1. What is Psychology? The science of behavior and the mind
behavior - observable actions of a person or animal
mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences
science
an objective way to answer questions
based on observable facts / data and well described methods
Keywords: behavior, mind, science

2. What is Psychology? A set of questions about mental functioning
trace back to philosophy
Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.
A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions
the scientific method
evolved over centuries, first in physics
A product of history
philosophy asked many of the basic questions
physiology used similar methods

3. Philosophical Developments
BIG
A Question: How are mind and body related?
Dualism - body and soul are separate but interrelated
origins in medieval religion
soul is seat of intellectual function and will
mind is product of the soul
mind not subject to scientific inquiry
to challenge this was punishable by death
Keywords: dualism, Rene Descartes
Graphic: picture of Descartes pg. 4 of Gray

4. Philosophical Developments
A Question: How are mind and body related?
BIG
Rene Descartes ( ) - modified dualism
since animals have no soul, much behavior does not require soul
the body can therefore control much behavior
led him to study reflexes
the soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human attribute
Keywords: dualism, Rene Descartes
Graphic: picture of Descartes pg. 4 of Gray

5. Philosophical Developments
BIG
A Question: How are mind and body related?
Materialism: Thomas Hobbes ( )
mind is a product of the brain
soul is not involved in human behavior
Empiricism:
knowledge and intellect are acquired
sensory experiences produce elementary ideas
elementary ideas become associated into complex thought and ideas
Keywords: dualism, Rene Descartes
Graphic: picture of Descartes pg. 4 of Gray

6. Philosophical Developments
BIG
Another Question: Empiricism vs. Nativism
Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are innate
If knowledge is innate
What is the purpose of education?
Can intellect be changed by experience?
Are abilities determined by our genes or our experiences?
This is known as Nature vs. Nurture
appears throughout modern psychology
Keywords: materialism, empiricism, nativism

7. Foundations of Modern Psychology
Charles Darwin ( )
Theory of natural selection (1859)
physical characteristics evolve through natural selection
behavioral patterns also influence selection
inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with survival value are passed on
Human beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science
Keywords: Charles Darwin, natural selection
Graphic: picture of Darwin pg. 8 of Gray

8. Foundations of Modern Psychology
Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry
19th century developments in physiology demonstrated the approach to use
based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory experiments
influential beliefs from early physiology
reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes
localization of function - specific structures of the brain serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior
Keywords: reflexology, localization of function

9. Foundations of Modern Psychology
Separated from philosophy in 19th century
influences from physiology remain
Wilhelm Wundt ( )
Leipzig, Germany
wrote the first psychology textbook
applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind
structuralism - identify ‘atoms’ of the mind
focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes
measured reaction times

10. Other Pioneers Edward Titchener (1867-1927) William James (1842-1910)
Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University
William James ( )
started psychology at Harvard in 1870s
opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach
functionalism - influenced by Darwin to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment
Sigmund Freud ( )
Austrian physician that focused on illness
psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders
Keywords: William James, functionalism
Graphic: picture of James pg. 11 of Gray

11. Other Pioneers Alfred Binet (1857-1911) Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
French intelligence researcher
developed first intelligence test
Ivan Pavlov ( )
Russian physiologist
discovered conditioned reflexes
B.F. Skinner ( )
American psychologist at Harvard
studied learning and effect of reinforcement
behaviorism

12. Perspectives Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena
Psychology has multiple perspectives
ethological
biological
psychoanalytic
cognitive
cross- cultural
social

13. Ethology
The study of animal behavior in the natural environment rather than in a lab setting
Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns
European approach to studying behavior founded by animal researchers, Lorenz and Tinbergen
Keywords: ethology, Konrad Lorenz, Nikolass Tinbergen
Graphic: picture of Lorenz pg. 16 Gray

14. Biological Perspective
Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior
Focus may be at various levels
individual neurons
areas of the brain
specific functions like eating, emotion or learning
Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences
Keywords: physiological psychology

15. Clinical Perspective
View of behavior based on experience treating patients
Psychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud )
both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind
behavior reflects combinations of conscious and unconscious influences
drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior
early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations
Keywords: psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud
Graphic: picture of Freud pg. 18 of Gray

16. Clinical Perspective
View of behavior based on experience treating patients
Humanistic approach
developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’
focus on conscious forces and self perception
More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s
Keywords: psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud
Graphic: picture of Freud pg. 18 of Gray

17. Cultural Psychology
The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups
How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture?
What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?
Keywords: cultural psychology

18. Cognitive Perspective
How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ?
Influences include
Piaget - studied intellectual development
Chomsky - studied language
Cybernetics - science of information processing
Keywords: cognitive psychology

19. The Profession of Psychology
American Psychological Association had 52 divisions in 1998
Some represent areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical)
Some are applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

20. Areas of Specialization
Clinical
abnormal behavior and psychological disorders
psychologist vs. psychiatrist
Health psychology
psychological factors in physical health
Counseling
dealing with normal life situations
provide guidance
Other
Psychology
15%
Developmental 6%
Clinical
36%
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Educational 3%
School 3%
Counseling 10%
Keywords: biological psychology, developmental psychology, personality psychology

21. Areas of Specialization
Developmental
psychological change over the life span
social, cognitive, personality
School
counseling and guidance in school settings
Educational
learning and teaching
Other
Psychology
15%
Developmental 6%
Clinical
36%
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Educational 3%
School 3%
Counseling 10%
Keywords: health psychology, educational psychology, industrial/organizational psychology

22. Areas of Specialization
Psychobiology
brain and behavior
studied at many levels
often uses animals as research model
Experimental
basic laboratory focus
animals or humans
learning, memory, motivation
Cognitive
experimental
human memory, perception, etc.
Other
Psychology
15%
Developmental 6%
Clinical
36%
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Educational 3%
School 3%
Counseling 10%
Keywords: clinical psychology, psychiatry

23. Areas of Specialization
Social
social influences on cognition and emotion
attitudes and beliefs
Personality
individual differences
perception by others
Industrial/organizational
people and work
job satisfaction
training and selection
Other
Psychology
15%
Developmental 6%
Clinical
36%
Biological and
Experimental
16%
Industrial/Organizational 3%
Social and
Personality 8%
Educational 3%
School 3%
Counseling 10%
Keywords: clinical psychology, psychiatry

24. Professional Work Settings
Colleges and universities
Clinical settings
Elementary and secondary schools
Business
Government
Private
Practice
Government
Universities &
College
Business
& Industry
School
Employment Settings of Psychologists
Keywords: psychologists’ work settings