a brief history of psychology chapter 1 section 2
TRANSCRIPT
A Brief History of Psychology
Chapter 1 Section 2
Main Idea
Psychology involves sets of questions, theories, methods, and possible answers that have been passed on and changed from generation to generation.
Vocabulary
Structuralist
Introspection
Functionalist
Psychoanalyst
Behaviorist
Humanist
Cognitivist
Psychobiologist
Objectives
Students will be able to explain the historical background and trends in the history of psychology.
Students will be able to identify various contemporary approaches to the study of psychology.
Origins of Psychology
Insert pictures of Greek Philosophers
5th and 6th Century B.C., Greeks study human behavior and decide that people’s live were NOT dominated so much by the gods by by their own minds.
People are rational beings.
Used observation to interpret their world.
The Origins of Psychology
Roots date back to Ancient GreeceSocrates – “Know thyself” (motto of Psychology)
Introspection: The way to learn about ourselves is through careful examination of our own thoughts & feelings.
Plato – student of Socrates recorded his adviceAristotle – student of Plato
Used scientific approach to learn about the mind. Principle
Human behavior is subject to certain universal laws and rules. (Example: people are motivated to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
His book examines: Personality, Sensation and Perception, Thought, Intelligence, Needs/Motives, Feelings and Emotions, and Memory.
Hippocrates
Greek Physician
Throughout history, people thought psychological problems were caused by the God’s punishing people or the devil or evil spirits were at work.
Hippocrates argued psychological problems were due to biological factors such as abnormalities in the brain.
This belief would not be embraced for another 2000 years.
Middle Ages
Psychological Disorders were believed to be caused by the devil or demons.
Believers used a variety of test to see if a person was possessed.Water Float Test
Used in the Salem Witch Trials Those that were pure would sink and drowned. Those that were possessed, floated and were deemed
guilty and executed.
Birth of Modern Science
Psychological study benefited from the other scientific breakthroughs in the 1500-1700’s.
1800’s began the Era of Modern Psychology
Psychologist began to argue that observation of human behavior and mental processes was not enough. That observations must be done systematically and supported by evidence.
What year is considered the beginning of psychology as a laboratory science?????? and Who established a lab in Germany????????
1879 - Wilhelm Wundt
Creator of Structuralism – concerned with discovering basic elements of Conscious Experience.Objective Sensation
Sight, taste, touch, etc. that reflect the outside world
Subjective Feelings Thoughts that include emotional responses and mental
images.
Use introspection to measure one’s experiences.
What are the elements of Psychological processes?
William James - Functionalism
Creator of Functionalism
Book: Principles of Psychology (1st modern textbook)
Focus on Relationship between Experience & Behavior
Concerned with how mental processes (thinking) helps the organism adapt to the environment.
Stresses application to everyday situations.
Stream of Consciousness – Conscious experience is fluid.
Functionalism
Uses both: Observable Behaviors in Lab Setting and Introspections
Looks at: What are the purposes of behavior and mental processes? What do they accomplish for the person?
Argues that: Adaptive behavior is learned and continues because it works.
Argues that: Over time adaptive behaviors that work become habit. (automatic actions)
Inheritable Traits
Sir Francis Galton – sought to understand how heredity influences a person’s abilities, character, and behavior.
Research: Traced the ancestry of various eminent people.
Conclusion: Greatness runs in families.
Problem with conclusion??????????
Contribution to the science? Testing procedures that are forerunners to
modern personality and intelligence tests 1883 first study of individual differences
Nature vs. Nurture
Gestalt
Gestalt = German word for shape or form.
Perceptions are influenced by the context in which we view things or events.
Context influences how people interpret information.
Involves an AH HA!!! MOMENT.
Psychoanalytic Psychology
Sigmund Freud
Unconscious MindPrimitive biological urges which are in
conflict with the requirements of society and morality.
MethodsFree AssociationDream AnalysisCase Studies –an analysis of the
thoughts, feelings, beliefs, experiences, behaviors, or problems of an individual.
Behavioral Psychology
Ivan Pavlov – Classical ConditionDog trained to salivate and the sound of a tuning
fork.
Watson & Behaviorism
What did Watson believe and Why?
Watson & Behaviorism
Psychology had to be limited to OBSERVABLE AND MEASURABLE EVENTS if it were to be considered a natural science.
He thought only observable behaviors should be studied because no one but the person can know what is truly in their own consciousness. It is private! You can not rely on self reporting.
B.F. Skinner - Reinforcement
Theory of REINFORCEMENT is added to the behaviorist philosophy. Explain the idea of
reinforcement in your own words as it applies to animals.
Explain this same idea as it applies to humans.
What is Reinforcement???? Summarize
Humanistic Psychology
Abraham MaslowSelf Actualization and Hierarchy of Needs
Carl Rogers
Humanist believe humans are self directed and not controlled by the environment or unconscious forces.
Emphasizes that humans are unique and have the ability to reach their full potential.
Cognitive Psychology
Jean Piaget
Noam Chomsky
Focus is on how we Process, Store, and Use Information
Focus on how this information influences our thinking, language, problem solving, and creativity.
Believe behavior is influenced by a variety of mental processes such as perceptions, memories and expectations.
Biological Psychology
Psychobiologist – study how the brain, nervous system, hormones, and genetics influence our behavior.
Emphasis is the impact of biology on behavior.
Tools:PET ScansCAT Scans
Role of genetics in Psychological Issues
Sociocultural Psychology
Sociocultural Psych studies the influence of cultural and ethnic similarities and differences on behavior and social functioning.
Look at the Culture we belong to and how that impacts behavior.
Also looks at socioeconomic status and gender.
(See chart page 21 for comparison of contemporary approaches)