HISTORY & APPROACHES
Chapter 1: What is Psychology?
PSYCHOLOGY
• The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
1. Science: The use of systematic methods to observe the
natural world and to draw conclusions.
***Used to describe, predict, and explain behavior***
2. Behavior: Everything we do that can be directly observed.
3. Mental processes: The thoughts, feelings, and motives that
each of us experiences privately but that cannot be
observed directly.
THINKING LIKE A PSYCHOLOGIST
• Critical thinking
• Skepticism
• Objectivity
• Empirical Method: Gaining knowledge through the
observation of events, the collection of data, and
logical reasoning.
• Curiosity
HISTORY
• Philosophy + Physiology = Psychology
• Philosophy and Physiology are the intellectual
parents of Psychology
• Philosophy: The study of the fundamental nature of
knowledge, reality, and existence.
• Physiology: The branch of biology that deals with the
normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
• Both explore the mind and body connection
WILHELM WUNDT
(1832-1920)
• German physician, philosopher, and professor
• University of Leipzig
• Father of Psychology
• Established psychology as an independent
academic discipline in 1879
• Established the 1st psychology laboratory in 1879
• Established the 1st psychology journal in 1881
WILLIAM JAMES
(1842-1910)
• American physician, philosopher, and professor
• Harvard University
• Father of American Psychology
• Established one of the first psychology laboratories in
America
• “Stream of consciousness”: The natural continuous
flow of thoughts.
***Psychology was born in Germany but grew up in America***
G. STANLEY HALL
(1846-1924)
• American psychologist and professor
• 1st person to receive a Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard
University in 1878
• Established the 1st psychology laboratory in America at
Johns Hopkins University in 1883
• Established the 1st psychology journal in America in 1887
• Helped establish the American Psychological Association
(APA) in 1892
• Became the 1st president of the APA in 1892
IMPORTANT WOMEN
Mary Whiton Calkins
• (1863-1930)
Margaret Floy Washburn
• (1871-1939)
• Studied under William James • Studied under Edward
Titchener
• Harvard University refused
to give her a Ph.D.
• Became the 1st women
president of the APA in 1905
• 1st women to receive a Ph.D.
in Psychology from Cornell
University in 1894
• Became the 2nd women
president of the APA in 1921
EARLY SCHOOLS OF PSYCHOLOGY
1. Structuralism
2. Functionalism
• Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener
• William James
• WHAT
• WHY
• What is the mind?
• What is the mind for?
• Rigid/static view of the mind
• Focuses on the elements, components,
parts, or structures of consciousness
• Introspection: The careful, systematic
observation of one's own conscious
experience.
• Flexible/fluid view of the mind
• Focuses on the purpose, adaptive
nature, or function of
consciousness (AND behavior)
• Influenced by Charles Darwin’s
principle of natural selection
APPROACHES
• The different theoretical perspectives that underlie
explanations of behavior.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Humanistic
Cognitive
Biological/Physiological
Sociocultural
Evolutionary
Biopsychosocial
PSYCHOANALYTIC/
PSYCHODYNAMIC
• An approach to psychology emphasizing
unconscious thought, the conflict between
biological drives and society's demands, and early
childhood family experiences.
• Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
• 1900s
• Focuses on the unconscious, sex, aggression, early
childhood conflicts
BEHAVIORAL
• An approach to psychology emphasizing the scientific study of
observable behavioral responses and their environmental
determinants.
• John B. Watson (1878-1958)
• Nature vs. Nurture
• B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)
• “Free will is an illusion”
• 1913
• Focuses on observable behaviors, the environment, rewards and
punishments, stimulus-response, determinism, experience, learning
HUMANISTIC
• An approach to psychology emphasizing a person's
positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth,
and the freedom to choose any destiny.
• Carl Rogers (1902-1987)
• Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
• 1950s
• Focuses on free will, self-determinism, personal
growth, self-actualization, self-concept
COGNITIVE
• An approach to psychology emphasizing the mental
processes involved in knowing: how we direct our
attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve
problems.
• Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
• 1950s/1960s
• Focuses on information processing, mental processes:
thinking, memory, problem solving, language
BIOLOGICAL/PHYSIOLOGICAL
• An approach to psychology focusing on the body,
especially the brain and nervous system, to
understanding behavior, thought, and emotion.
• James Olds (1922-1976)
• Roger Sperry (1919-1994)
• 1950s/1960s
• Focuses on neuroscience, biochemistry,
neurotransmitter, hormones, genes, twins
SOCIOCULTURAL
• An approach to psychology that examines the
ways in which social and cultural environments
influence behavior.
• Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)
• 1980s
• Focuses on society, culture, ethnicity, social
interaction
EVOLUTIONARY
• An approach to psychology centered on
evolutionary ideas such as adaptation,
reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for
explaining specific human behaviors.
• David Buss (1953-)
• Leda Cosmides (1957-)
• 1980s/1990s
• Focus on adaptation, survival, reproduction
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL
• An approach to psychology that examines the ways
in which biological factors, psychological factors,
and sociocultural factors combine to influence
behavior.
PSYCHOLOGY AS A PROFESSION
• Psychology became a profession in the 1950s after WWII
• Most psychologist today work in…
• Academia- teach and do research at colleges and universities
• Mental health- diagnosis and treat psychological disorders and
everyday behavioral problems
• Clinical
• Private practice
• Applied psychology: The branch of psychology concerned
with everyday, practical problems.
• The APA has 56 specific subfields of psychology
MAIN AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
• Clinical Psychology
• Human Factors
• Cognitive Psychology
• Industrial–organizational
Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Developmental
Psychology
• Personality Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Psychometrics
• Forensic Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Sports Psychology
• Physiological Psychology
DIFFERENCES IN PRACTICE
CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST
• Psychologists who
specialize in the diagnosis
and treatment of
psychological disorders and
everyday problems.
• Has a Masters or a Ph.D. in
Psychology
• CANNOT prescribe drugs
PSYCHIATRIST
• Physicians who specialize
in the diagnosis and
treatment of
psychological disorders.
• Has a Medical Degree
(MD)
• CAN prescribe drugs