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Chapter 1
What is Psychology?
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Psychology
The study of the mind and behavior
– why people act, think, and feel as they do
Hard-headed curiosity
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Common Misconceptions
Psychology is about giving advice
Psychology is common sense
Psychology is the study of mental illness
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Surprising Findings
Massive losses of brain tissue early in life my have minimal long term effects
Two kids reared together have different personalities
All types of people report roughly comparable levels of personal happiness
Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (ECT) is effective in treating depression
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Popular Beliefs Debunked
Most mothers ARE NOT depressed after their children leave
Sleep walkers are not acting out their dreams
Sleep talkers are not verbalizing their dreams
Opposites do not attract
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Limits to Common Sense
A ball rolls down a spiral track. The end of the track curves left. What direction does the
ball take when it leaves the track?
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Limits to Common Sense
A wooden cube is 1 inch long on each side. How many cubes does it take to for a cube 2
inches long on each side?
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Limits to Common Sense
Survey of 1255 adults by the New York Museum of National History
77% were interested in plants & trees, but only 39% in botany
48% were interested in fossils, but only 39% in paleontology
42% were interested in rocks and minerals, but 53% in geology
Scientific Method
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Early Approaches
Structuralism
Functionalism
Psychoanalytic
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Wilhelm Wundt and Structuralism
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1832-1920
Structure of mental experiences
Introspection – self-observation
Two basic mental processes: sensations and feelings
Also studied color vision, visual illusions, attention and feelings
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William James and Functionalism
First U.S. professor of psychology 1842-1910.
Psychological processes a function of evolution
Function rather than elements of psychological processes
Suggested applications to teaching
Educational psychology
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Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud’s wide-range influence
Case studies using free association
Psychoanalytic theory
– Basic sexual and aggressive instincts motivate behavior
– Instincts are suppressed in humans
Behaviorism: A True Science of Psychology
John Watson
– Pavlov and his dogs
– Little Albert
B.F. Skinner
– Consequences
– Reinforcement and punishment
Beyond Behaviorism: Humanism and Cognitive Psychology
Humanists
– Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
– Free will of individuals
– Help use inner resources to make healthier choices
Cognitive Psychology
– Experimental research on mental processes or cognition
Modern Perspective and the Eclectic Approach
Seven orientations/views
– Biological/physiological, evolutionary, cognitive, psychodynamic, behavioral,
sociocultural, humanistic
Eclectic
– Integration of several perspective, more complete and complex picture of behavior
Biological and Evolutionary Views
Biological/Physiological
– Physical causes of behavior
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Evolutionary
– Natural selection of adaptive behaviors that ensure survival
– Controversy – ignores environmental influences on behavior
Cognitive Views
Behavior is product of thoughts and interpretations
Processing of information and how that influences behavior
Memory, problem-solving, thinking, decision-making, intelligence and language
Psychodynamic
Focus on internal, unconscious mental processes, motives and desires, and childhood
conflicts
These processes influence behavior
Sociocultural Views
Humanistic Views
Sociocultural perspectives
– Society or culture influences behavior
Humanistic perspectives
– Choices and free will
– Self-concept and self-esteem
Major Subfields of Psychology
Experimental
– sensation, perception and learning
Developmental
– lifespan human development from
Biopsychology
– physiological processes
Personality
– people differences
Social
– influences
Cognitive
– mental processes
Cross-Cultural
– cultural influences
Consumer
– consumer behavior
Forensic
– criminal behavior
Health
– health and illness
Education
– learning
Therapy
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mental problems and life adjustment