AP Psychology Intro to Psych

Psychology – What is it? - The science of behavior and mental processes - Behavior: Observable actions of a person or an animal - Mental processes: thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences

Psychology – What is it? Is Psychology a science?? Science An objective way to answer questions Based on observable facts/data and well described methods YES!

Psychology – What is it?? A set of questions about mental functioning trace back to philosophy Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc. A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions the scientific method evolved over centuries, first in physics A product of history philosophy asked many of the basic questions physiology used similar methods

Developments from Philosophy Major question asked by many philosophers: How are the mind and the body related?? Many different theories Dualism – Mind and body are two separate entities, however they are interrelated origins in medieval religion soul is seat of intellectual function and will mind is product of the soul mind not subject to scientific inquiry to challenge this was punishable by death

Developments from Philosophy Dualism – Mind and body are separate Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650) came up with a theory of modified dualism since animals have no soul, much behavior does not require soul the body can therefore control much behavior led him to study reflexes the soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human attribute

Developments from Philosophy Other theories developed about the relationship between the mind and the body Materialism: Thomas Hobbes ( ) mind is a product of the brain soul is not involved in human behavior Empiricism: knowledge and intellect are acquired, comes from experience science flourishes through observation/experiment sensory experiences produce elementary ideas elementary ideas become associated into complex thought and ideas

Developments from Philosophy Another MAJOR question asked by early philosophers was: Where do our ideas come from? Empiricism vs. Nativism Nativism: elementary ideas are innate Empiricism: our minds are a blank slate, to be filled by our experiences If nativism is true… What is the purpose of education? Can intellect be changed by experience NATURE VS. NURTURE

Developments from Philosophy

Foundations of Modern Psychology Charles Darwin ( ) Theory of natural selection (1859) physical characteristics evolve through natural selection behavioral patterns also influence selection inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with survival value are passed on Human beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science

Foundations of Modern Psychology Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry 19th century developments in physiology demonstrated the approach to use based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory experiments influential beliefs from early physiology reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes localization of function - specific structures of the brain serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior Separated from philosophy in 19th century influences from physiology remain

Foundations of Modern Psychology Wilhelm Wundt ( ) First psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany wrote the first psychology textbook applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind Used introspection – self- examination of one’s own emotional states and mental processes No longer in use – too unreliable/subjective

Foundations of Modern Psychology Edward Titchener Was an English student of Wundt Set up a psych lab at Cornell in Established a school of thought known as structuralism Structuralism – Consciousness can be broken down into basic parts using introspection techniques

Foundations of Modern Psychology William James American Harvard Professor Wrote a well-respected textbook Principles of Psychology (1890). Founded school of thought known as functionalism Stressed looking at the function/purpose of behavior and tried to apply findings to practical situations. No longer in use but gave rise to behavioralism

Foundations of Modern Psychology G. Stanley Hall (American) Established the first psych lab in the US at Johns Hopkins (1883) Established the first psych journal in the US Founded the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1892 and was its first president Mary Whiton Calkins Completed Ph.D. in Psych under James at Harvard but not granted degree because she was a woman Received a lesser degree from Radcliffe. First woman president of the APA in 1905

Foundations of Modern Psychology

John B. Watson (1878– 1958) John B. Watson Founder of Behaviorism Studied only observable and objectively described acts Emphasized objective and scientific methodology

Ivan Pavlov ( ) Behaviorist Russian Physiologist Studied learning through associations in animals Emphasized the study of observable behaviors

B. F. Skinner (1904–1990) Behaviorist American psychologist at Harvard Focused on learning through rewards and observation studied learning and effect of reinforcement B.F. Skinner

Sigmund Freud ( ) Austrian physician that focused on illness Founder of the psychoanalytic perspective Believed that abnormal behavior originated from unconscious drives and conflicts

Freud’s Influence Influence on “pop culture” Freudian slips Anal-retentive Influence on psychology Psychodynamic theory Unconscious thoughts Significance of childhood experiences

Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow ( ) ( ) Helped to create Humanistic Psychology Stressed the study of conscious experience and an individual’s free will Healthy individuals strive to reach their potential.

