A brief history and introduction to the science of psychology

Discussion Questions What does a psychologist look like? What does a scientist look like?

Birth of Psychology Psychology’s Roots (intellectual parents) Philosophy Physiology Early Definition of Psychology: Psyche = Soul Logos = The study of Psychology = The study of the soul (or mind)

PHILOSOPHY A few thoughts on philosophy’s contributions to the birth of psychology

Example of a philosophical conclusion: All men are jerks. Some jerks are attractive. THEREFORE: A) All jerks are men B) Some men are attractive C) Neither of these validly follows

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

Journal Question In 1 minute, give me your opinion about what Plato is trying to say in this allegory.

Today’s Latin Lesson: COGITO, ERGO SUM Rene Descartes made one of the most profound philosophical conclusions with this statement. How did he arrive at that conclusion? Can you refute it?

Early arguments about the mind Dualism vs. Monism DUALISM— consciousness, self-awareness is an attribute of the incorporeal mind (soul), and not the body. Basically, this is the idea that the mind and body are separate entities with different functions. MONISM— there is no fundamental division between the mind and the body. They are basically one and the same.

Journal Question Are you a dualist or a monist? In your opinion, will scientists ever be able to settle this one? Explain.

How do we reach conclusions from a scientific viewpoint? Both science and philosophy are engaged in the search for “truth.” In philosophy, logic is the tool used to arrive at the truth. In science, we use the scientific method to seek truth. Experimentation is the key difference.

PHYSIOLOGY Physiology is the study of the body. This is where the scientific side of psychology came from—it involves direct observation of the real world.

Physiological Influences Hippocrates—The 4 Humors of the body Humour Season Element Ancient Name Characteristics Blood Spring Air Sanguine Courageous, hopeful, amorous Yellow Bile Summer Fire Choleric Easily angered, bad tempered Black Bile Autumn Earth Melancholic Despondent, sleepless, irritable Phlegm Winter water phlegmatic Calm, unemotional

This was the most commonly held view of the human body until the 19th century! Each humor was thought to be related to specific personality traits, and an imbalance of the humors caused illness or disorder.

Birth of Scientific Psychology Wilhelm Wundt 1st Psychology Lab (1879) Wundt led the campaign to combine the empirical approach of physiology with philosophy—Psychology should study the mind and mental processes.

Structuralism vs. Functionalism Psychology’s First Battle! Structuralism (Wundt)—goal was to study conscious experience and its structure. Functionalism (James)—goal was to study how the mind works in allowing an organism to adapt to the environment.

Yada Yada Yada… Psychologists continued to disagree with one another about what to study and how, until we ended up where we are today…

Psychology’s Perspectives The Big Seven

Neuroscience Perspective Focus on how the physical body and brain creates our emotions, memories and sensory experiences. If you could not remember the names of your parents and went to a psychologist who adheres to the neuroscience perspective, what might they say?

Evolutionary Perspective Focuses on Darwinism. We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors. Thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival. How could this behavior have ensured Homer’s ancestors’ survival?

Psychodynamic Perspective Fathered by Sigmund Freud. Our behavior comes from unconscious drives. Usually stemming from our childhood. What might a psychoanalyst say is the reason someone always needs to be chewing gum?

Behavioral Perspective Focuses on our OBSERVABLE behaviors. Only cares about the behaviors that impair our living, and attempts to change them. If you bit your fingernails when you were nervous, a behaviorist would not focus on calming you down, but rather focus on how to stop you from biting your nails.

Cognitive Perspective Focuses on how we think (or encode information) How do we see the world? How did we learn to act in response to sad or happy events? Cognitive Therapist attempt to change the way you think. Meet girl Get Rejected by girl Or get back on the horse and try again Did you learn to be depressed

Social-Cultural Perspective Focus on the effect of culture and social dynamics on your behavior, thoughts, etc... The people we surround ourselves with have PROFOUND influences on us.

Humanistic Perspective Focuses on positive growth Attempt to seek self-actualization Therapists use active listening and unconditional positive regard. Mr. Rogers would have made a great Humanistic Therapist!!!