Download Psychology UNIT 1: Chapter 1 ~*Evolution of Psychology* History

September 9,2015
Agenda:
1. Review worksheet from last class
2. Notes
3. Perspectives
4. Hi-Low
Objective: Provided notes SWBAT describe and
compare different theoretical approaches in
explaining behavior.
Psychology UNIT 1: Chapter 1 ~“Evolution of Psychology”
History, Approaches, Subfields
Psychology hopes to predict & control human behavior.
But, it does so within different approaches.
There is not a single agreed upon method.
I. History & Approaches (2–4%)
Psychology has evolved markedly since its inception as a
discipline in 1879. There have been significant changes in the
theories that psychologists use to explain behavior & mental
processes.
In addition, the methodology of psychological research has
expanded to include a diversity of approaches to data
gathering.
Pre-Scientific Psychology
How are ideas formed?
Some Ideas are Inborn:
Socrates & Plato
The Mind is a Blank Slate:
Aristotle & Locke
Philosophy: Foundation for Psychology
Descartes: natural instincts in
physical world. However, believed
humans were different & they have a
mind to guide body.
Hobbes: no mind/soul & that only energy &
matter exists & that everything is shaped by
brain machinery.
YouTube: Psych 101 -- Modern Roots of Psychology
Structuralism vs. Functionalism
Structuralism: Analyze consciousness into its basic
elements & how they relate.
Titchener continued Wundt's Work
Dependent on introspection – careful, systematic selfobservation of one’s own conscious experience.
Favored: Lab experiments
Edward Titchener
Functionalism: Investigate the function or purpose of
consciousness, rather than its structure. (William James)
Influenced by Charles Darwin’s natural selection:
Heritable characteristics that provide a survival or
reproductive advantage are more likely than alternative
characteristics to be passed on to subsequent generations
and thus come to be “selected” over time.
Favored: How people adapt to real world situations
William James
Structuralism vs. Functionalism
Generally thought that functionalism won
out & then spawned the more modern:
Applied Psychology & Behaviorism
Edward Titchener
William James
YouTube: Psych 101 - Wundt & James - Structuralism & Functionalism
Psych as a Science: Gestalt Psychology
“The whole is greater/different than the
sum of its parts.”
Max Wertheimer revolted against Wundt.
(1923) Believed consciousness was best
understood by observing the whole
experience, rather than breaking it down into
a cluster of component elements.
We will see much more of this in the next unit when we
study Sensation & Perception.
Psych as a Science: Modern Era - Psychoanalysis
1st to focus on abnormal behaviors
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Psychoanalysis
★ Believed all behavior & mental
processes are directed by
unconscious forces: which we are not
fully aware
★ Problems arise from unresolved
conflict in the unconscious mind
Used Free Association & Dream
Analysis to explore the unconscious.
Freud’s ideas were (& still are) controversial,
yet have had a great influence on the
field of psychology & popular interest.
We will see much more of this in when we study
Personality in Chapter 12.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) - Psychoanalysis
Developed psychoanalysis as an approach
to delve into the mind of those with irrational
fears, obsessions, & anxieties.
Freud & The Unconscious: Thoughts,
memories, & desires that are well below the
surface of conscious awareness but that still
exert great influence on behavior.
“Freudian Slip” - Meaningless slips of the tongue
would provide insight into someone’s true feelings.
Very controversial for his observations on the
importance of sexuality towards human behavior.
Focused on personality, motivation, & abnormal
behavior. Later incorporated into mainstream.
YouTube: Schallhorn Perspectives Review
Psych as a Science: Modern Era - Behaviorism
John B. Watson (1878-1958) takes the focus on
behaviors to another level.
Scientific psychology should study only
observable behavior.
Proposed abandoning the study of
consciousness altogether
Observed behaviors: any overt/observable
response or activity by an organism
Watson: Shined a light on nature versus
nurture
Behaviorists look for stimulus – any
detectable input from the environment.
Behavior approach is often referred to as (SR) Stimulus-Response
Psych as a Science: Modern Era - Behaviorism
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990): Championed a return to
the Watson strict focus on observable
behaviors
Organisms tend to repeat responses that lead
to positive outcomes
They tend NOT to repeat responses that lead
to neutral or negative outcomes.
