1. Why is it difficult to study the human mind?
What is Psychology?
Why is it difficult to study the human mind?

2. Definition “The SCIENCE of BEHAVIOR and MENTAL PROCESSES”
The historical process by which we came to our modern definition of Psychology started in ancient times and has continued up until this day

3. What does “Science” mean?
What do we mean when we say psychology is a science?

4. Early thinkers on Pyschology
Socrates and Plato (400s and 300s BCE) were philosophers who used logic to make conclusions about the world
They said that the mind is separable from the body and lives on after death
They also said that knowledge is innate- born within us and unchanging throughout life (nature)

5. Aristotle
Aristotle (300s BCE) is often known as the father of science, because he used observation and experimentation, rather than logic, to make conclusions about the world
He claimed that experiences shape knowledge; it is not innate (nurture)

6. More thinking about thinking…
Enlightenment thinkers Rene Descartes, Francis Bacon and John Locke all had important ideas about the human brain

7. Rene Descartes and Francis Bacon
Descartes agreed that body and mind were separable, and he wanted to find out how they communicated
“Animal Spirits” passed through hollow nerve endings
Bacon said that humans tend to perceive order in random events

9. John Locke’s
“Tabula Rasa”

10. Was Psychology a Science yet?
Why or why not?

11. Science of Psychology is born
Wilhelm Wundt conducts the first psychology experiment in 1879
A machine drops a ball and subjects press button signaling they heard it
Subjects then repeat experiment asking to press a key signaling they are aware of the fact they have heard it, which takes longer
Creates the first psychology laboratory

12. “Structuralism”
Edward Titchner wanted to examine the structures of the brain using introspection
Introspection- looking within oneself
Too unreliable

14. “Functionalism” Why does our brain function the way it does?
William James created this school of thought and was famous for his lectures
Influenced by theories of evolution

15. Mary Calkins
Margaret Floy Washburn

16. “Behaviorism”
Pyschology is the “Scientific study of observable behavior”
Why does this approach appeal to scientists?

17. B. F. Skinner
John Watson

18. Freudian Pysch emphasizes unconscious thoughts

19. Cognitive Neuroscience
New technology allows for brain mapping
Scientifically examine the way the brain works
“Cognitive Revolution”

20. Humanistic Psychologists
Focus on the importance of having needs met
Focus on environmental factors
“Nurture” vs “Nature”