Unit 1:
Psychology’s
History & Approaches
Mr. McCormick
A.P. Psychology
Essential Question
How did Psychology begin, as a
science, and what are the modern
psychological perspectives?
Unit 1 (A):
Historical Approaches
of Psychology
Mr. McCormick
A.P. Psychology
Do-Now:
(In Journal)

Why study Psychology?


Consider the following:

Types of Research

Psychological Professions

Goals of Psychology
Why have you chosen to take A.P. Psychology?
Psychology

Psychology:


The study of behavior and mental processes
Empiricism:

The view that knowledge originates in experience
and that science should, rely on observation and
experimentation
Psychology
Psychology: Fact or Falsehood

Task:

Complete “Psychology: Fact or Falsehood”
(Handout P-1) 10-Question True/False Quiz
The Origins of Psychology
From which areas
of study do you think
Psychology originated?
The Origins of Psychology

Psychology has its roots in
Ancient Greek Philosophy (600400 B.C.E.), and continues
throughout world history.

Over time, several approaches
to studying human thought and
behavior continued to develop
and change
Historical Approaches of Psychology

Historical Approaches of Psychology:

Structuralism:
Structure of the human mind
 Introspection
 Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
 *Psychology officially recognized (1879)


Functionalism:
Function/Role of the human mind
 William James (1842-1910)
 The Principles of Psychology (1890)

Historical Approaches of Psychology
How might we compare
Structuralism and Functionalism
to studying an automobile?
Historical Approaches of Psychology

Historical Approaches of Psychology:

Inheritable Traits:
Influence of heredity on human thought and behavior
 Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911)


Gestalt Psychology:
Human sensation and perception
 Gestalt: “whole pattern”(e.g. chair vs. seat, legs, back, etc.)
 Max Wertheimer (1880-1943)

Historical Approaches of Psychology
What areas of
modern Psychology
do you think originated from
Inheritable Traits
and Gestalt Psychology?
Psychological Science Develops

Throughout the 20th century, Psychology
continued to expand as a study integrating the
views of both Philosophy and Biochemistry:
Experimental Psychology
 Behaviorism
 Psychoanalytic Theory
 Humanistic Psychology
 Cognitive Neuroscience

Review

What is Psychology? Why should Psychology
rely on Empiricism?

Briefly describe the 4 Historical Approaches to
Psychology:
Structuralism
 Functionalism
 Inheritable Traits
 Gestalt Psychology

Homework

Unit 1 FRQ

Unit 1 Key People

Unit 1 Quiz: “Psychology’s History &
Approaches”