Download Introduction to Psychology and Historical Figures

CHS AP Psychology
Unit 1: Science of
Psychology
• Essential Task 1-3:
• Trace the growth of psychology with specific
attention to structuralism and functionalism in
the early years.
Early Psychology – Wundt
(voo-ndt)
• Wilhelm Wundt opened the first
psychology laboratory at the University of
Liepzig in 1879.
 By insisting on measurement and
experimentation he moves psychology from
a philosophy to a science
This is my lab!
Structuralism
 Bradford Titchner
 School of psychology
that stressed the basic
units of experience
(physical sensation,
feelings, and memories)
and the combinations in
which they occur.
 Study these ‘atoms of
experience’ to get the
structure of the mind
Break this down to its atoms of experience
How do you know what this is?
How is your mind structured in order to
perceive it?
So what is this?
And this? How’s structuralism
working for you now?
Functionalism
 William James
 Rejects Structuralism
 Influenced by Darwin
 Functionalism –theory of mental life and
behavior that is concerned with how an
organism uses its perceptual abilities to
function in its environment.
 Functionalists wanted to the whole system of
mental processes rather than focusing on the
tiny elements of consciousness
 Functionalism also emphasized individual
differences, which had a profound impact on
education.
Structuralism vs. Functionalism
How would each study this situation?
Psychodynamic Psychology
•Sigmund Freud
• Behavior results from
forces at work within the
individual, often at an
unconscious level.
Often formed during
childhood.
• Late 1800s
• Since the person can’t
access their own
unconscious, it is hard to
prove or disprove this
theory scientifically.
Psychodynamic =
Unconscious
Behaviorism
• Studied only observable behaviors
• Studied how organisms learn
behaviors.
• Classical Conditioning – learning that
results from things happening to you.
– Ivan Pavlov – Dogs
– John B. Watson – Baby Albert
• Operant Conditioning – learning that
results from getting rewards or
punishments.
– B.F. Skinner – Skinner Box
Behaviorism
The Cognitive Revolution
• The precursors to cognitive
psychology:
– Gestalt psychology
•Study of how we perceive objects as
whole patterns
•Therapy that wishes to treat the whole
person
– Humanistic psychology
•Emphasizes realization of full potential
•Recognizes importance of love, self
esteem, belonging, and selfactualization
The Cognitive Revolution
• Study of mental processes
Thinking
Learning
Feeling
Remembering
Decision making
New Directions in Psychology
• Evolutionary psychology
– Studies the adaptive value of behaviors
and mental processes
• Positive psychology
– Study of the subjective feelings of
happiness and well-being
– Focus is on positive attitude