What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (inner thoughts and feelings). It is the science that strives to answer questions about how we think, feel and act as we do. 1 The Goals of Psychology… Observe, describe, explain, predict and control behaviors or mental processes through theories and research. 2 Early Days of Psychology Structuralism vs. Functionalism 3 Early Days of Psychology Structuralism • First school of thought, broke down mental processes into basic parts. • Wanted to learn about the building blocks of the conscious mind (like studying elements in chemistry) • Used introspection – people look into themselves and report out what they felt about exterior stimuli • Did not have credible results • Relied on internal behavior, which is not observable and can’t be measured well 4 Structuralism • Studied elements of mind by conducting experiments in Germany • Titchener established school based on his work with Wundt • Sought to identify what the mind and consciousness were 5 Early Days of Psychology Functionalism • Followed as response to Structuralism. • Real task of psychology – is to investigate the function, or purpose of consciousness, not the structure • Thinking develops because it adapts, so we need to study it over humans’ lives and along with the evolution of all people • They developed longitudinal research; interviewing , testing and observing one person over a long period of time (watch development and how person reacts to different circumstances 6 Functionalism •Influenced by Darwin •opposed structuralism. •Based on James’ ideas about psychology having practical applications to life •sought to identify how the mind and consciousness worked 7 Quietly, write down what you see here… 8 Early Days of Psychology Gestalt • Also as a response to Structuralism • Focus is on perceptions and how we construct perceptual wholes • Ex: perceptions of face rather than lines, colors • Understanding perception was means to understanding the brain • Our mind fill in missing information (why flashing lights appear to be moving) • The whole is greater than the sum of the parts 9 Gestalt The phi phenomenon http://www.psychologynoteshq.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/phiphenomenon.gif 10 Cube will trick your eye Perspective changes See it as if from upper right Then shifts and appears as though you were seeing it from the lower left Once you see it change you wont be able to prevent it from alternating back and forth at random 11 Contemporary Theories of Psychology Behaviorism Skinner (1904-1990) Watson (1878-1958) Watson and Skinner: They emphasized the study of overt behavior as 12 subject matter of scientific psychology. Contemporary Theories of Psychology Psychoanalytic Freud: The importance of unconscious mind and its effects on human behavior. 13 ) Contemporary Theories of Psychology Humanistic Maslow and Rogers: They emphasized the environmental influences on growth potential and need for love and acceptance.14 15 Psychology’s Big Debate: Nature vs Nurture Darwin (1809-1882) •nature selects those that best enable organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment. 16 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Sample Questions Neuroscience (Brain) How the body and brain enable emotions? How are messages transmitted in the body? How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives? 17 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Sample Questions Behavior genetics How much our genes and our environment influence our individual differences (studies on twins) To what extent are psychological traits such as intelligence, personality, sexual orientation, and depression attributable to our genes? To our environment? 18 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Humanistic Reaching one’s full potential by meeting a hierarchy of needs Sample Questions How do self worth, realizing one’s full potential and self esteem affect our behavior? 19 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Sample Questions Psychodynamic How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts? How can someone’s personality traits and disorders be explained in terms of sexual and aggressive drives or as disguised effects of unfulfilled wishes and childhood traumas? 20 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Sample Questions Behavioral / Learning How we learn observable responses? How do we learn to fear particular objects or situations? What is the most effective way to alter our behavior, say to lose weight or quit smoking? 21 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Sample Questions Cognitive How we encode, process, store and retrieve information How do we use information in remembering? Reasoning? Problem solving? 22 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Sample Questions SocialCultural How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures How are we — as Africans, Asians, Australians or North Americans – alike as members of human family? As products of different environmental contexts, how do we differ? 23 Psychology’s Current Perspectives Perspective Focus Evolutionary How does natural selection and evolution influence behavior and personality Sample Questions Why are facial emotions inherited? 24 25