Psychology An Introduction It was the Greeks that really help Psychology take off.

What Is Psychology? Take answers from the class.

The Origins of Psychology Aristotle Psyche – essence of life Psychology – study of life Aristotle began with the idea that life lies in the Psych not in the body. The body remains after death but the psych is as he states the psychy leaves with the breath.

Definition of Psychology What Is Psychology Definition of Psychology Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. Science – careful, controlled observation Behavior-The actions that others see in you. Mental processes – private thoughts, emotions, feelings, motives that others cannot directly observe --Psychology is considered a science because it attempts to understand people by thinking critically about their actions. ---In everything you do you are showing a behavior. Catching a ball, talking with a friend, checking your face book all of these consitutes a behavior. ---Mental proceesses—these reffer to your private thoughts. The things you alone are privilage to unless you disclose this information to aother person you own these solely.

Goals of Psychology Describe Predict Understand Influence What Is Psychology Goals of Psychology Describe Predict Understand Influence ---Describe—Why do we as humans behave like we do. What make us conform, act out, fall in love. ---Predict-This part of Psych allows for scientist to predict or tell how humans will react or should react to different situation. ---Understand—To help us understand the differnces and simulitaries in cultures and individuals. ---Influence—Studying psych has allowed for the development of how to help or better enable individuals and groups to face certain situations. ADVERTISING

The Many Viewpoints in Psychology and Their Origins What Is Psychology The Many Viewpoints in Psychology and Their Origins Wilhelm Wundt First laboratory in psychology, 1879 William James Lab in Harvard University, 1875 Many people founded psychology Wundt work with Titcher and created a the viewpoint of structualism. James—worked with functionalism and there many other that we will look at throughout the course.

Nature of Conscious Experience What Is Psychology Nature of Conscious Experience Wundt and Titchner Introspection Observe contents of own mind Describe sensations Structuralism Structure of mind J. Henry Alston Studies of sensations of heat and cold

Nature of Conscious Experience What Is Psychology Nature of Conscious Experience Max Wertheimer Gestalt psychology Gestalt – the whole Phi phenomenon – the whole is different from the sum of its parts

Functions of the Conscious Mind What Is Psychology Functions of the Conscious Mind William James Functionalism Interested in what the mind could do Influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution Critical of structuralist view

Functions of the Conscious Mind What Is Psychology Functions of the Conscious Mind Hermann Ebbinghaus Measurement of memory Meaningful and nonsense information Mary Calkins Functionalist Memory and related bits of information Paired associates method

Functions of the Conscious Mind What Is Psychology Functions of the Conscious Mind Cognitive psychology Modern version of functionalism Strongly influenced by Gestalt and structuralism Cognitive processes – functions of human consciousness Cognition – all intellectual processes

Psychometrics: Alfred Binet What Is Psychology Psychometrics: Alfred Binet Founded 1st psychology lab in France Developed way to measure intelligence Identify intelligent children for extensive education in France Test modified in U.S. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale Psychometrics – measurement of mental functions

Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory What Is Psychology Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory Behaviorists influenced by Darwin and learning from experience Ivan Pavlov Conditioning – simple form of learning Precise scientific way of studying learning

Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory What Is Psychology Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory John Watson and Margaret Washburn Impressed by Pavlov’s scientific precision Behaviorism - human behavior learned through classical conditioning Should study only overt behavior B.F. Skinner Strict behaviorist – no mental processes

Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory What Is Psychology Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory Social learning theory Broader version of behaviorism Albert Bandura Most of behavior learned from others in society Important theoretical view today

Nature of the “Unconscious Mind” What Is Psychology Nature of the “Unconscious Mind” Mental processes that we are unaware of Sigmund Freud Founder of psychoanalysis Unconscious mind Innate motives Conflicts influence behavior Sexual and aggressive are most important

Nature of the “Unconscious Mind” What Is Psychology Nature of the “Unconscious Mind” Humanistic psychology Maslow, Rogers, and Frankl Human fate based on conscious decisions Society is cause of self-defeating unconscious mind – bombarded with inaccurate information Self-concept – our view of what we are like Negative information causes anxiety Difficult to have accurate self-concept

Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology What Is Psychology Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology Sociocultural perspective People are different – gender, cultural heritage, age, sexual orientation, and unique experiences Derived from social anthropology Shaped by social learning theory – personalities, beliefs, attitudes, and skills learned from others Full understanding within sociocultural context

Neuroscience Perspective What Is Psychology Neuroscience Perspective Interested in relationship between biological nature and psychological nature How structures of brain influence behavior Influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution – compare different species and humans Neurons and complex connections Active and inactive states of human brain

Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology What Is Psychology Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology Sociocultural perspective Culture – patterns of behavior, beliefs, values shared by a people Ethnic group – persons who are descendants of common group of ancestors Ethnic identity – one’s sense of belonging to a particular ethnic group; sharing their culture

Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology What Is Psychology Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology Sociocultural perspective Gender identity – viewing oneself as female or male Cultural relativity Think in relative terms, not judgmental All cultures are different, none inferior Usually more differences within groups than between groups

Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology What Is Psychology Contemporary Perspectives in Psychology Sociocultural perspective in psychology Psychology overemphasizes same, neglects diversity History of psychology – Prejudiced against females and people of color Roadblocks in education and employment Today – formal barriers dropped but some prejudice still exists

Evolutionary Psychology What Is Psychology Evolutionary Psychology Studies behavior of animals and humans Influenced by Darwin’s natural selection Spontaneous change or mutation in gene – the fittest survive Fitness – reproducing offspring to carry mutated gene to future generations Hard wired differences in men and women

Evolutionary Psychology What Is Psychology Evolutionary Psychology Positive psychology movement Study positive aspects of human lives Seligman – positive psychology as new school of thought Study health and happiness

Specialty Areas of Modern Psychology What Is Psychology Specialty Areas of Modern Psychology Applied psychologists – research studies Basic areas of modern psychology Biological psychology Sensation and perception Motivation and emotion Developmental psychology Sociocultural psychology Cognition Personality Social psychology

Specialty Areas of Modern Psychology What Is Psychology Specialty Areas of Modern Psychology Applied areas of modern psychology Clinical psychology Counseling psychology Educational and school psychology Industrial and organizational psychology Health psychology

Specialty Areas of Modern Psychology What Is Psychology Specialty Areas of Modern Psychology Relationship between psychology and psychiatry Psychiatrist – M.D. degree , residency training in psychiatry and medical internship Psychologist – Ph.D. or Psy.D., internship in clinical psychology

What We Know About Human Behavior What Is Psychology What We Know About Human Behavior Human beings are biological creatures Every person is different, yet much the same Can fully understand people in their social context Human life is continuous process of change Behavior is motivated Humans are social animals People are active in creating experiences Behavior can be adaptive or maladaptive

What Is Psychology The End