Used lab rats & pigeons, conducted
experiments to show how he could control
behaviors of the animals.
**Trained pigeons to play Ping-Pong!**
Wrote “Beyond Freedom and Dignity” (1971):
Asserted that all behavior is fully governed
by external stimuli. People are controlled by
their environment, not by themselves. Free Will
is an Illusion!
Skinner: Thought to be the most or one of
the most influential contributors to
psychology.
The “Skinner Box”
“Give me a dozen healthy young infants…
I will take any one and create… a doctor, a lawyer, and yes,
even a beggar man thief.” - John B. Watson 1913
According to Watson, set up
environmental conditions & you will
give rise to the desired behavior.
Rewards => Reinforcements
Skinner took Watson’s ideas to new heights
and brought behaviorism to the public
conversation.
YouTube: Psych 101 - Skinner Box
Psych as a Science: Modern Era - Biological Approach
To understand human behavior, the physiological
underpinnings must be understood.
Neuroscientific Perspective:
Cellular, Neuron, Brain & Central
Nervous System
Role of drugs, Use animal models as means to
understand human behavior. How are messages
relayed throughout the body?
What role do our senses play?
Endocrine system – glands, hormones The
Fight or Flight Response is an example.
Psych as a Science: Modern Era - Cognitive Approach
The Cognitive Approach believes memory,
language, thought and attention – cognitive
measures are worth examination.
Semantic relatedness – connectedness of ideas in
memory.
When given two words to say out loud, a person will say 2
words that are related much faster than 2 that are unrelated
Very popular today – social, developmental,
personality, & clinical psychology.
In order to understand individuals, one must
understand the way people think, remember,
process information, & reason.
Psych as a Science: Modern Era - Evolutionary
Psychology
Examines psychological traits such as memory,
perception, and language from a modern evolutionary
perspective.
Seeks to identify which human psychological traits
are evolved adaptations – that is, the functional
products of natural selection or sexual selection.
Argue that much of human behavior is the output
of psychological adaptations that evolved to
solve recurrent problems in human ancestral
environments.
The adaptationist approach is steadily increasing
as an influence in the general field of
psychology.
Psych as a Science: Modern Era Humanism
1950s opposition to behaviorism and psychoanalytic theory
Humanism – theoretical orientation that emphasizes the
unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and
their potential for personal growth.
More optimistic view of human nature.
Carl Rogers (1902-1987) & Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
– prominent humanists in psychology
Psych as a Science: Modern Era Humanism
People are goal related & driven
Self-actualization: someone who has reached his or her
own unique potential. (Maslow)
Free will & motivation – We are in complete control
In therapy, attempt to help individuals see the
misconceptions they hold in their subjective view of reality.
If those views are corrected, the individual will feel better
about themselves.
Psych as a Science: Modern Era - Socio-Cultural
Focuses on the diversity of the human experience
★ Context (developmental)
★ Influence of groups (social)
★ Applied aspect (forensic psychology)
Human behavior does not occur in a vacuum & groups, cultures,
and situations all have impact on human behavior.
Behavior can be predicted by the presence or
absence of another person.
YouTube: Schallhorn on Psychology Approaches
YouTube: Paul Bloom - The Psychology of Everything (48 min)
Growth of Psychology
Wars of 20th Century: (WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea, etc.) created huge
demand for mental testing of military recruits.
50s & 60s: Advances in study of cognition led to renewed interest
in mental processes.
80s: saw a growth in cultural factors influencing behavior. Trend
sparked by growing global interdependence & cultural diversity.
90s: Emergence of new theoretical perspective: evolutionary
psychology. Patterns of behavior are the product of evolutionary
forces & natural selection favors behaviors that enhance
reproductive success.
2000s: Emergence of “Positive Psychology”: study of strengths &
virtues that enable individuals & communities to thrive. The
psychology of positive human functioning, which achieves scientific
understanding to find a fulfilling life.
Psychology Today: Vigorous & Diversified
Psychology: Science that studies
behavior & physiological & cognitive
processes that underlie it.
Psych. is a profession that applies the accumulated
knowledge of this science to practical problems.
Contemporary psychology is multifaceted
& spread throughout mainstream
society that has seen rapid growth.