Download The Story of Psychology

THE STORY OF PSYCHOLOGY

Where does the word Psychology come from?

‘ology’ – Translated ‘the study of…’

Greek word- ‘logos’ = the word

To have words, or a conversation about…
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Psyche – Mind, spirit or soul.

‘Psychology is a conversation about what it
means to be human.’
THE STORY OF PSYCHE AND EROS
DEFINITION OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is: the scientific study of behavior
and mental processes.
 Example of ‘smiling face’ to describe behavior,
which is watched or observed and mental
processes which are inferred.

PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE
HIPPOCRATES - FATHER OF MEDICINE
FOUR FLUIDS- BLOOD, BLACK BILE, YELLOW
BILE, PHLEGM
SOCRATES- ‘KNOW THYSELF’
‘THE DEATH OF SOCRATES’
“THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING”
PLATO
PLATO’S - ‘THE CAVE’
PLATO’S ‘3 PARTS OF THE SOUL’
ARISTOTLE
BEST ROUTE TO KNOWLEDGE…

Empiricism- Systematic study and observation
of the world around us.
ARISTOTLE’S FOUR VIRTUES
 Courage
(bravery, confront fear)
 Temperance
–moderation-self-control
 Wisdom-good

sense or judgment.
Wisdom: Philos-love combined with Sophia-Wisdom
 Justice-moderation
between selfishness and
selflessness. Not equal, but fair
THE THREE ISM’S

1. Empiricism

2. Rationalism

3. Materialism

Where do we know empiricism from?
ARISTOTLE

Empiricism is the best route to…


Empiricism is the best route to…
KNOWLEDGE
JOHN LOCKE
TABULA RASA
RATIONALISM
How do you know that what you are
experiencing is real?
DOUBTING IS THINKING, THINKING = A MIND.
CONCLUSION:
“I THINK, THEREFORE I AM”

Psychology is: the scientific study of behavior
(empiricism) and mental processes (inferred,
which is rationalism.)

We understand the world and psychology
through empiricism (by which we take in
information through observation and through
testing and measuring), and by rationalism (by
which we think about what the results of our
testing means and what conclusions we can
draw about the things we can see and hear.)
MATERIALISM

Belief that only material- natural or physical
causes-are scientific.
CHARLES DARWIN
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
CONCLUSION:
organisms best suited for environment are
most likely to survive Natural Selection

WHERE DID ALL THE DOG COME FROM?

Using empiricism and rationalism, the world to
be studied needed to be seen. We cannot use
science on things that can’t be seen.
PSYCHOLOGY COMES OF AGE
1ST QUESTION:

What is consciousness?
WILLIAM WUNDT –FATHER OF PSYCHOLOGY
WUNDT TRIED TO BREAK DOWN MENTAL
PROCESSES INTO ITS BASIC ELEMENTS.
STRUCTURALISM
FATHER OF AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY

William James

Role of psychology to study function of the
mind as the mind adapted to environment
(influenced by Darwin)
FREUD – PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH
Emphasized unconscious over conscience (it is
the unconscious conflicts that are the main
determinate of our behavior.)
ID, EGO, SUPER-EGO
BEHAVIORISM – MEASURE OBSERVABLE
BEHAVIORS

Ivan Pavlov and his dogs:
JOHN B. WATSON

Classical Conditioning:

‘Mind has no role in psychology.’
B.F. SKINNER

Operant Conditioning- reward and punishment
shape behavior. Difference between classical
and operant- who acts first. Classical- world
acts first-stimulus=response, operant- you act
first, response=stimulus.
ALBERT BANDURA- OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING
GESTALT (WHOLENESS) APPROACH
"THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF
THE PARTS"
REIFICATION
MULTISTABILITY
HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

Provides a holistic approach to human
existence through investigations of meaning,
values, freedom, tragedy, personal
responsibility, human potential, spirituality, and
self-actualization. It believes that people are
inherently good.
CARL ROGERS

Self-Theory: mental health is the difference
between the actual and perceived self.
ABRAHAM MASLOW
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Herbert Simon- mind like a computer
 Albert Ellis- it’s not what happens, it’s what you
think about what happens to you.

APPROACHES OVERVIEW:
Psychoanalytical-shaped from inside or within,
born negative or selfish.
 Behavioral- Shaped by the outside, by the
environment-blank slate- we are born neutral.
We are a result of the experiences we have
had.
 Cognitive- Shaped from the inside by positive
forces.
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