AP Psychology: History & Approaches(2-4%)

Where do you stand? How much is Psychology a real science like Physics, Chemistry or Biology? How much of Psychology’s facts can be trusted if every human is different?

What is psychology? Definition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4pMVb0R6M#t=67 Definition From the Greek terms psyche meaning mind or soul and logos meaning study of = the study of the mind

Origin of Psychology Philosophers like Hippocrates, Socrates, Descartes, and Locke Late 1800s, psychology emerged as its own discipline Biologists like Charles Darwin and physiologists like Weber and Fechner show how physical events are related to sensation and perception Birth date = 1879 Wundt established 1st research lab in Germany

I “Wundt”er Vat is going on in his head? Studied consciousness Wanted to describe basic elements how they are organized and how they relate Used introspection Began psychology’s transformation from philosophy of mental processes to science of mental processes I “Wundt”er Vat is going on in his head?

Titchener & Structuralism Student of Wundt Studied consciousness as well as images and other aspects that are harder to quantify Added “clearness” as element of sensation Called approach “structuralism” = trying to define the structure of consciousness

Functionalism Focus = understanding how mental processes function to allow humans to live and adapt William James – American psychologist at Harvard (late 1870s) first lab to show demos to students rejected Wundt & Titchener’s work G. Stanley Hall – first research lab at Johns Hopkins

Behaviorism John B. Watson – observable behavior of animals and humans = only appropriate subject matter for psych (early 1900s) Should base psychology only on what can be seen in behavior (he had disdain for introspection!) Thought all human behavior was learned B.F. Skinner = rewards & punishments shape, maintain & change behavior

Gestalt Wertheimer, Koffka & Kohler Gestalt = whole “The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts”. Emphasis = if you break consciousness into small elements = you destroy the whole

Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud – (late 1800s early 1900s) All behavior= based in conflicts at an unconscious level Developed psychotherapy (dream analysis) Emphasized importance of childhood Based on medical cases not on lab experiments

The often forgotten Eclectic approach Means exactly that – taking techniques and ideas from a variety of approaches.

Approaches (see “hand”out) Evolutionary Behavioral Biological Cognitive Humanistic Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Sociocultural Even Big Bird Can Hurt People Sometimes Gestalt Eclectic

“I can make you afraid, very afraid.” Bumper Sticker On the provided paper, develop a bumper sticker that would exemplify the essence of your assigned psychological approach. Your bumper sticker should include a combination of quotes (real or made up!), phrases, drawings, symbols and/or logos You may include a name of a noted psychologist that may represent the perspective “I can make you afraid, very afraid.” J B Watson