Wolfgang Kohler Created Gestalt Psychology The whole is different from the sum of its parts. Integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes. Wolfgang Kohler ( )

What do you see? You See the whole picture first rather than the individual dots that make it up. – Gestalt Psychology

Foundations of Modern Psychology Margaret Floy Washburn First woman to earn a PhD in psychology 2 nd woman president of the APA Francis Cecil Sumner (US) First African American Ph.D. in psychology Clark University Started Psych department at Howard University Kenneth Clark (US) Documented the harmful effect of school segregation on Black children. First African-American APA president (1971)

Psychology’s Subfields Basic Research Aim is to increase our scientific knowledge base. Study is conducted to satisfy curiosity and answer questions we have about behavior or mental processes. Applied Research/Psychology Aim is to solve practical problems Looks for ways that research psychology can be made useful and helpful

Subfields in Psychology Distribution of Fields: Clinical 36% Other Psychology 15% Biological and Experimental 16% Industrial/Organizational 3% Social/Personality 8% Educational 3% Developmental 6% Counseling 10% School 3%

Professional Work Settings Colleges and universities Clinical settings Elementary and secondary schools Business Government Private Practice Government Universities & College Business & Industry School Employment Settings of Psychologists

Psychological Perspectives Method of classifying a collection of ideas Also called “schools of thought” Also called “psychological approaches” To view behavior from a particular perspective

Perspectives Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena Psychology has multiple perspectives Neuroscience Psychodynamic Behavioral Humanistic Cognitive Social-Cultural Evolutionary Behavior Genetics

Neuroscience Perspective Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior Looks at the physical causes of behavior Brain Chemistry/Anatomy Genetics Hormones Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

Behavioral Perspective Focuses on environmental causes Behavior comes from learning Rewards and Punishment Observable behavior is very important Not interested in internal world

Cognitive Perspective How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ? Focuses on internal sentences, thinking/rationality and processing information Thinking can solve a problem Influences include Piaget - studied intellectual development Chomsky - studied language Cybernetics - science of information processing

Humanistic Perspective Humanistic approach developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’ focus on conscious forces and self perception All humans are good Approach stresses interpersonal relations Important concepts: self-esteem, free will, choice, self-direction More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

Psychodynamic Perspective both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind behavior reflects combinations of conscious and unconscious influences drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations Also looks at parental relationships

Socio-cultural The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture? What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate? Looks at group roles/expectations, along with family traditions Gender Roles/socioeconomic class

Evolutionary Perspective Goes back to Darwin’s theory of natural selection Genes predispose us to act Our motive is survival and to pass on genes All behavior is driven by survival of species

Behavior Genetics Focus: How behavior is affected by genes and the environment Combines biology and behaviorism Emphasis on the importance of both genetic and environmental factors on behavior

Perspectives Timeline

The Scientific Method of Research Definition: Assumptions, attitudes and procedures that guide researchers in generating questions to investigate, in generating evidence and in drawing conclusions Assume behavior follows consistent patterns with cause and effect Attitude of open mindedness and critical thinking Procedure of steps to follow in order to arrive at the truth. Empirical Evidence – data that is the result of objective observation, measurement, and experimentation Pseudoscience – a FAKE or false science that makes claims based on little or no scientific evidence

Problems that can occur: Hindsight bias – the tendency to believe after learning the outcome, that one would have foreseen it. Common Sense is often wrong! Overconfidence – we tend to think we know more than we do Rule of Falsifiability – to scientifically test a claim there must be identifiable evidence that could prove the claim false. We must have critical thinking when doing research. Do not blindly accept arguments/conclusions. Instead, examine the evidence and look for alternative solutions/explanations

Problems that can occur: Barnum Effect “There’s a sucker born every minute” Statements can gull people into thinking they have been accurately assessed by the speaker or test when in fact the outcome could apply to anyone. Individuals will give high accuracy ratings to descriptions of their personality that supposedly are tailored specifically for them, but are in fact vague and general enough to apply to a wide range of people Provide partial explanations for the widespread acceptance of some beliefs and practices, such as astrology, fortune telling, and some types of personality tests

Other Biases Confirmation Bias – our tendency to search for information that confirms our beliefs and ignore those that don’t Researcher Bias – the tendency to notice evidence which supports one particular point of view or hypothesis Volunteer Bias – People who volunteer to participate in a survey are different from those who do not Participant Bias – Tendency of research subjects to respond in certain ways because they know they are being observed. Do you act the same way in the classroom that you do at home?