the
candy
4. Influence:
Wal-Mart knows that moms have already lost
patience with their kids by the time they get to the
checkout line so they put the candy there to get the
kids to wear mom down to buy the candy.
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Learning about psychology can help
you gain…
– a better understanding
of your own behavior.
– knowledge about how
psychologists study
human and animal
behavior.
fotosearch.com
– practical applications
for enriching your life.
Example: The child throws a fit
every time he goes to Wal-Mart
and his mom says no by the
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candy aisle.
Empirical that
means information is
obtained through
observation and
experimentation not
common sense or
guessing.
http://lewweb.net/science/images/SMflowchart.jpeg
moisiadis.com
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By accumulating knowledge we are able to predict what
people or animals will do or think in certain situations
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and predict future behaviors.
Scientist seek to influence behavior in helpful
ways.
knychfamily.blogspot.com
Chains like Wal-mart have done these scientific observations and
place candy as you check out because when your kid is screaming
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sometimes it is easier to just buy the candy bar.
Basic
Science/Research:
Research Ex. Research on drug
effects on the brain.
There are two types of science
that influences psychology.
Applied
Science/Research:
putting that research to use for a
purpose Example: Using research
on how drugs effect the brain to
come up with a new antidepressant
to help people suffering from
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depression.
Empirical Science:
knowledge originates
in experience and that science should rely on
observation and experimentation
The scientific method is used to reduce
errors and biases.
A theory is a proposed explanation. In
Psychology we will be studying different
theories.
Hypothesis is predicting a Relationship
between variables
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Pseudoscience
Greek for “False Science” Examples:
Horoscopes, Astrology, Phrenology
24medialabs.com
Randy million dollar challenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxHni1ggM1E
scienceandsociety.emory.edu
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sparkmuseum.com
Phrenology
led scientists to study
the bumps on the head
to determine human
behavior Phrenology
is considered a
pseudoscience (False
Science)
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Chapter 1.2:
History of Psychology
Aristotle and Plato (384-322
BCE.)
Started asking how the mind
and the body were related??
Were the separate or related??
en.wikipedia.org
Are ideas inborn or is the mind a
blank slate filled by experience?
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Rene Descartes “I think therefore I am”
Dualism:
the concept of the mind
and body are separate and distinct.
plato.stanford.edu
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKLrqxC70c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEr8hnvzeHU
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(1809-1882)
Theory of natural selection (1859)
Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry
Very controversial
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John Locke
1. One of his major contributions was to the field
of psychology and he is often called the
“Father of English Psychology.”
2. Wrote Tabula Rasa. Locke proposes that we
are all born with certain knowledge and
principles that helps us to become part of
society. He states that it is through experience,
of the world around us, this is how one forms
ideas. He further states that human knowledge
is gathered in 2 distinct ways through sensation
and reflection.
3. Innate: Being born with it.
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3 Things you need to remember about
your daddy:
1. Wilhelm Wundt opened the first
psychology laboratory in Germany.
2. Changed psychology from a
philosophy to a science.
3. Studied introspection. Introspection
means looking within yourself. How
do you feel about this or that. How
does that rose make you feel?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWv3tQUY-9k
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Wilhelm Wundt
Structuralism vs.
Broke down consciousness to basic
thoughts.
Picture a blade of grass. A structuralist might have lingered
over the intensity of the green color of the blade of grass, the
clarity of its texture, and the roughly rectangular shape of the
blade.
Introspection - self-observation
of one’s own conscious experiences
Functionalism
Investigate the function, or purpose
of consciousness rather than its structure
James thought that we developed useful habits, such as
washing our hands before eating because they help us function
more effectively in our daily lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTD3NxUyPvs
William
James
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(1842-1910)
William James What
you have two daddies? Yes,
one is your American Daddy.
Known as the Father of
American Psychology. You
also need to know he wrote
the 1st Psychology Book and
Father of Functionalism.
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Gestalt Psychology
“The whole is different than
the sum of its parts.”
