PSYCH – Ms. Shirley
UNIT 1 - History/Evolution of
Psychology
The Evolution of
Psychology
From Speculation to Science:
How Psychology Developed
Psychology Today:
Vigorous & Diversified
Have you
ever
wondered…
Why do I like the people, food, or music that I like?
Or, why do I NOT like certain things or have an irrational fear of
certain things, like spiders, heights, or public speaking?
Why do I feel a sudden boost in mood when my favorite song
comes on the radio?
Why did I cheat on my test…
my diet, my boyfriend or my girlfriend?
Why do I get so tired or maybe bored in a certain class?
(of course not in psychology though)
Or… Have you ever
wondered?
Are first-born children more driven to achieve?
Only children? The middle child?
Does handwriting offer any clues to my personality?
Do my dreams really mean anything?
Does hypnosis really work?
Why my family or my relationships look so
dysfunctional at times and what to do about it?
What is Psychology?
What is your definition?
How would you define it?
Write it out.
Then we will share it & improve the
definition.
What is
Psychology?
Psyche – meaning the soul
Logos – referring to the study
of a subject
“The study of the mind.”
Has a foundation in
philosophy & physiology
Psychology is defined as
the scientific study of the
behavior of individuals &
their mental processes.
What is Psychology?
Link to the full video on Annenberg's Website
What is the
engine of
Psychology?
Observable Behavior:
Experiment!
We need 3 volunteers.
You have 3 minutes.
Volunteer A: You will watch Ms. Shirley. Record everything that you observe.
Be as objective as possible, avoid any judgements or inferences about physical
appearance or behavior.
Volunteer B: You will watch Volunteer A. Record everything that you observe.
Be as objective as possible, avoid any judgements or inferences about physical
appearance or behavior.
Volunteer C: You will keep the time. 3 minutes. Go!
Big Issues in
Psychology
Stability vs. Change
Rationality vs. Irrationality
Nature vs. Nurture
Stability vs. Change
Do we change over time in
distinct and universal stages
or do we basically remain the
same drooling, slobbering,
simple beings of our
beginnings?
Do these things change?
Personality traits, sense of humor,
tastes, etc…
Can a shy child become the teenage
class clown?
Do we become adults or are we
always just big kids?
Do our personalities change in
different situations?
Rationality vs. Irrationality
Are we wise or not?
Why do we do things that are bad for us when
we know they are bad?
We screw up, we make mistakes, and we lose
sight of good judgment
But, we often don’t change behavior, we don’t
seem rational
Nature vs. Nurture
Am I the way I am because I was
born that way or because of my
surroundings?
Biology (genes) vs. Experience
Can I ever be
like these
people, or
does nature
give me
limitations?
Nature vs. Nurture?
YouTube: MegaMind - Nature vs. Nuture?
YouTube: Schallhorn on What is AP Psych?
YouTube: Schallhorn- Famous People in Psych