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Why Study Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes.
Goals of Psychology
Describe – gathering information about the behavior being studied
Explanation – Psychologist seek to explain why people behave as
they do and propose explanations as hypotheses.
After several studies are done, theories can be constructed.
Prediction – use studies and research to predict what humans will
think, feel or do in various situations.
Influence – influencing behavior can be done in 2 ways
1.
2.
Basic Science – conducting studies with a long-term goal of
finding out more about human behavior.
Applied Science – using what is known about people and behavior
to benefit others.
Scientific Method
To ensure that data is collected accurately, psychologists rely on the
scientific method.
Must be used to prevent false conclusions
Psychological theories are continually reviewed and revised
History of Psychology
It all started with philosophy…
Psychology didn’t have one specific start but developed over time
starting with the Greeks and started with philosophy.
The Ancient Greek Philosophers
Plato
Believed that knowledge came from reflection
and thinking (the brain, “nature”).
Aristotle
Plato’s student. Believed that knowledge came
from experience (the heart, “nurture”)
They were the first Europeans to reason that human
beings have, in addition to a physical body, some
kind of apparatus used for thinking, which they
called the “psyche” (mind).
Fast forward through time…
René Descartes (1637) – French philosopher
who believed in dualism (humans have a dual
nature – one part mental and the other
physical). Also believed that we are born
with innate ideas (“nature”).
John Locke (1690) – British philosopher who
rejected Descartes’ notion of innate ideas
and insisted that the mind at birth is a “blank
slate” (tabula rasa) (“nurture”).
Not to be confused with
this John Locke!
Phrenology
In the 18th century, philosophers believed that
every mental activity (loving, reading, long
division) was viewed as the work of a
particular area of the mind.
In 1808, Franz Joseph Gall, a German
physician, promotes the idea of
phrenology: the shape of a person’s skull
reveals mental faculties and character
traits.
Historical Approaches
The history of psychology is a history of alternative perspectives.
As the field of psychology evolved, various schools of thought arose to
compete & offer new approaches to the science of behavior.
Structuralism – (basic science)
Wilhelm Wundt started the first laboratory of psychology in 1879
and is generally acknowledged as establishing modern psychology
as a separate, formal field of study.
the
Wundt’s work focused the structure and classification of
human mind – attempted to answer the question of
“what” is the human mind
Functionalism – (applied science)
William James is considered the founder of psychology in the U.S.
Wrote the first psychology textbook, Principles of Psychology
One of the most vocal of Wundt’s critics – he said that structuralism’s
approach was far too narrow (and boring!)
Attempts to answer the questions of “why” the human mind works the
way it does and, in turn, effects our behavior
Inheritable Traits
Sir Francis Galton wanted to understand how heredity influences a
person’s abilities, character and behavior
His research had many flaws, however, Galton was the first to introduce
objectivity into the field of psychology
Gestalt Psychology
Developed by a group of German psychologists who disagreed with the
principles of structuralism which focuses on how individual parts of the
mind worked.
Gestalt psychologists argue that perception is more than the sum of its
parts
We don’t break down experiences into individual pieces to
understand them, rather we reorganize them into what we
already recognize
Contemporary Approaches
Psychoanalytic Theory
Psychoanalytic Theory
•Sigmund Freud is credited with founding psychoanalytic psychology.
•Early psychologists focused on the conscious mind, Freud focused on the
unconscious mind
•Believed that primitive biological urges were in conflict with the requirements
of society & morality & were responsible for most human behavior.
•Personality is divided into 3 parts – Id, Ego, Superego
•To study unconsciousness, Freud developed free association.
•In free association, patients say everything that comes to mind without
attempting to make meaningful statements
•A psychoanalyst is to be objective and their job is to sit & listen to the patient’s
associations and then interpret them.
•Freud believed that dreams were where we expressed our most primitive urges
& used dream analysis to study dreams.
•Freud’s ideas are very controversial & free associate is still used by
psychoanalysts today
We are who we are based on our unconscious mind & past experiences.
Behavioral Theory
Behavioral Theory
•Created by Ivan Pavlov
•In his most famous experiment, Pavlov taught a dog to salivate at the sound of a
turning fork with no other stimulation
•Psychologists used this experiment as a way to explore human behavior.
•Behavior is a product of prior experiences & that certain acts, behaviors &
differences were the result of learning
•John B. Watson, a behavioralist, stressed investigating observable behavior.
•All behavior (even instinctive) is the result of conditioning and occurs when the
appropriate stimulus is present.
•B.F. Skinner added to the behavioralist perspective by introducing the idea of
reinforcement.
•Reinforcement is a response to a behavior that increase the likelihood the
behavior will be repeated.
We are who we are because we have been taught or learned to behave
that way.
Humanistic Theory
Humanistic Theory
•Humanistic psychology developed in reaction to behavioral psychology.
•Notable psychologists include Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers and Rollo May.
•Humanists believe that human nature is evolving and self-directed
•Humans are not controlled by events in the environment or by unconscious
