What is Psychology?

• Psychology is the science of mental processes and behavior

Levels of Analysis:The Complete Psychology

• Events large and small– The level of the group– The level of the person– The level of the brain

Science vs. Common Sense

Objective data collection

Reliance on evidence

Systematic observation

Subjective data collection

Ignores counterevidence

Hit or miss observation

What about belief?

• You can believe anything you want, sensible or not

• Belief is very personal-- why should I believe you?

• You cannot make anyone believe anything

• Only evidence can settle belief disputes

Pseudo-science

Why people believe:

•People like excitement

•People are prone to wishful thinking

•People are naïve and trusting

•People remember hits, ignore misses

Psychology as a Science

• Attempts to describe, predict, and explain thought and behavior.

• Uses scientific method

Science

• Terminology:

• Advantages of science:

Hypothesis

Theory

Science is more systematic, and less subject to human bias

Judging Theories

• Fit to the data

• Quality of the data

• Ability to predict

• Ability to explain

Belief in the theory is

irrelevant to its quality.

The Evolution of a Science

• The early days– Structuralism– Functionalism– Gestalt Psychology

The Evolution of a Science

• Psychodynamic theory – Unconscious– Psychoanalysis

• Behaviorism– Reinforcement

The Evolution of a Science

• Humanist psychology– Client-centered therapy– Self-actualization

• The Cognitive Revolution– Information Processing– Language– Cognitive Neuroscience

The Evolution of a Science

• Evolutionary psychology– Cultural universality

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of psychology as a discipline. Focused on conscious experience and its building blocks. Trained many early psychologists.

History & Roots

Edward Titchener:Chief proponent of structuralism. Used introspection to tap human consciousness. Had troubles with verification of data and replicability.

William James:Founder of American Functionalism. Viewed behavior in terms of its adaptive value for the organism. Focused on the flow of consciousness rather than its structure.

John Watson

Founder of Behaviorism. Confined psychology to the study of observable stimuli & behavior.

B. F. Skinner

Extended behaviorism, examined the effects of reinforcement on behavior.

Sigmund Freud

Founded psychoanalysis, focused on unconscious thoughts in determining behavior.

The Gestaltists

Considered the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Suggested perception was more than the individual sensations involved.

The Humanists

Considered each human unique, argued people strive for "self-actualization." Generally not empirically testable.

Modern Views

Modern psychologists are eclectic -- approach problems from multiple perspectives. Believe behaviors have multiple causes.

Psychology Perspectives

• Biological

• Psychoanalytic/Individual

• Behavioral

• Humanistic

• Developmental

• Cognitive

• Social-cultural

Specialties

Employment

What Today’s Psychologists Do

• Clinical and counseling psychology– Therapist– Counseling psychologist– Psychiatrist– Social worker– Psychiatric nurse

• Academic Psychology– Teaching and Research

What Today’s Psychologists Do

• Applied psychology– Human factors psychologist– Industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologist– Sport psychologist– School psychologist