Max
Wertheimer
(1880-1943)
alexbinetti.wordpress.com
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This is bcuseae the huammn
mnid deos not raed ervey
lteter by istlef, but the word
as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?
What is it?? We like to fill in the gaps so that we see
objects as wholes.
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Contemporary Psychology
 Psychology’s Perspectives
 A lot depends on your viewpoint
 Eclectic means that you use several of the theories
to describe behavior.
1. Psychoanalysis that is
now called
Psychodynamic
2. Cognitive
3. Behavioral
4. Biological
5. Socio-cultural
6. Humanistic known also
has Positive Psychology
7. evolutionary 25
Problem:The hulk is constantly suffering from explosions of anger.
tumblr_m41cmraCxR1qdj7w9
Focuses on Darwinism.
We behave the way we
do because we inherited
those behaviors.
Thus, those behaviors
must have helped ensure
our ancestors survival.
Psychodynamic Psychology
Also called Psychoanalytic.
Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that determine
behavior.
Unconscious are motives that you are not aware of. For
instance if someone with brown hair rejects you, then you
might not talk to people with that color hair.
Conscious are motives that you are aware of.
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Psychoanalytic Psychology
Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that
determine behavior.
Freud used the technique called free association He
would say a word and you would say the first word that
popped in your head and he would then analysis what
is going on in your unconscious.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz80yYvnWg4
Cognitive Approach
Cognition is the mental processes
involved in acquiring, processing,
storing & using information
Cognitive Psychologists return
to the study of learning,
memory, perception, language,
development & problem
solving Example: Is your boyfriend
child-development-guide.com
dumping you traumatic or do you just think it is
therefore you are depressed? Or..your ability to
do math compared to a 5 year old. You can
understand abstract thinking that goes along
with statistics.
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sciencedaily.com
Cognitive Approach
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JEAN PIAGET
1896 – 1980
Worked in France
administering Binet’s IQ
test.
Children do not think like
adults. Why?
Created 4 stages of
cognitive ability that
accurately explain the
behavior of children.
Influenced teachers and
school system.
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Biological Approach
Focus
How the body and brain create
emotions, memories,
and sensory experiences.
Sample Issues
• Depression and antidepressants. Problems with
thyroids.
• How are messages transmitted within the body?
• How is blood chemistry linked with moods and
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motives?
Behavioral Approach
John Watson
(1878-1958)
Scientific Psychology
should focus on
observable behavior.
B.F. Skinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Rb9n_sQDg&feature=related
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Ivan Pavlov
Social-Cultural Approach
Focus
How behavior and thinking vary
across situations
and cultures.
Sample Issues
• How are we, as members of different races and
nationalities, alike as members of one human family?
• How do we differ, as products of different social contexts?
• Why do people sometimes act differently in groups than
when alone?
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Humanistic Approach also called
Positive Psychology
You have the potential
to be great.
Self Actualization.
Feel Good approach.
Client Centered
Therapy
Hierarchy of needs.
Carl Rogers believed in “client centered therapy”
Abraham Maslow came up with the Hierarchy of needs
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Fields of Psychology
Psychologist is someone who is
trained to observe and influence
behavior in people.
Psychiatrist is a medical doctor
that can prescribe medicine.
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Psychometrics
Basic Research
Developmental psychology
Educational psychology
Personality psychology
Social psychology
Applied Research
Industrial/organizational psychology
Human factors psychology
Counseling psychology
Clinical psychology
Psychiatry
Psychology’s Big Debate
Nature Versus Nurture
Where you born that way or
did your environment make
you that way?
Superman?
SQ3R Survey, Question, Read,
Rehearse, Review.
Study Tips
Distribute your study time
Learn to think critically
In class, listen actively
Overlearn
Be a smart test-taker
Homework:
#1. Go to:
http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcredi
tpolicy/index.jsp
Pick three colleges you are interested in and
find out what you need to make on your AP
exam to get credit. On one of your choices
research how much a 3 credit class it.
#2