forces. The environment & other outside forces simply serves as a
background to internal growth.
•Emphasizes how each person is unique and has a self-concept and the
potential to develop fully.
•Humanists emphasize the positive side of our nature: human ability, growth, and
potential.
•Believe in the inherent goodness of human beings
•Emphasize the free will people have to make choices affecting their lives, and
press psychology to take a greater interest in feelings and the self-concept.
•Happiness is defined by the distance between our “self-concept” and our “ideal
self”.
We are who we are because of the choices we make & our need to be
self-fulfilled.
Cognitive Theory
Cognitive Theory
•Cognitive psychology developed with the contributions of Jean Piaget,
Noam Chomsky and Leon Festinger
•Cognitivists study how we process, store, retrieve and use information and
how the cognitive processes influences our behavior
•Cognitive processes include: thinking, language, problem solving and
creativity
•Believe that behavior is more than a response to a stimulus
•Behavior is influenced by a variety of mental processes, including
perceptions, memories and expectations
We are who we are because of the way we think.
Biological Theory
Biological Theory
•Psychobiologists emphasize the impact of biology on our behavior.
•Studies how the brain, nervous system, hormones and genetics influence
our behavior.
•Researchers have found that genetic factors influence a wide range of
human behavior
We are who we are because of our genes.
Sociocultural Theory
Sociocultural Theory
•Newest approach to psychology which involves studying the influence of
cultural and ethnic similarities & differences on behavior & social
functioning.
•Looks at how our knowledge & ways of thinking, feeling and behaving are
dependent on the culture to which we belong.
•Studies the attitudes, beliefs and societal norms of those in different ethnic
groups
•Also concerned with gender & socioeconomic status (SES)
•Believe these factors impact human behavior & mental processes
We are who we are because of our culture, gender and SES.
The Outrageous Celebrity
How would the 6 Theories of Psychology explain Dennis Rodman?
Psychodynamic: Dennis was
traumatized as a child when he was not
permitted to wear Halloween
costumes. He has repressed the
memory but, as a result, dresses in
outrageous clothing to try and
overcompensate for his loss as a child.
Behavioral: Rodman’s father &
grandfather were both crossdressers and frequently dies their
hair. Dennis observed this
throughout his life and is now
imitating the same behavior.
Humanistic: Because Rodman is so
comfortable with his own identity,
he can experiment with alternative
lifestyles that encourage him to
embrace his “feminine side.” This
helps him to become more sensitive
to the opposite gender.
Cognitive: Rodman interprets his
role in the NBA as needing to create
attention for his team. As a result,
he thinks that by cross-dressing,
dying his hair, and tattooing his
body, his team will get the positive
attention it requires.
Biological: Perhaps Dennis
Rodman has a high level of
estrogen that makes him feel as
though he should wear women’s
clothing
Socio-Cultural: Perhaps in the
NBA culture, those behaviors occur
often and are widely accepted;
thus, Rodman believes his behavior
to be typical and not out of the
ordinary.
Psychology as a Profession
Psychologists work almost everywhere – in education, industry, sports, prisons,
government, churches, consulting firms, courts, etc.
Psychologists can be divided into 3 main categories:
Experimental/Research psychologists: The workhorses who do the basic
research. Most are faculty members at a college or university. This is the
smallest group.
Teachers of psychology: Often overlaps with the first group.
Applied psychologists: Use the knowledge developed by experimental
psychologists to tackle human problems, such as training, equipment
design, and psychological treatment.
Subfields of Psychology
Clinical psychologists – help people deal with personal problems &
work in private offices, mental hospitals, prisons & clinics.
Counseling psychologists – work in schools or businesses, advising &
assisting people with problems of everyday life.
School psychologists – help young people with emotional or learning
problems.
Social psychologists – study groups & how they influence individual
behavior.
Developmental psychologists – study physical, emotional, cognitive &
social changes that occur throughout life.
Educational psychologists – deal with topics related to teaching
children & young adults.
Industrial/organizational psychologists – employed by businesses and
gov’t agencies to study & develop methods to boost production,
improve working conditions, train people & reduce accidents.
Psychobiologists – study the effect of drugs or try to explain behavior in
terms of biological factors.
Forensic psychologists – work in legal, court & correctional systems to
help develop personality profiles of criminals & help law
enforcement to understand abuse.
Sports psychologists – applies the principles of psychology to sports
activities. Areas of focus include visualization for a successful
performance, the psychological and physiological benefits of
sports participation, ethics in sports and the design of safe
equipment.
American Psychological Association (APA) – founded in 1892 by G.
Stanley Hall, scientific & professional society of psychologists
& educators.
Psychology vs. Psychiatry
Psychologist

Masters (2yrs)

Doctoral (3-5
years)

PhD or PsyD
(clinical)

Cannot prescribe
drugs

Practitioners

Academic

Researchers
Psychiatrist
 Medical Doctor M.D.
 Medical school with internship
in psychiatry
 Can prescribe drugs
Counselor
 Master’s degree (MSW or MC)
 Less severe mental health
problems
 Family, relationship, substance
abuse, anxiety
Where are Psychologists Employed
4.2%
Elementary and
Secondary Schools
6.3%
Business and Government
8.5%
Other
19.4%
Hospitals and Clinics
28.0%
Colleges and Universities
33.6%
Private Practice