The Basics Unit One

Origins of Psychology -Roots in ancient philosophy -Socrates – “ know thyself” -Plato – rely on thought and reason -Aristotle – rely on experience, observation -Confucius – concerned with nature of the human - Influences on modern psychology Wilhelm Wundt – 1879 – transition from philosophy to science -Founder of modern psychology -First actual psychology lab

Major Early Schools of Psychology -Structuralism -Introspection – the pieces of what make you who you are -Components or building blocks of the mind -Functionalism -William James – United States -The mind adapts us to our environment -Understand the mind by understanding how it functions

Major Early Schools of Psychology -Behaviorism -John Watson – early 1900’s -Study only overt behavior -Experience, environment mold us -B.F. Skinner – operant conditioning – consequences are crucial to learning -Reinforcer – pleasant consequence; increases behavior -Punishment – unpleasant consequence; decreases behavior

Major Early Schools of Psychology -Gestalt psychology -Max Wertheimer – contemporary of Watson -Unified, organization patterns -“Whole is greater than the sum of the parts” -Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis “Talk it out therapy” -Austrian physician -Focus on the unconscious -Sexual and aggressive impulses motivate -Importance of early childhood experience -Dynamic conflict between unconscious desire and acceptable behavior

Modern Views in Psychology -Behavioral perspective -Modeled after school of behaviorism -Observable behavior; emphasis on experience and learning -Broader variation: social-cognitive theory “If I do X, Y will happen” -Environment and cognitive factors -Values, goals, and expectations important -Behavior therapy – applying learning principles to treat psychological problems

Modern Views in Psychology -Psychodynamic Perspective -Neo-Freudians include emphasis on self-awareness and choices -Focus remains on unconscious drives and early childhood experience -Criticized because scientific study is difficult -Humanistic perspective -Carl Rodgers key player in this idea -Known as “third force” in psychology, started in 1950’s -Combined Freud’s ideas with behaviorism -Each human has unique abilities and potential -Free will, personal choice; crucial aspects of this perspective -We are our own architects

Modern Views in Psychology -Physiological perspective -Biological processes influence behavior -Nervous system and body chemicals at root of human functioning -Heredity an important consideration -Subfield: Evolutionary psychology -Study non-human species as well as humans -Genetic programming creates behavioral tendencies, predispositions

Modern Views in Psychology -Cognitive perspective -Wilhelm Wundt -Cognition means knowledge -Study of mental processes; acquiring knowledge of ourselves and the world -How we learn, think, reason, remember, and use language -Criticized by behaviorists as being beyond scientific study, cannot see people think

Modern Views in Psychology -Sociocultureal Perspective -Behavior and attitudes are influenced by culture -Social and economic experiences have impact -Ethnicity, age, gender, and lifestyle are considered

The Many Fields of Psychology… -Traditional Specialty Areas of Psychology -Experimental psychologists: use the experimental research method to study behavior and mental processes -Clinical psychologists: study individuals with psychological disorders -Counseling psychologists: treat individuals with less severe disorders -School psychologists: work directly with children to aid in school experience -Educational psychologists: research/apply best learning environments

The Many Fields of Psychology… -Developmental psychologists: study human growth and changes over their lifetime -Personality psychologists: study unique personal characteristics and behaviors -Social psychologists: focus on the individual as a member of a group -Environmental psychologists: study the relationship between people’s behavior and their environment (color of the room)

The Many Fields of Psychology… -Industrial / Organizational psychologists: research/apply ways to make the work setting better -Health psychologists: study the relationship between psychological factors and physical well-being -Consumer psychologists: look at people’s purchases and reaction to advertising