CHAPTER 1 PSYCH 100 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY What is Psychology? • Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes • What makes psychology a scientific discipline? • What is meant by “behavior” and “mental processes”? What is Psychology? • Psychology is the scientific study of why we feel, act and think the way that we do. • Given that we all have a mind, why do we need psychology to explore these issues? • Why not just rely on introspection and reflection? • Often we are not in a position to understand the causes of our behavior… History of Psychology Greek roots Psyche – “mind” Logos – “study” or “knowledge” • Wilhelm Wundt, 1879 • First research laboratory • Leipzig, Germany © Archives of the History of American Psychology – The University of Akron History of Psychology History of Psychology • Perspectives/Schools of thought in Psychology: • Historical • Contemporary History of Psychology Functionalism VIP William James (1842-1910) What we do is less important than WHY we do it • William James founded functionalism, the school of psychology that focused on how behavior is useful in helping organisms adapt to demands placed upon them in the environment • Functionalists focus on why we do what we do History of Psychology Gestalt Psychology VIP Max Wertheimer “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” • School of psychology that studies the ways in which the brain organizes and structures our perceptions • The whole is greater than the sum of the parts: look at a completed jigsaw puzzle, you see the completed picture instead of individual pieces • Gestalt psychology was concerned with how we perceive ‘wholes’ instead of ‘parts’ History of Psychology Behaviorism • Only observable events can be studied scientifically. • Behaviorists studied the effects of the environment on observable behaviors. • Founded by John Watson • B.F. Skinner was the most prominent behaviorist and perhaps the most influential psychologist to date. • By the 1920s, behaviorism was the main school of thought in American psychology and remained so for several decades. Welcome to the world of Sigmund Freud! Are you driven by What do your dreams mean? Ever have an motives that you are embarrassing slip completely unaware? of the tongue? • Freud is world-famous as the developer of psychoanalytic theory, first psychodynamic theory • Theory is based on unconscious conflicts, sex, and aggression • His work helped shape the field of clinical psychology • To this day what most people think of when they think of psychology or therapy Contemporary Psychology • Psychology does not provide us with a unitary theory of behavior and mental processes. • There are numerous viewpoints that compete and complement one another. • These perspectives have grown from the work of early psychologists discussed earlier. • Many historical perspectives are still used today. Contemporary Psychology Behavioral Perspective VIPs: John Watson B.F. Skinner • Skinner’s work on operant conditioning revolutionized the behavioral movement, but many modern behaviorists found the traditional behavioral models to be overly simplistic or limiting. • A broader model, social-cognitive theory, emphasized the importance of both learning factors and cognitive variables. • These models are used in behavior therapy, which employs the basic principles of learning to help people acquire more adaptive behaviors to overcome different psychological problems. Psychodynamic Perspective VIP: Freud • Psychodynamic theorists study the unconscious determinants of behavior. • Emphasis focuses more on self-awareness, self-direction, & conscious choice. • Derived from more traditional Freudian psychoanalytic theory. • Neo-Freudians: more modern variations place less exclusive emphasis on basic drives like sex and aggression. • Has influenced various areas, including literature, art, & culture. Humanistic Perspective VIPs: Carl Rogers Abraham Maslow • Humanists believe that people benefit from free will and that our behaviors are influenced through a journey to self actualization • Conscious choice is an important part of the human experience. • Important topics for humanistic psychologists include self-awareness, self-esteem, becoming a true and authentic person, the creative potential of each individual, and one’s ability to make choices that bring meaning and purpose to life. Biopsychology Perspective • Seeks to understand the biological basis of behavior. • Physiological causes of behavior in humans and animals. • A subdiscipline is evolutionary psychology, applies Darwin’s theory of evolution to a wide variety of behaviors. • Asks research questions like: • What is the influence of heredity on behavior? • How does the brain work? • How is behavior influenced by hormonal factors? • What is the role of the nervous system in behavior? Cognitive Perspective • The cognitive perspective is the study of thinking and other mental processes. • Cognitive theorists believe that human behavior cannot be fully understood without examining how people acquire, process, and store information. Key Areas of Study: • Thinking • Learning processes • Concept formation • Decision making • Language use Sociocultural Perspective • With an ever-growing diversity in our world the influence of these differences must be considered in any number of psychological realms. • What are the social & cultural influences on behavior? • How does behavior vary in relation to factors such as age, income level, lifestyle, disability status, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation? Contemporary Psychology 1. Behavioral: How do early learning experiences shape our behavior as adults? 2. Psychodynamic: How do unresolved conflicts from childhood affect adult behavior? How can people be helped to cope with these conflicts? 3. Humanistic: How do people pursue goals that give their lives a sense of meaning and purpose? 4. Physiological: How do biological structures and processes make behavior possible? What roles do heredity & environment play in such areas as intelligence, language development, and aggression? 5. Cognitive: How do people solve problems, make decisions, and develop language? 6. Sociocultural: How do concepts of self differ across cultures? How do social and cultural influences shape behavior? Let’s play: “What’s my perspective?” Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear or worry (obsessions), repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety (compulsions). Let’s play: “What’s my perspective?” “Obsessivecompulsive disorder is a problem in the orbital cortex.” “No, OCD is an inherited condition.” “Compulsions start as habits and are rewarded by the anxiety relief they bring.” “OCD comes from a lack of self-esteem “No, OCD is a matter of mental habits and errors that can be corrected.” “No, it’s a sign of unresolved childhood issues.” “OCD thinking and behavior is a reaction to our fast-paced, outof-control lifestyles.” Careers in Psychology • Psychology has many subfields! Most people that go into psychology become: • Clinical psychologists are concerned with the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with psychological disorders, as well as treatment of less severe behavioral and emotional problems. • Counseling psychologists overlap with clinical psychology in that specialists in both areas engage in similar activities; however, counseling psychologists usually work with a somewhat different clientele, providing assistance to people struggling with everyday problems of moderate severity. • Must have a doctorate degree to be a “Psychologist” • PhD or PsyD • Therapist or counselor must have at least a master’s degree • Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) • Social Work (MSW) Source: American Psychological Association, 2004 GROWTH MINDSET • Decades of research show a powerful relationship between mindset and achievement. • Students’ beliefs about intelligence and learning impact: • Motivation • Academic behaviors (e.g., studying and seeking help) • Responses to challenges and setbacks • Academic achievement CONSEQUENCES OF MINDSETS Fixed Mindset Growth Mindset Goal in School? Look Smart Learn Values effort? No Yes Reaction to Failure? Give Up Work Harder Achievement Lower Higher Consider if there are other possible explanations for the facts or results. See if there was a flaw in how the information was collected. Look for hidden assumptions and decide if you agree. Critical thinking: analyzing information to decide if it makes sense, rather than simply accepting it. Goal: getting at the truth, even if it means putting aside your own ideas. Look for hidden bias, politics, values, or personal connections. Put aside your own assumptions and biases, and look at the evidence. How to Study for this Class! Scientific studies show us that: Testing yourself boosts retention of material. ••The retrieval practice effect/testing effect Actively processing material helps master it. ••Put it in your own words, make connections Spaced rehearsal, interspaced with other subjects, is more efficient than cramming. ••Spread studying over multiple days People tend to overestimate their mastery. ••If the concept looks familiar… not good enough Thank you: Start reading your next chapter!