Psychology: The Science of Behaviour Chapter 1 What is Psychology? • Science of behaviour and factors that influence it • What is behaviour? • 2 components: 1. 2. Observable actions Mental processes S Memory learning language decision making attention Psychology = Multiple Disciplines Areas of Specialty - Psychology – Clinical Psychology – Counselling Psychology – Experimental Psychology • Biopsychology, Social Psychology, Personality, Cognitive Psychology How children lean – Educational Psychology – Developmental Psychology Business ,leadership – Industrial/Organizational Psychology – Psychometric Psychology Test 4 What’s the Difference Between a Psychologist and Psychiatrist? • P Psychologist __________________ PhD – Usually ______ – Cannot prescribe drugs – Clinical Psychologists – interested in psychotherapy, often specialize in specific therapy • ______________________ Psychiatrist – _____ – Plus training in treatment of mental disorders – May prescribe drugs for patients 4 Goals of Psychology 1. __________ Describe behaviour & mental processes Explain /understand causes of these 2. __________________ behaviours Predict 3. ____________ behaviours Influence/control 4. _________________ behaviours under certain conditions 6 • Knowledge for its Basic research own sake Applied research • Solutions to practical problems 7 Robber’s Cave Experiment 11 yr old boys at camp Eagles & Rattlers Experimenters set up competitive contests, created hostility and discrimination Hostility reduced when put in situations where 2 groups had to Cooperate ______________ to accomplish goals 8 Applied __________ Research in Action Jigsaw Classrooms (Aroneon et Al,2978) __________________ Cooperation between multiethnic groups was required Each child given “piece” of total knowledge to be learned For group to pass – they must fit “pieces” together as if working on jigsaw piece 9 What is Psychology? • What Factors Influence Behaviour? • 3 Basic Categories: – Biological – Psychological – Environmental 10 Charles Whitman ______________– Levels of Analysis What are factors that influence behaviour? › Biological? Tumor in amygdala › Individual/Psychological? “Unusual and irrational thoughts” “Overwhelming violent impulses” › Environmental? Exposure to guns Abusive father 11 3 Levels of Analysis Example Depression Sadness, grief or “blues” for long periods of times Often accompanied by loss of appetite, sleep difficulties Alone Thoughts of hopelessness and inability to experience pleasure Affects 1:4 women, 1:8 men (US) 12 Depression – Biological Influences Genetic predisposition Brain chemistry- influenced by antidepressants Disruption of sleep- wake cycle 13 Depression – Psychological Influences Negative thought patterns and distortions Pessimistic personality style Feelings of loneliness , inadequacy 14 Depression – Environmental Influences Previous losses, rejection and deprivation Cultural factors-e.g. sex roles and cultural norms 15 Perspectives • Behaviour has diverse causes – These differing perspectives enrich our understanding 16 Biological 1. ______________ Perspective • What is psychological is first physiological • Roles of: – Brain structures & function – Biochemical processes – Genetic factors 17 The Beginning Mind-body dualism __________________ › Mind = spiritual entity › Not subject to physical laws › Cannot be studied Monism ________________ › Mental events are a product of physical events › Can be studied 18 Localization Issue __________________ • Specific brain areas have specific functions • Phineas Gage Personality resides • ________ within the brain Evolutionary Psychology _____________________ Charles Darwin Possible to explain origins of humanity without requiring religion 20 Legacy of Darwin Legacy of Darwin • _______________ • If trait gives some members a competitive advantage (attract mates, escape danger, acquire food) – more likely to survive and pass on their genes 21 Behavioural Genetics & Sociobiology • Behaviours that increase ability to pass on one’s genes to next generation = favoured – Males: Aggression,competition,dominance – Females: Cooperative, nurturing behavior 22 Cognitive Perspective Mental processes influence Focus = how ________________ motives, emotions, behaviours? Humans are: › Information processors › Problem solvers › Decision Makers 23 Wilhelm Wundt – 1st ψ lab (1879) – Established psychology as ‘unique branch of science’ – Sensations =Basic _____________ elementsof conscious experience – Determine structure of mind through ______________ Analytic introspection – Structuralism – _______________________ • Analysis of the mind in terms of its basic elements 24 Cognitive Functionalism _______________ • Argued psychology should study the functions of beh’r and the mind • Study the ‘why’ not the ‘what’ • William James (1842-1910) • wrote first “psychology” textbook in 1890 Cognitive Gestalt Psychology ________________ How elements of experience are organized into wholes Interested in perception Gestalt = “Whole is greater than sum of its parts.” __________ 26 Cognitive Piaget • ____________ P –i Children not “miniature adults” – Specific stages of cognitive adevelopment unfold as children gmature –eConsidered one of 100 most influential scientists of 20th t century 27 Congnitive Therapeutic approaches to • Influences various __________ psychological disorders • Ellis & Beck thoughts and – Depression is result of Irrational ________________ distortions 28 Cognitive Neuroscience • _______________________ – Examines brain activity in humans while performing cognitive tasks – Encompasses biological perspective Dr. Adrian Owen, UWO Canada Excellence Research Chair Cognitive Neuroscience 29 Psychodynamic Unconscious • Problems result from ____________ and unresolved past conflicts • Comes out in dreams and “slips of the tongue” Defense mechanisms as • We develop _________________ a way to cope with the anxiety • Developed psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) 30 Behavioral • • • Environment _______________ influences behaviour Focus on role of external environment Effects of rewards and punishments 31 Behavioral • John Locke (1632 – 1704) Empiricist – British _____________ – Saw the mind as receptive and passive, with its main goal as sensing and perceiving Tabula rasa we are – _____________– born as a blank slate, everything we know is learned 32 John B. Watson and the Rule of Behaviorism “Give me a dozen healthy infants, wellformed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select . . .” John B. Watson, 1924 • Watson; Skinner – Observable beh’r important – Mental events NOT ________________ – Beh’r controlled by environment – Control environment then you can control beh’r modification • Beginning of Behavioral _____________ therapy 34 Humanistic • Emphasizes: – Conscious motives – Freedom – Choice Self-actualization – _________________ • Reaching one’s individual potential – Abraham Maslow – Carl Rogers – _______ Self ______ esteem & self concept 35 Sociocultural ____________ = lasting values, beliefs, beh’rs, Culture traditions Focus is on: › Role of culture in beh’r Norms › _____________= rules that specify what is acceptable and expected beh’r for members of that group › How beh’r differs as being part of a group vs individually 36 Sociocultural Role of culture and Diversity • _______________ Individualism – Emphasize personal goals – self-identity based on one’s own attributes/ achievements – North America & Northern Europe • ______________ Collectivism – Individual goals subordinate to group – personal identity defined by ties to family – Asia, Africa, & South America 37 Perspectives Psychodynamic • Unconcscious processes Cognitive • Thought processes Sociocultural Behavioural • Learned behaviour Humanistic • Social forces, culture Biological • Genes, brain processes • Striving to achieve 38 ACTIVITY TIME 39 Reminder – Complete Chapter 1 Assignment on Connect! 40
