Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It has roots in ancient traditions but emerged as a modern science in the late 19th century led by pioneers like Wundt, James, and Freud. Modern psychology incorporates perspectives like biological, behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive, evolutionary, and sociocultural approaches to understanding thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Areas of specialization within psychology include clinical, counseling, social, developmental, and cognitive psychology among others. Careers in psychology typically require advanced degrees.
2. What is Psychology?
• The scientific study of behavior and
mental processes
– Science
– Empirical
3. What Do Psychologists Study?
• Normal and abnormal behavior
• Humans and other species
• All aspects of behavior
4. History of Psychology
• Psychology has roots in ancient
traditions
• Psychology as a scientific domain
• Pioneers in Psychology
• Wundt
• James
• Freud
• Many others…
5. Wilhelm Wundt
• The “father” of
scientific psychology
• Established the first
psychological
laboratory
• Introspection
Wilhelm Wundt
(1832-1920)
6. William James
• Philosopher and
psychologist
• Published the first
textbook in
psychology in
1890.
• Functionalism
William James
(1842-1910)
7. Sigmund Freud
• The “father” of
psychoanalysis
• Neurophysiologist
, University of
Vienna
• Unconscious
mind
Sigmund Freud
(1856-1939)
9. Biological Approach
• Focuses on the
brain and the
nervous system
• Neuroscience
10. Behavioral Approach
• Focuses on the
influences of the
environment on
observable
behavior
John Watson
(1847-1939)
B.F. Skinner
(1904-1990)
11. Psychodynamic Approach
• Emphasizes
– Unconscious
thought
– Internal conflicts
– Early childhood
experiences
– Freud
12. Humanistic Approach
• Emphasizes
positive human
qualities
Abraham
Maslow
(1908-1970)
Carl Rogers
(1902-1987)
13. Cognitive Approach
• Emphasizes the
mental processes
involved in
knowing
14. Evolutionary Approach
• Uses ideas such
as adaptation,
reproduction, and
natural selection to
explain human
behavior
15. Sociocultural Approach
• Examines how
social and cultural
environments
influence behavior
and mental
processes
16. Four Big Ideas in Psychology
• Critical Thinking
• Behavior is a biopsychosocial event
• We operate on a two-track mind
• Psychology explores human
strengths as well as challenges
19. Related Degrees
• Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
– Degrees: Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D., M.A./M.S.
– State license
• Social Work
– Degrees: MSW, DSW
• Psychiatry
– Degrees: M.D.
• Psychology: Other areas
– Degrees: Ph.D., M.A./M.S, B.A./B.S,
Notas del editor
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes Science: process of evaluating empirical knowledge Empirical : derived from or guided by experience or experiment We will talk more about scientific process in Chapter 2. However, science involves critical thinking, skepticism, objectivity, curiosity Note : Instructors should note the goals of psychology – to describe, predict, and explain behavior. Those goals can easily be tied to the research methods discussed in Chapter 2 for added emphasis.
Ask them a question. Provide examples of each point e.g. normal - creativity, abnormal schizophrenia All aspects of behavior – clarify – voluntary and involuntary Normal and abnormal behavior Normal: thinking, learning, brain processes Abnormal: psychological disorders, brain traumas Humans and other species 5% of all psychological research is animal research All aspects of behavior Voluntary behavior vs. Involuntary behavior
Psychology has roots in ancient traditions Philosophy : Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Descartes (mind/body connection) Natural sciences: biology, physiology Spiritual traditions Psychology as a scientific domain Relatively new domain Less than 150 years old!
Known as “the father of scientific psychology”, Established the 1 st psychological laboratory, University of Leipzig, Germany, December 1879; Introspection - Research method in which trained observers report their own experiences
Philosopher and psychologist; Taught at Harvard, Trained as a M.D. Functionalism - Research method, which focuses on understanding how the mind works In 1890, James published Principles of Psychology. Functionalism was the study of how the conscious mind helps humans survive and successfully adapt to their environment pioneering American psychologist and philosopher who was trained as a medical doctor. He wrote influential books on the young science of psychology, educational psychology , psychology of religious experience and mysticism , and on the philosophy of pragmatism . He was the brother of novelist Henry James and of diarist Alice James . William James was born at the Astor House in New York City. James is one of the two namesakes of the James-Lange theory of emotion , which he formulated independently of Carl Lange in the 1880s. The theory holds that emotion is the mind's perception of physiological conditions that result from some stimulus. In James's oft-cited example; it is not that we see a bear, fear it, and run. We see a bear and run, consequently we fear the bear. Our mind's perception of the higher adrenaline level, heartbeat, etc., is the emotion.
Born in Moravia (now Czech Republic; Degree in neurophysiology University of Vienna, Austria; Known as the father of Psychoanalysis; Hysteria; Free association; Unconscious mind In October 1885, Freud went to Paris on a traveling fellowship to study with Europe's most renowned neurologist and researcher of hypnosis, Jean Martin Charcot . He was later to remember the experience of this stay as catalytic in turning him toward the practice of medical psychopathology and away from a less financially promising career in neurology research. [8] Charcot specialised in the study of hysteria and susceptibility to hypnosis, which he frequently demonstrated with patients on stage in front of an audience. Freud later turned away from hypnosis as a potential cure for mental illness, instead favouring free association and dream analysis. [9] Charcot himself questioned his own work on hysteria towards the end of his life. [10] All of Freud's many sisters perished in The Holocaust. Freud escaped to London.
Biological Focuses on the brain and the nervous system Neuroscience Study of the structure, function, development, genetics, biochemistry of the nervous system, study thoughts and emotions have physical basis in brain, allowed psychologists to better understand the brain
unconscious thought; conflict between biological drives and demands of society; early childhood family experiences; Psychoanalysis - Freud
Emphasizes positive human qualities capacity for positive growth free will
Information- processing model Model that explains how people perceive, process and use information
Evolutionary Psychologists David Buss Leda Cosmides
Focuses on differences between ethnic and cultural groups within and across countries
Critical Thinking - process of actively examining information; does not blindly accepts “facts” Behavior is a biopsychosocial event - to understand behavior we must analyze various influences We operate on a two-track mind - Dual processing : conscious vs. unconscious Psychology explores human strengths as well as challenges
All psychologists specialize (subarea & approach) as they earn their degrees.
All psychologists specialize (subarea & approach) as they earn their degrees.
