History and Approaches to Psychology

Psychology: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes Let’s break down the definition: Behavior: Anything that you do that can be observed Mental Processes: Internal experiences such as thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions

Psychology was not considered an area of scientific study until the 1870’s when the ideas philosophy and physiology were combined

1.Psychoanalytic 2.Behavioral 3.Humanistic 4.Cognitive 5.Biological 6.Socio-Cultural 7.Evolutionary

Sigmund Freud: viewed person as being pushed and pulled by unconscious wants & desires Repression of wants & desires leads to mental disorders later in life Sigmund Freud: viewed person as being pushed and pulled by unconscious wants & desires Repression of wants & desires leads to mental disorders later in life

PSYCHOANALTIC THEORY PSYCHOANALTIC THEORY: Explains personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behavior People are not the masters of their own minds Emphasizes role of conflict in our lives and early childhood experiences Because we cannot accept them in our conscious, thoughts find their expression in dreams, slips of the tongue that appear as accidents and even jokes “Freudian Slips”

Pros: – Impact of childhood on development – Many ideas still used in mainstream psychology Cons: – No focus on observable behavior – Can’t be scientifically proven – Ignores other explanations – Doesn’t look at changing behavior, just underlying causes

B. F. Skinner: Operant Conditioning. Voluntary behavior and learning due to consequences (reinforcement & punishment). Controlled by rewards = NO FREE WILL B. F. Skinner: Operant Conditioning. Voluntary behavior and learning due to consequences (reinforcement & punishment). Controlled by rewards = NO FREE WILL John B. Watson (1913): Father of Behaviorism - observe & measure behavior. Known for “Little Albert” study BEHAVIORAL BEHAVIORAL: emphasizes observable behavior rather than the role of the consciousness. Believe behavior is governed by the environment Ivan Pavlov: Classical Conditioning - Involuntary behavior = Associative Learning in dogs through saliva responses after hearing a bell.

Nature: Certain elementary ideas are innate to the human mind; not gained through experience Men are born, not made Nurture: Anything we know we have learned through experience Men are made, not born

Nature or Nurture?

HUMANISM HUMANISM: emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, especially their their potential for personal growth Thought other approaches were “dehumanizing” and suggested people weren’t masters of their own destinies People have a basic need to continue to evolve and fulfill their potential; many psychological disturbances are due to thwarting these needs Abraham Maslow: Hierarchy of Needs - each level of needs must be satisfied before one moves onto the next. Self Actualization- strive to be the best one can. Abraham Maslow: Hierarchy of Needs - each level of needs must be satisfied before one moves onto the next. Self Actualization- strive to be the best one can. Carl Rogers: Focused on the feelings of the client. Unconditional positive regard Fostered a therapeutic approach to therapy. Fully functioning: personal growth, free will, self-determination Carl Rogers: Focused on the feelings of the client. Unconditional positive regard Fostered a therapeutic approach to therapy. Fully functioning: personal growth, free will, self-determination

COGNITIVE: COGNITIVE: refers to mental activity including thinking, remembering, problem solving, decision making, learning & using language. “People act because they think.” Thoughts impact behavior. “People act because they think.” Emphasizes the importance of receiving, storing, and processing information Jean Piaget: identified 4 stages of cognitive development in children

BIOLOGICAL BIOLOGICAL: behavior can be explained in terms of brain structures and biochemical processes that allow organisms to behave.

SOCIO-CULTURAL APPROACH SOCIO-CULTURAL APPROACH: Examines the cultural differences in an attempt to understand, predict, and control behavior As time progressed more people were traveling and visiting other cultures Psychologists soon recognized the difference in cultural gestures, body language, and spoken language. Lev Vygotsky: those we interact with are responsible for the development of higher order functions.

EVOLUTIONARY EVOLUTIONARY: Examines behavioral processes in terms of their adaptive value for members over the course of many generations Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Those organisms best suited to their environments will flourish & pass on genes more successfully than those with poorer adaptations. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Those organisms best suited to their environments will flourish & pass on genes more successfully than those with poorer adaptations.

Year Flagship Articles with Keywords (%) Cognitive Behavioral Psychoanalytic Neuroscience Intro to Psych Crash Course

Clinical Psychologists: Evaluate and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders Counseling Psychologists: Help people adapt to change or make changes in their lifestyle Developmental Psychologists: Study psychological development throughout a lifespan Engineering Psychologists: Do research on how people function best with machines

Educational Psychologists: Focus on how effective teaching and learning take place Forensic Psychologists: Apply psychological principles to legal/criminal issues Health Psychologists: Concentrate on biological, psychological, and social factors associated with health and illness Industrial/Organizational Psychologists: Aim to improve productivity and the quality of work life by applying psychological principles and methods to the workplace

Neuropsychologists: Explore the relationship between brain/nervous systems and behavior Psychometricians: Focus on methods for acquiring and analyzing psychological data Rehabilitation Psychologists: Help clients with mental retardation, developmental disabilities, and disabilities resulting from neurological injury School Psychologists: Assess and counsel students, consult with educators and parents, and perform behavioral intervention when necessary

Social Psychologists: Focus on how a person ’ s mental life and behavior are shaped by interactions with other people Sports Psychologists: Help athletes refine their focus on competition goals, increase motivation, and deal with anxiety and fear of failure