Unit 1
Approaches and History
of Psychology
Psychological Needs are things
like love, comfort, security
Physiological Needs are
physical Needs are things you
have to have like food, water,
sleep.
2
4 Goals of Psychology:
1. Description:
The kid at the candy aisle is having a melt down.
2. Explanation:
He wants the pretty candy
3. Prediction:
He will get the candy
4. Control:
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.
3
History of Psychology
Aristotle and Plato (384-322
BCE.)
Started asking how the mind
and the body were related??
Were the separate or related??
Are ideas inborn or is the mind a
blank slate filled by experience?
en.wikipedia.org
4
Rene Descartes “I think therefore I am”
Dualism: the concept of the
mind and body are separate
and distinct. (Descartes)
plato.stanford.edu
5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKLrqxC70c
(1809-1882)
Theory of natural selection (1859)
Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry
Very controversial
6
2 Things to know about “the daddy”:
1. Changed psychology from a
philosophy to a science.
2. 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
7
Wilhelm Wundt
Structuralism vs.
Broke down consciousness
to basic thoughts.
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
William
James
8
(1842-1910)
William James
What? Psychology has two
daddies? Yes, one is its
American Daddy. William
James is known as the
Father of American
Psychology. He wrote the 1st
Psychology Book and was
the Father of Functionalism.
9
Gestalt Psychology
“The whole is different than
the sum of its parts.”
The experience that comes from
organizing bits and pieces of
information into meaningful wholes
alexbinetti.wordpress.com
10
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.
12
Contemporary Approaches
13
Problem: The hulk is constantly suffering from explosions of anger.
Psychodynamic Psychology
pg.18
It began with Freud
Human behaviour is influenced by unconscious motives
and inner conflicts.
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.
15
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.
16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz80yYvnWg4
Behavioral Approach
B.F. Skinner
John Watson
(1878-1958)
Scientific Psychology should focus
on observable behaviour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Rb9n_sQDg&feature=related
18
Ivan Pavlov
Cognitive Approach
Cognition is the mental processes
involved in acquiring, processing,
storing & using information
- Developed by Piaget
- Suggests that the mind works
like a computer. Behaviour is
influenced by thought processes.
Example: Is your boyfriend dumping you
traumatic or do you just think it is therefore you
are depressed?
child-development-guide.com
20
sciencedaily.com
Cognitive Approach
21
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.
22
23
Biological Approach
Focuses on how behaviour is
influenced by physiological,
genetic or evolutionary needs
Sample Issues
• Depression and antidepressants.
•How are messages transmitted within the body?
• How is blood chemistry linked with moods & motives?
24
Social-Cultural Approach
Focuses on 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?
26
Humanistic Approach
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
28
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.
30
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