What’s it All About?What’s it All About?

Goals of PsychologyGoals of Psychology

Describe, Explain, Predict, Describe, Explain, Predict,

and Control some behaviorsand Control some behaviors

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

The “father of psychology”The “father of psychology” Opened the first psychology lab in 1879Opened the first psychology lab in 1879

E.B. Titchener (1867-1927)E.B. Titchener (1867-1927)

Student of Wundt- Student of Wundt- brought psych to brought psych to USUS

Analyzed the parts Analyzed the parts of consciousnessof consciousness

Founder of Founder of structuralismstructuralism Studied the basic Studied the basic

elements of thoughts elements of thoughts and sensations.and sensations.

• Objective sensations Objective sensations (sight, taste)(sight, taste)

• Subjective sensations Subjective sensations (emotions, mental (emotions, mental images)images)

The Many Faces of PsychologyThe Many Faces of Psychology

William James: FunctionalismWilliam James: Functionalism Interested in the functions of consciousnessInterested in the functions of consciousness

• How mental processes help organisms adapt to How mental processes help organisms adapt to their environmenttheir environment

Believed that conscious memories were in a Believed that conscious memories were in a fluid stream of consciousnessfluid stream of consciousness

Adaptive behaviorAdaptive behavior : learned and maintained : learned and maintained based on successful experiencesbased on successful experiences

The Many Faces of PsychologyThe Many Faces of Psychology

PavlovPavlov • Nobel Prize in 1905 for Nobel Prize in 1905 for

his work “his work “classical classical conditioningconditioning””

Watson:Watson: • Scientific study of Scientific study of

human behaviorhuman behavior Believed that Believed that

consciousness could consciousness could onlyonly be explained by be explained by an individual, thus an individual, thus psychology psychology must only must only study observable study observable behaviorbehavior

Ivan Pavlov and John B. Watson: BehaviorismIvan Pavlov and John B. Watson: Behaviorism

Both were interested in behavior and its precise Both were interested in behavior and its precise measurement rather than “consciousness” of measurement rather than “consciousness” of

Wundt and JamesWundt and James

BF. SkinnerBF. Skinner

Added to Behaviorism Believed that when an animal is reinforced or

rewarded it is more likely to perform the same action again in the future

Tested his theories on rats and pigeons Taught animals to climb ladders, push toys and

even shoot baskets Believed that humans respond to reinforcement in the same way

Believed that humans respond to reinforcement in Believed that humans respond to reinforcement in the same waythe same way

What do you see?What do you see?

Gestalt Gestalt

Max Wertheimer: Gestalt PsychologyMax Wertheimer: Gestalt Psychology Interested in perception Interested in perception

• How do we make sense out of the world around usHow do we make sense out of the world around us ““The whole is greater than the sum of its The whole is greater than the sum of its

parts.”parts.”• Why do we see things the way we do?Why do we see things the way we do?

Believes that learning is active & Believes that learning is active & meaningfulmeaningful

The Many Faces of PsychologyThe Many Faces of Psychology

Sigmund Freud: The Psychoanalytic Sigmund Freud: The Psychoanalytic SchoolSchool Established Established “psychoanalysis”“psychoanalysis” in Austria in Austria Roots of psych problems were motives of the Roots of psych problems were motives of the

“unconscious”“unconscious” Believed that dreams and slips of the tongue

show unconscious desires First to study patients through individual

meetings; not just lab study

Developmental PsychologistsDevelopmental Psychologistsstudies human mental and physical growth studies human mental and physical growth

from conception to deathfrom conception to death

• • child psychologistschild psychologists

• • adolescent psychologistsadolescent psychologists

• • life-span psychologistslife-span psychologists

More Types of PsychologyMore Types of Psychology

Physiological PsychPhysiological Psych investigates theinvestigates the

biological basis ofbiological basis of

human behaviorhuman behavior

Personality PsychPersonality Psych

Personality Personality psychologists study psychologists study the differences the differences among individuals.among individuals.

Experimental or AcademicExperimental or Academic Psych Psych

learninglearning memorymemory sensationsensation

perceptionperception cognitioncognition motivationmotivation emotionemotion

Conducts research on basic Conducts research on basic psychological processes, such as:psychological processes, such as:

Clinical and Counseling PsychologyClinical and Counseling Psychology Clinical Clinical

psychologistspsychologists are are interested primarily in interested primarily in the diagnosis, cause, the diagnosis, cause, and treatment of and treatment of psychological psychological disorders.disorders.

Counseling Counseling psychologistspsychologists are are concerned primarily concerned primarily with “normal” with “normal” problems of problems of adjustments in life.adjustments in life. Often found in Often found in

schools: Educational schools: Educational PsychPsych

Social PsychologySocial Psychology

Social psychologists study how people Social psychologists study how people influence one another.influence one another.

Industrial & Organizational Industrial & Organizational PsychologyPsychology

Psych in workplacePsych in workplace selecting and training personnel selecting and training personnel improving productivity & working improving productivity & working

conditionsconditions

Psychological PerspectivesPsychological Perspectives

Schools of thoughtSchools of thought To view behavior from a particular To view behavior from a particular

perspectiveperspective Not conflicting, but complementary viewsNot conflicting, but complementary views

Cognitive PerspectiveCognitive Perspective

Focus: On how people think and process Focus: On how people think and process informationinformation

Behavior is explained by how a person Behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situationinterprets the situation

Biological PerspectiveBiological Perspective

Focus: How our biological structures Focus: How our biological structures and substances underlie a given and substances underlie a given behavior, thought, or emotionbehavior, thought, or emotion

Behavior is explained by brain Behavior is explained by brain chemistry, genetics, glands, etc.chemistry, genetics, glands, etc.

Social-Cultural PerspectiveSocial-Cultural Perspective

Focus: How thinking and behavior Focus: How thinking and behavior change depending on the setting or change depending on the setting or situationsituation

Behavior is explained by the influence Behavior is explained by the influence of other people presentof other people present

Behavioral PerspectiveBehavioral Perspective

Focus: How we learn through rewards, Focus: How we learn through rewards, punishments, and observationpunishments, and observation

Behavior is explained by previous Behavior is explained by previous learninglearning

Humanistic PerspectiveHumanistic Perspective

Focus: How healthy people strive to Focus: How healthy people strive to reach their full potentialreach their full potential

Behavior is explained as being Behavior is explained as being motivated by satisfying needs (safety, motivated by satisfying needs (safety, hunger, thirst, etc.), with the goal of hunger, thirst, etc.), with the goal of reaching one’s full potential once basic reaching one’s full potential once basic needs are met.needs are met.

Psychodynamic PerspectivePsychodynamic Perspective

Focus: How behavior is affected by Focus: How behavior is affected by unconscious drives and conflictsunconscious drives and conflicts

Behavior is explained through Behavior is explained through unconscious motivation and unresolved unconscious motivation and unresolved inner conflicts from one’s childhood.inner conflicts from one’s childhood.