Time for Psych! Agenda for Today: Notes – History of Psych (a very abbreviated history…) Life Activity Warm Up: Answer the following on a notecard: The machines have taken over. They do not understand human emotion. Explain what makes people (not YOU specifically) happy.
A Little House Cleaning… Course expectations: Be here. Listen. Participate. Be respectful. Ask questions.
What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes ◦ Science ◦ Behavior ◦ Mental Processes Life.
Think of the following misconceptions… We only use 10% of our brains Subliminal messages can persuade people to buy products Opposites attract. Most mentally ill people are violent. Autism is caused by childhood vaccinations. Virtually all people who use heroin become addicted to it. People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities
What is Psychology? The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best. ~Paul Valery Men will always be mad, and those who think they can cure them are the maddest of all. ~Voltaire
The Earliest Roots of Psychology Ancient Egypt and Early China Early philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Dualism: mind and body are two separate parts Monism: mind and body are one Medical practitioners: Hippocrates, Galen Humours: Sanguine, choleric, melancholia, phlegm
Early Roots of Psychology Modern Philosophers: René Descartes - Dualist Ruled out organs other than the brain as location of mental functioning “The senses deceive from time to time, and it is prudent never to trust wholly those who have deceived us even once”
Early Roots of Psychology John Locke ◦ The mind is tabula rasa Blank slate ◦ Human behavior should be studied - empirically
Modern Day Psychology Wasn’t born overnight – and has gone through several phases and changes
THE FATHER OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY: Wilhelm Wundt First research laboratory in psychology at University of Leipzig (1879) Research methods included: introspection, psychophysical measurements and reaction time Methods of scientific study lasted Why is this important? Introspection = the act of looking inward, to examine one’s mental experiences – then reporting on this
Edward B. Titchener Student of Wundt, received PhD in 1892 Founded structuralism, based partially on Wundtian concepts Structuralism – ALL human mental experience, could be viewed as blends/combos of simple process or elements. By using INTROSPECTION, you could discover the basic elements of “mental life”, revealing the underlying STRUCTURE of the mind
THE FATHER OF AMERICAN MODERN PSYCHOLOGY: William James Associated with functionalism = perspective emphasizing the functions (purpose) of behavior rather than the structures Said first psychology lecture he attended was the first one he gave (Harvard man) Published the first paper on psychology, defining it as “the science of mental life”
Roots of Modern Psychology Structuralism ◦ Wundt and Titchener Describe the structures of the mind ◦ Looking at the individual parts Introspection Functionalism ◦ William James Describe the functions of the mind ◦ Examining the brain as a whole Interactions with the environment Which is right?
Random Dude - G. Stanley Hall Established the first psychology lab in the US at Johns Hopkins University (1883) First President of American Psychology Association (APA) First American psychology journal(1887)
Random Women in Psychology Christine Ladd Franklin (1869) ◦ First female psychologist ◦ Never accepted in the field ◦ No formal academic post in psychology ◦ Studies in vision Margaret Floy Washburn (1894) ◦ First female Ph.D. ◦ Was Titchener’s student ◦ Had a successful career in psychology
Women in Psychology Mary Whiton Calkins - First woman president of APA (1905) Harvard would not allow her graduate studies under William James James informally administered her exams Harvard would not give her a Ph. D. Radcliffe College offered her a degree, she declined Honorary degree from Columbia
History of Psych in a Nutshell… What do you need to know for the AP exam? Our roots - IMPORTANT Structuralism versus functionalism – RIDICULOUSLY IMPORTANT The names – uh……
Day One – Life Assignment You are going to create a “Life List.” People sometimes refer to this as a bucket list. Create a list of things you hope to accomplish, places you hope to visit, people you hope to meet, and things you hope to do. Your list should be realistic. These are the MOST IMPORTANT things for you. If you died tomorrow – what would you regret never having done? On the bottom (skip several lines) – If there is anything you feel I need to know about, this is a good place to tell me.
God is dead. The best things in life are free. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a better play than Romeo and Juliet. Abortion is wrong. There is a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. The mind is just like a computer. Attitudes affect cancer. Pornography is harmful.
All of the background of psych (Wundt, James, etc.) eventually led to the 7 approaches / perspectives to psychology Each approach attempts to explain behavior and/or thoughts They are unique, but can also overlap
Approach: Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) Relevant Psychologist: Freud Time Frame: Early 1900s Explanation: Childhood experiences (which later become part of your unconscious) influence your behavior and personality as an adult
Approach: Behaviorism Relevant Psychologist: Watson & Skinner Time Frame: 1940s – 1960s Explanation: Behavior is a learned result of reinforcements, punishments and observation Focuses exclusively on observable actions (NEVER THOUGHTS)
Approach: Humanistic Relevant Psychologist: Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow Time Frame: 1960s – 1970s; coming back Explanation: Emphasizes self-actualization, positive human qualities, free will. I CAN CHANGE. Is almost a direct response to behaviorism and psychodynamic view points
Approach: Cognitive Relevant Psychologist: Loftus Time Frame: 1960s-today Explanation: Emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems Response to behaviorism
Approach: Biological Approach Relevant Psychologist: Gazzaniga & Sperry Time Frame – 1980s - today Explanation: Interested in the biological processes that underlie thought, feeling, and emotion Focus is on the central nervous system
Approach: Sociocultural Relevant Psychologist: none Timeframe 1990s - today Explanation: Examines how social and cultural environments influence behavior and mental processes Studies differences between ethnic and cultural groups within a country
Approach: Evolutionary Relevant Psychologist: Darwin Time Frame: – 1990s - today Explanation: Emphasizes the relevance of evolutionary theory to all behavior and mental processes We’re a result of 1000s years of adaptation, survival of fittest
**Biopsychosocial Integrates several fields of psychology ◦ Cognitive Neuroscientist Or several scientific fields ◦ Psychoneuroimmunology
So… Why do we care about perspectives?
What do we study?
Basic vs. Applied Psychologist Basic Psychologist studies phenomenon for the accumulation of accurate knowledge ◦ Where might a basic psychologist work? Applied psychologist find solutions to practical problems ◦ Where might an applied psychologist work?