The Story of Psychology Ψ

Module 1

Psychology’s Roots

Who are We?Where do our thoughts come from?How do we understand our feelings and

actions?How do we understand other people’s feelings

and emotions and communicate with others?

The “everyday” way we explain our own and other’s behavior is called “Folk Psychology”.

Folk Psychology comes from:

•Introspection = self-reflection. Examining our own feelings, thought, actions and beliefs.

•Observing and trying to understand other people’s behaviors.

Folk Psychology theories can be seen in folk wisdoms sayings (idioms)we often hear. But here is the problem: For every piece of folk wisdom, there is typically a completely contradictory piece of wisdom.

e.g., "You're never too old to learn" or "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"? 

e.g., "Birds of a feather flock together." It means that similar people are attracted to one another. But there is also the folk wisdom of "Opposites attract“.

They both can't be right. So which is it?

e.g., “Many hands make light the work" (or "two heads are better than one") but "too many cooks spoil the broth“.

Philosophical Roots of PsychologyEarly philosophers relied on methods such as observation and logic, today’s psychologists utilize scientific methodologies to study and draw conclusions about human thought and behavior.

Philosophers propose theories about possible worlds. Their theories do not have to stand up to scientific evidence.

Philosophy and Psychology’s Shared BIG Issues!

How much is our behavior determined by “innate” factors and how much by “experiential” factors?

Nature vs. Nurture debate.

Nature

The argument that biological factors have the strongest influence on development.• Any capabilities or limitations are innate•“genetic blueprint” for development exists

Nurture

The argument that environmental factors have the strongest influence on a person’s nature.Environmental influences:

FamilySchoolPeersCulture

What is the Nature-Nurture Debate?

The question of whether a person’s nature is most influenced by genetics (nature) or environment (nurture).

300 BC

Knowledge according to ancient Greeks (300 B.C.):Socrates – all nature (born with ALL knowledge).Plato – some nature and some nurture.Aristotle – all nurture

John Locke (1632-1704)

Human’s are born a clean slate Human’s are born a clean slate ((tabula rasatabula rasa) and are taught ) and are taught morality and all knowledge by morality and all knowledge by society.society.

Charles Darwin - process of natural Selection shapes behaviors as well as physical characteristics. Evolutionary adaptations contribute to the fitness and survival of individuals.

Social Behavior is AdaptiveMany social behaviors of animals are adaptive, (ultimately increases an animal’s fitness — its lifetime reproductive success).

An example is protection against predators.

AltruismDefinition: behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to itself but that benefits others of its species.

Why would a person risk there lives to help someone else?

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Does the Nature Vs. Nurture Issue matter?If Genetic, how should we treat alcoholism?What if it is due to nurture?

Interactionism

A range of genetic influences can be expressed differently in a range of potential environments.

Both nature and nurture influence development, but one may be predominant at a certain point in life.

Contemporary View – Nature and Nurture both play a role in human psychology (Interactionism)Biopsychosocial Approach.

BiologyGenetic Predisposition (OCD)

Psychological Cultural- lack of control - pressure from family- perfectionism - media “thin is good”

Anorexia Nervosa

Mind-Body Problem

Dualism - the idea that the mind and body are separate.Body – physical, material, follows the physical laws of nature. Can be studied scientifically.Mind – non-physical, spiritual, does not follow physical laws and therefore can not be studied scientifically.

Interactive Dualism

Mind BodyThe relationship is lawful. Mind Effects Body and Body Effects Mind

René Descartes(1596-1650)

We can learn about the mind by studying behavior.

Descartes localized the mind’s (soul's) contact with body in the pineal gland.

Descarates had his reasons for Selecting the Pineal gland, but they are not very convincing today.

Importance to the development of Psychology

Although we can not directly study the “MIND” we can study human behavior in relation to environmental factors. We can study behaviour and use those observations to INFER what is happening n the mind.

Psychology

The scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.

The Science of Psychology Is Born

Wilhelm Wundt(1832-1920)

First Experimental Psych Lab (1879)First Experimental Psych Lab (1879)

Focuses on the scientific study of the mind. Insists that Psych methods be as rigorousas the methods of chemistry & physics.

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“Atoms of the mind” fastest and simplest mental processes.

Structuralism (Titchener)Structuralism (Titchener)Analyze consciousness into basic elements and study how they are related

Introspective Introspective MethodMethodHave people describe their mental processes in response to a stimulus.

William James(1842-1910)

Investigate the function, or purpose of consciousness rather than its structure.

Psychology defined as the “science of Mental life”.

Stream of consciousnessPrinciples of Psychology

FunctionalismFunctionalism

Freud (1890’s) Freud (1890’s) Psychoanalysis- Unconscious, conflicting impulses and motivations

BehaviorismScientific Psychology should focus only on observable behavior.

John Watson(1878-1958)

StimulusStimulusResponseResponse

PsychologyPsychology

Behavior Controlled by Environmental Stimuli!

BehaviorismGive me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed and my own specific world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one of them at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- a doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief, and yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, abilities, vocations and race of his ancestors. (J. B. Watson, 1924).

Humanist PsychologyCarl Rogers, Abraham Maslow- People are motivated toward growth (self-actualization)

Cognitive Psychology-studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember, and learn.

What do Psychologist Do?Basic Research-Build Psychology’s knowledge base.

Specialized Areas

Applied Fields- Industrial Organization- Ergonomics (Human Factors or Engineering Psych)- School Psychologist (testing)- Forensic (court) Settings- Advertising

Counseling Psychologists

Clinical PsychologistsPsychologist vs. Psychiatrist

Positive Psychology- Focus on promoting mental wellbeing (preventative psychology).

Community Psychology- Focus on creating psychologically

healthy social and physical environments.