Psychology
The study of mind (mental processes) and behavior
Early Influences on Psychology
Philosophy
Plato, Aristotle
Nature vs. Nurture
Rationalism vs. Empiricism
Descarte
Dualism
Mind/Body dichotomy
Darwin
All animals (including humans) seen as having evolved from a common relative
Comparative psychology - compares behavior across species
Early Schools and Current approaches
I. Structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt
established the first Psychology Lab in 1879
Analytic Introspection
Reductionism - what the basic elements
Associationism - how basic elements form more complex
and higher order thought
Titchener
II. Functionalism
Developed in the U.S.
Strongly influenced by Darwin’s theory
How are mental abilities adaptive?
Broadened psyc to include a variety of people and species
First to develop intelligence tests
Psychologists should study only observable behavior
Logical Positivism - all knowledge must be verified through empirical methods and by direct observation
Operational definitions - concepts are defined by the operations used to measure them attempts to objectify or quantify vague concepts
IV. Gestalt Psychology
"The whole is different than the sum of the parts"
Apparent movement
Phi phenomenon
Sigmund Freud emphasized unconscious forces
used techniques such as "free associations" and dream analysis
VI. Humanistic Approach
Inherent goodness and worth
Growth and fulfillment
Phenomenological - emphasized the uniqueness of individuals
"Hardware"
a. Neuro or Biopsychologists
Study the mechanisms of the brain and nervous system that control behavior
b. Ethology
The study of animal behavior in natural settings
c. Sociobiology
The study of the biological bases of social behavior
III. Cognitive Approach
"Software"
Perception, attention, memory, thought, and language
Information processing
Infer psychological processes from behavior
V. Humanistic Approach
Inherent goodness and worth
Growth and fulfillment
Phenomenological - emphasizes the uniqueness of individuals