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Prologue:The Story of Psychology

James A. McCubbin, PhD

Clemson University

Worth Publishers

�The science of behavior and the mind� behavior - observable actions of a person or animal

� mind - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences

� science� an objective way to answer questions

� based on observable facts / data and well described methods

� A set of questions about mental functioning� trace back to philosophy

� Aristotle asked about memory, personality, emotions, etc.

� A set of theories and procedures for asking and answering questions� the scientific method

� evolved over centuries, first in physics

� A product of history� philosophy asked many of the basic questions

� physiology used similar methods

Prescientific Psychology� Is the mind connected

to the body or distinct?

� Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience?

�Psychological Science Is Born� Empiricism

� Knowledge comes from experience via the senses

� Science flourishes through observation and experiment

�A Question: How are mind and body related?

� Dualism - body and soul are separate but

interrelated

� origins in medieval religion

� soul is seat of intellectual function and will

� mind is product of the soul� mind not subject to scientific inquiry

� to challenge this was punishable by death

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� A Question: How are mind and body related?

� Rene Descartes (1596-1650) - modified

dualism

� since animals have no soul, much behavior does not

require soul

� the body can therefore control much behavior� led him to study reflexes

� the soul’s main function is thought, a uniquely human

attribute

� Materialism: Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

� mind is a product of the brain

� soul is not involved in human behavior

� Empiricism:

� knowledge and intellect are acquired

� sensory experiences produce elementary ideas

� elementary ideas become associated into complex thought

and ideas

� A Question: How are mind and body related?

� Another Question: Empiricism vs. Nativism

� Nativism is the view that elementary ideas are

innate

� If knowledge is innate � What is the purpose of education?

� Can intellect be changed by experience?

� Are abilities determined by our genes or our

experiences?

� This is known as Nature vs. Nurture � appears throughout modern psychology

� Natural selection� principle that those

inherited trait variations contributing to survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

� Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

� Theory of natural selection (1859)� physical characteristics evolve through natural

selection

� behavioral patterns also influence selection

� inborn knowledge and behavioral tendencies with survival value are passed on

� Human beings are part of nature and can be understood through the methods of science

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� Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiry

� 19th century developments in physiology

demonstrated the approach to use

� based on scientific methods, controlled laboratory experiments

� influential beliefs from early physiology� reflexology - all human behaviors occur through reflexes

� localization of function - specific structures of the brain serve specific functions in the control of mental experiences and behavior

� Separated from philosophy in 19th century� influences from physiology remain

� Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)� Leipzig, Germany

� wrote the first psychology textbook

� applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind

� structuralism - identify ‘atoms’ of the mind� focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes

� measured reaction times

� Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory at the University of Liepzig (c. 1879)

� Edward Titchener (1867-1927)� Wundt’s student, professor at Cornell University

� William James (1842-1910)� started psychology at Harvard in 1870s

� opposed Wundt and Titchener’s approach

� functionalism - influenced by Darwin to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment

� Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)� Austrian physician that focused on illness

� psychoanalytic theory of mental disorders

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/10/freudian-slips-politicians_n_806871.html

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� Alfred Binet (1857-1911)

� French intelligence researcher

� developed first intelligence test

� Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)� Russian physiologist

� discovered conditioned reflexes

� B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)� American psychologist at Harvard

� studied learning and effect of reinforcement

� behaviorism

� Structuralism used introspection (looking in) to explore the elemental structure of the human mind

� Functionalism focused on how behavioral processes function- how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

� Psychological Science Develops� Wundt--German philosopher and

physiologist

� James--American philosopher

� Pavlov--Russian physiologist

� Freud--Austrian physician

� Piaget--Swiss biologist

� http://quizlet.com/4521323/psychology-flash-cards/

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Figure 1.6 Membership in the American Psychological Association, 1900–2004

Figure 1- British Psychological Society membership

�Definition of Psychology� The science of behavior (what we do)

and mental processes (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings)

�Psychology’s Big Issues� Nature-nurture controversy

� the relative contribution that genes and experience make to development of psychological traits and behaviors

� Psychology’s Perspectives� A lot depends on your viewpoint

�Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena

�Psychology has multiple perspectives� ethological

� biological

� psychoanalytic

� cognitive

� cross- cultural

� social

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� The study of animal behavior in the natural environment rather than in a lab setting

� Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns

� European approach to studying behavior founded by animal researchers, Lorenz and Tinbergen

� Study the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior

� Focus may be at various levels� individual neurons

� areas of the brain

� specific functions like eating, emotion or learning

� Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

� View of behavior based on experience treating patients

� Psychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud)� both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind

� behavior reflects combinations of conscious and unconscious influences

� drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior

� early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations

�View of behavior based on experience treating patients� Humanistic approach

� developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers

� behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’

� focus on conscious forces and self perception

� http://www.wadsworth.com/psychology_d/templates/student_resources/0534642667_weiten/dd_figs/12.11.html

� More positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

�The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups

�How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture?

�What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?

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�How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior ?

� Influences include� Piaget - studied intellectual development

� Chomsky - studied language

� Cybernetics - science of information processing

The Eclectic ModelPeople pick and choose from the previous models and come up with a personal set of values that guide behavior.

"Thought is action in rehearsal."-Sigmund Freud

�American Psychological Association had 52 divisions in 1998

�Some represent areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical)

�Some are applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law)

�Psychology’s Subfields� Basic Research

� Biological psychologists explore the links between brain and mind

� Developmental psychologists study changing abilities from womb to tomb

� Cognitive psychologists study how we perceive, think, and solve problems

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�Psychology’s Subfields� Basic Research

� Personality psychologists investigate our persistent traits

� Social psychologists explore how we view and affect one another

�Psychology’s Subfields� Applied Research

� Industrial/organizational psychologists study and advise on behavior in the workplace

� Clinical psychologists study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders

� Psychiatry� A branch of medicine dealing with

psychological disorders

� Practiced by physicians who sometimes use medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychotherapy

� Clinical� abnormal behavior and

psychological disorders

� psychologist vs. psychiatrist

� Health psychology� psychological factors in

physical health

� Counseling� dealing with normal life

situations

� provide guidance

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

� Developmental � psychological change

over the life span

� social, cognitive, personality

� School� counseling and guidance

in school settings

� Educational� learning and teaching

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

� Psychobiology� brain and behavior

� studied at many levels

� often uses animals as research model

� Experimental� basic laboratory focus

� animals or humans

� learning, memory, motivation

� Cognitive� experimental

� human memory, perception, etc.

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

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� Social� social influences on cognition

and emotion

� attitudes and beliefs

� Personality� individual differences

� perception by others

� Industrial/organizational� people and work

� job satisfaction

� training and selection

OtherPsychology

15%

Developmental 6%

Clinical36%

Biological andExperimental

16%

Industrial/Organizational 3%

Social andPersonality 8%

Educational 3%

School 3%

Counseling 10%

�Colleges and universities

�Clinical settings

�Elementary and secondary schools

�Business

�Government

PrivatePractice

Government

Universities &College

Business& Industry

School

Employment Settings of Psychologists