What is Psychology?

An Introduction to the Study of Human Behavior

Definition of Psychology

“the study of behavior and mental processes”.

Define Behavior

ANY ACTIVITY !!! No matter how big or small– BUT IT

MUST BE ABLE TO BE OBSERVED AND/OR COUNTED!

Psychologists study behavior to determine WHY it occurs!

2 Types of Behavior Learned- comes from the

environment Clapping for applause Another example?

Physiological- born with it!!! Crying Another example?

Mental processes

These are unobservable For example,

Thoughts Feelings dreams

Two (2) Types of Research and Psychologists Basic- studies origin, cause, or results

of certain behaviors. (uses experiments , mostly at universities, to discover this information).

Ex. Applied- makes direct use of Basic

research to deal with people and problems directly.

Ex.

Psychology Begins in 1879

Wilhelm Wundt- “the father of Psychology”

1879- established the first laboratory to study human behavior

Goal was to train people to accurately describe sensation

Introspection- look into oneself.

Structuralism

Developed by Titchener (Wundt’s student)

Try to understand your conscious experience (thoughts, feelings) by analyzing the intensity, quality and clarity of its basic parts

Experiment- “your brain on popcorn” Didn’t work – too many descriptions

Led to Gestalt (“Whole”)

The whole is different than the sum of its parts

Ex. Individual notes vs. many that compose a song

Ex.?

Functionalism William James -1st American psychologist Influenced by Charles Darwin Rather than focusing on the elements of

conscious thought, functionalists focused on the purpose of consciousness

Studied the way consciousness helps people adapt

Ex. Kids should learn at the level they are developmentally prepared for

Psychological Science is BornFunctionalism

• Focuses on the function of the conscious mind

• Like an architect focuses on the functions of each room of a house and how it serves the needs of the people living in it.

Do all Psychologists agree on the motives behind Behavior??

NO!!! Because human behavior is so complex- psychologists disagree on the causes behind behaviors.

Therefore- several Psychology Perspectives help tell us what each psychologist uses to understand behavior. We will study the most popular perspectives.

Psychology Perspectives

#1 Cognitive- focus on behavior based on how people think

COGNITION= THINKING

Cognitive

How we encode, process, store and retrieve information?

How do we use information in remembering? Reasoning? Problem solving?

Psychology Perspectives (cont)

#2 Biological- understand behavior by studying the structure, and substances (chemicals) of the brain

This perspective is the fastest growing today as technology improves our ability to study the brain

Biological (neuroscience)

How the body and brain enables emotions?

How are messages transmitted in the body? How is blood chemistry linked with moods and motives?

Psychology Perspectives (cont)

#3 Social-cultural: behavior is influenced by setting or situation

Social-cultural

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures?

How are we — as Africans, Asians, Australians or North Americans – alike as members of human family? As products of different environmental contexts, how do we differ?

Do people act different when friends are around?

Psychology Perspectives (cont)

#4 Behaviorism- studies only observable behaviorsBehavior comes entirely from the environment not thoughts

believes that behavior is motivated by rewards and punishments

Famous behaviorist- B.F. Skinner

Behavioral

How we learn observable responses? Based on the work of Watson and

Skinner. How do we learn to fear particular

objects or situations? What is the most effective way to alter our behavior, say to lose weight or quit smoking?

Psychology Perspectives (cont)

#5 Humanistic- study of behavior with freedom to choose and capacity for personal growth

Famous Humanist- Carl Roger

Psychology Perspectives (cont)

#6 Psychodynamic- behavior springs from the unconscious through repression of drives and conflicts

formerly known as psychoanalysis Famous psychoanalyst- Sigmund

Freud

Psychodynamic

How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts?

Based on the work of Freud. How can someone’s personality traits

and disorders be explained in terms of sexual and aggressive drives or as disguised effects of unfulfilled wishes and childhood traumas?

Summarize the perspectives

Complete the graphic organizer with a partner. Be as detailed as possible. Include the “pioneers” in the field.

Applying the Perspectives

Read the descriptions of the different views on ANGER.

Use your notes to identify which of the perspectives is described in each description.

Discuss your choice with your neighbor

Applying the Perspectives

Read the article on Andrea Yates Complete the second column only.

When did Freud believe that personality developed?

Within the first 5 to 6 years of life

Freud believed the mind was made up of 3 parts. Name and describe them.

Id- animal impulses Ego- self that allows controlled

id expression within the boundaries of the superego

Superego- roughly defined as your conscience

Name several parts of Freud’s theories that we have no evidence really exists?

Unconscious Id Ego Superego

Freud’s theory believed that forces of the unconscious were always trying to be released.

This energy being released is called the libido.

What famous concept did Freud develop from his study of hidden impulses?

The Unconscious