The Birth of Psychology
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Transcript of The Birth of Psychology
The Birth of Psychology
Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning
Defining Psychology Defined-The study of behavior and mental
processes Goals of Psychology
• To fulfill a genuine curiosity about behavior• To study behavior by observation• To understand the contributions of genetics and
environment (social and cultural) in behavior and mental process
• To study behavior using methods that deem the study scientific
The Roots of Psychology
In the late 1800’s both physiologists and philosophers will be investigating the mind
Philosophy• Provides the undying questioning of “why”
Physiology• Provides the methodology that will be used to
answer “how”
Psychology-A scientific discipline
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)• Works to have psychology become an
independent science• Founds the 1st psychology laboratory in
Germany (1879)• Founds the 1st journal dedicated to publishing
research in psychology (1881)• Wundt defines psychology as the study of
conscious experience
Psychology Comes to America
G. Stanley Hall (1846-1924)• A student of Wundt• Establishes 1st American laboratory dedicated to
the study of Psychology at Johns Hopkins (1883) • Founded 1st American journal dedicated to
publishing work of psychologists (1887)• Founded American Psychological Association
(1892)
Structuralism• Wundt and Titchener were primary contributors
to this school of thought• Structuralism focused on the structure of
consciousness• Premise-The content of conscious experience
can be analyzed into its basic elements
Competing Schools of Thought That Shape Psychology
Competing Schools of Thought That Shape Psychology Functionalism
• William James and G. Stanley Hall were the primary proponents
• Interested in studying the functions of consciousness
• Premise-the function of a conscious experience in providing adaptation of the organism is more important than the structure of that conscious experience
Current Perspectives in Psychology
Research Perspectives
Developmental Psychology Social Psychology Experimental Psychology Physiological Psychology Cognitive Psychology Personality Psychometrics
Applied Perspectives/a short list
Clinical Psychology-provide counseling to clients with psychological disorders
Counseling Psychology-provide counseling to clients with more day to day problems
Educational and School Psychology-work to improve the delivery of education to students
Applied Perspectives/a short list
Industrial and Organizational Psychology-work to improve work conditions, productivity and morale in business and industry
Sports Psychology-work to train athletes in mental preparation for performance
Forensic Psychology-as an example, work to provide profiles of criminal behavior, to advise on the psychology of courtroom proceedings
In Such a Diverse Science, What Holds It All Together The Desire to: Describe Predict Understand & Control Behavior