Psychology

It’s history, art, and science

a fable of agreement… or an understanding of mindThe history of Grand Central Station cannot be objectified but it can be imagined. That is the beginning of knowing one’s self: by observing others and imagining what their lives are/were like.

Shortcut to Lighted Gran CS.lnk

In the Iliad of Homer Aesculapius is the archetypal healer whose legacy became the basis for healing dream temples. From this ancient tradition supporting the soul for the health of the body became a paradigm of therapy.

Therapeia >dher >dharma =“carrier” = “thronos” = chair

Ancient Psychology was more than a science – it was mythic

Pythagoras Heraclitus Simonides Hippocrates Socrates & Plato Aristotle Zeno Galen Seneca

The Renaissance world includes a world of psychic revolutions from DaVinci and Machiavelli to Galileo and William Harvey , each of whom changed collective perceptions about the social and physical world realities, subsequently altering human beliefs.

Splits within religious institutions were rampant, but science was “dangerous.”

Think Enlightenment

Isaac Newton Rene Descartes Baruch Spinoza Jean Jacques

Rousseau John Locke Franz Gall

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution changed the nature of human progress recognizing expression in animals as comparable to human emotions. Darwin’s cousin, Francis Galton, studied and measured human intelligence and beauty.

Evolution changed ideas about heredity and endowment enlarging the Nature vs. Nurture debate

Biological Reasoning

Environmental Shaping

Nature versus Nurture

Plato

DaVinci

Descartes

Rousseau

Darwin

Aristotle

Machiavelli

Leibnitz

Locke

Spencer

The Principles Of Psychology:the “James,” “Jimmy,” & Santiago y Cajal

William James proposed very important and long standing propositions: (1) the physiologic emotional response is primary; and (2) consciousness flows like a stream within “banks” of perception.

Belief creates the actual fact. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create

the fact.

William James (1842-1910) was arguably the most influential thinker of his day, on both sides of the Atlantic. Born in America, received early schooling in Europe. Entered Harvard as the American Civil War began, earned a medical degree, but declined to practice medicine. Aspired to be known as a Philosopher who happened to write The Principles of Psychology.

Just before and just after the Civil War two important discoveries were made in Europe by pioneering neurologists: Pierre Paul Broca (speech production center) and Karl Wernicke (speech comprehension center).

Their discoveries are still important today and stand as testaments to what science can mean for humanity and the

world.

Ramon Santiago y

CajalBorn in Aragon in 1852, Santiago y Cajal theorized about the nature and functions of neurons, actually substantiating an idea proposed by Descartes: the nervous system is a transmission system. In 1906 Santiago y Cajal was awarded the Nobel Prize for his neuro-anatonomical research.

Wilhelm Wundt established psychology as an experimental discipline with his laboratory in Germany in 1879, intent on establishing Structuralism: study of emotion built up from sensation

Franz Brentano’s empirical act of destroying

Structuralism!

Brentano (1838-1917) was a rival of Wundt and Tichtner. He published only a limited number of works but believed that he had establish the primary aims of psychology: studies into the lives of animals and children, examination of the mental life of the insane, and use of the imagination as the most analytical tool for empirically studying the human mind.

Psychology at the Threshold

The 20th Century “psy wars” – Psychodynamic theories vs.

Behaviorist data

Sigmund Freud Psychology has become what is taught in college courses today because of Freud. Even as opponents ridiculed his psychodynamic theory they had to deal with his socio-political stance: mental illness was & is an equal opportunity matter of possibly going insane.

Behavior as Science:Behaviorists believe that only observable evidence is worthy

of psychological regard.

Ivan Pavlov(1906)

Edward Thorndike(1911)

John B. Watson(1920)

B.F. Skinner(1938)

Albert Bandura(1963)

Physiologist who researched “Classical Conditioning”

Established the Law of Effect

“Little Albert” a sad case for conditioning

Established reinforcement as the operating principle of behavior

Showed modeling to be the most active process in social learning

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow established the Humanistic approach to Psychology. Essentially Psychodynamic practices centered on mental illness and Behaviorists were pushing control factors. Rogers & Maslow urged the study of human potential and strategies for empowerment towards self-actualization.

Rogers & Maslow:A Third Path for Psychology

Baird, A. (2011) Think Psychology, Upper Saddle River, Pearson/Prentice HallCarter, R. (1998) Mapping the Mind, Los Angeles, University of California PressHothersall, D. (1995) History of Psychology, New York City, McGraw-Hill

D. Katakalos, MA, MS adjunct instructor - SAC