2. 1. What IS Psychology? 2. How did it evolve? 3. What are the historical roots of psychology? 4. How do psychologists approach human behavior and mental processes? 5. What makes psychology a science? The Evolution of Psychology

3. Table of Contents The scientific study of mental processes and behavior What are mental processes? What are behaviors? Goals: Describe Explain/Predict Influence What IS psychology?

4. Table of Contents Where Psychologists work

5. Table of Contents Frame of mind… Curious Skeptical Objective Critical thinker

6. Table of Contents Key Questions for Critical Thinking 1. What am I being asked to believe or accept? 2. What evidence is available to support the assertion? 3. Are there alternative ways of interpreting the evidence? 4. What additional evidence would help to evaluate the alternatives? 5. What conclusions are most reasonable?

7. Table of Contents The Development of Psychology: From Speculation to Science Prior to 1879 Physiology and philosophy scholars studying questions about the mind Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) University of Leipzig, Germany Established the first laboratory for the study of psychology in 1879

8. Table of Contents Research Laboratory

9. Table of Contents Wilhelm Wundt’s International Influence G.Stanley Hall (1846-1924), Johns Hopkins University Established the first psychology laboratory in the U.S. in 1883 Between 1883 and 1893, 24 new laboratories in North America Contributed to the establishment of the APA

10. Table of Contents The Battle of the “Schools” in the U.S.: Structuralism vs. Functionalism Two intellectual schools of thought regarding the science of psychology Structuralism Functionalism Edward Titchener William James

11. Table of Contents

12. Gestalt Psychology Gestalt Psychology, A rebellion against Wundt’s structuralism Gestalt means a unified or meaningful whole “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

13. 20 th Century Psychology through Present Day Contemporary Perspectives

14. Applying Perspectives Mrs. Jenks, a 4 th grade classroom teacher, has asked for an evaluation of Jonathon, a student who acts out in class by hitting other children. As the psychologist in charge of this evaluation, explain the possible causes of Jonathon’s aggression and how you would help Jonathon become less aggressive. Take either a biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, or humanistic approach.

15. Perspective Discussion Form a group of 3 – 4 students Each student should share his/her paragraph response to the “Mrs. Jenks…” prompt Once each person has shared, discuss the following… Were there common responses within the group? Was there disagreement within the group? What questions surfaced as a result of completing this assignment?