PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

A brief history and A brief history and introduction to the science of introduction to the science of

psychologypsychology

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

►What does a psychologist look like?What does a psychologist look like?

►What does a scientist look like? What does a scientist look like?

Birth of PsychologyBirth of Psychology

►Psychology’s Roots (intellectual parents)Psychology’s Roots (intellectual parents) PhilosophyPhilosophy PhysiologyPhysiology

►Early Definition of Psychology:Early Definition of Psychology: Psyche = SoulPsyche = Soul Logos = The study of Logos = The study of Psychology = The study of the soul (or mind)Psychology = The study of the soul (or mind)

PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

►A few thoughts on philosophy’s A few thoughts on philosophy’s contributions to the birth of contributions to the birth of psychologypsychology

Example of a philosophical Example of a philosophical conclusion:conclusion:

► All men are jerks. All men are jerks. Some jerks are Some jerks are attractive. attractive. THEREFORE:THEREFORE:

► A) All jerks are menA) All jerks are men► B) Some men are B) Some men are

attractiveattractive► C) Neither of these C) Neither of these

validly followsvalidly follows

Plato’s Allegory of the CavePlato’s Allegory of the Cave

Journal QuestionJournal Question

► In 1 minute, give me your opinion In 1 minute, give me your opinion about what Plato is trying to say in this about what Plato is trying to say in this allegory. allegory.

Today’s Latin Lesson:Today’s Latin Lesson:

►COGITO, ERGO SUMCOGITO, ERGO SUM►Rene Descartes made one of the most Rene Descartes made one of the most

profound philosophical conclusions profound philosophical conclusions with this statement.with this statement.

►How did he arrive at that conclusion?How did he arrive at that conclusion?►Can you refute it?Can you refute it?

Early arguments about the Early arguments about the mindmind

►Dualism vs. MonismDualism vs. Monism►DUALISM— consciousness, self-DUALISM— consciousness, self-

awareness is an attribute of the awareness is an attribute of the incorporeal mind (soul), and not the incorporeal mind (soul), and not the body. Basically, this is the idea that the body. Basically, this is the idea that the mind and body are separate entities mind and body are separate entities with different functions.with different functions.

►MONISM— there is no fundamental MONISM— there is no fundamental division between the mind and the body. division between the mind and the body. They are basically one and the same. They are basically one and the same.

Journal QuestionJournal Question

►Are you a dualist or a monist? In your Are you a dualist or a monist? In your opinion, will scientists ever be able to opinion, will scientists ever be able to settle this one? Explain. settle this one? Explain.

How do we reach conclusions How do we reach conclusions from a scientific viewpoint? from a scientific viewpoint?

►Both science and philosophy are Both science and philosophy are engaged in the search for “truth.”engaged in the search for “truth.”

► In philosophy, logic is the tool used to In philosophy, logic is the tool used to arrive at the truth.arrive at the truth.

► In science, we use the scientific In science, we use the scientific method to seek truth. method to seek truth. ExperimentationExperimentation is the key difference.is the key difference.

PHYSIOLOGYPHYSIOLOGY

►Physiology is the study of the body. Physiology is the study of the body. This is where the This is where the scientificscientific side of side of psychology came from—it involves psychology came from—it involves direct observation of the real world. direct observation of the real world.

Physiological InfluencesPhysiological Influences

►Hippocrates—The 4 Hippocrates—The 4 Humors of the bodyHumors of the body

HumourHumour SeasoSeasonn

ElementElement AncienAncient Namet Name

CharacteristiCharacteristicscs

BloodBlood SpringSpring AirAir SanguineSanguine Courageous, Courageous, hopeful, amoroushopeful, amorous

Yellow BileYellow Bile SummerSummer FireFire CholericCholeric Easily angered, bad Easily angered, bad temperedtempered

Black BileBlack Bile AutumnAutumn EarthEarth MelancholicMelancholic Despondent, Despondent, sleepless, irritablesleepless, irritable

PhlegmPhlegm WinterWinter waterwater phlegmaticphlegmatic Calm, unemotionalCalm, unemotional

This was the most This was the most commonly held view of the commonly held view of the human body until the 19th human body until the 19th century! Each humor was century! Each humor was thought to be related to thought to be related to

specific personality traits, specific personality traits, and an imbalance of the and an imbalance of the humors caused illness or humors caused illness or

disorder. disorder.

Birth of Scientific PsychologyBirth of Scientific Psychology

►Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt►11stst Psychology Lab (1879) Psychology Lab (1879)►Wundt led the campaign to combine Wundt led the campaign to combine

the empirical approach of physiology the empirical approach of physiology with philosophy—Psychology should with philosophy—Psychology should study the mind and mental processes.study the mind and mental processes.

Structuralism vs. Structuralism vs. FunctionalismFunctionalism

►Psychology’s First Battle!Psychology’s First Battle!

►Structuralism (Wundt)—goal was to Structuralism (Wundt)—goal was to study conscious experience and its study conscious experience and its structure.structure.

►Functionalism (James)—goal was to Functionalism (James)—goal was to study how the mind works in study how the mind works in allowing an organism to adapt to allowing an organism to adapt to the environment. the environment.

Yada Yada Yada…Yada Yada Yada…

►Psychologists continued to disagree Psychologists continued to disagree with one another about what to study with one another about what to study and how, until we ended up where we and how, until we ended up where we are today…are today…

Psychology’s PerspectivesPsychology’s Perspectives

The Big Seven

Neuroscience PerspectiveNeuroscience Perspective

► Focus on how the physical body and Focus on how the physical body and brain creates our emotions, brain creates our emotions, memories and sensory experiences.memories and sensory experiences.

If you could not remember the names of your parents and went to a psychologist who adheres to the neuroscience perspective, what might they say?

Evolutionary PerspectiveEvolutionary Perspective

►Focuses on Focuses on Darwinism.Darwinism.

►We behave the way We behave the way we do because we we do because we inherited those inherited those behaviors.behaviors.

►Thus, those Thus, those behaviors must have behaviors must have helped ensure our helped ensure our ancestors survival.ancestors survival. How could this behavior

have ensured Homer’s ancestors’ survival?

Psychodynamic PerspectivePsychodynamic Perspective

► Fathered by Fathered by Sigmund Freud.Sigmund Freud.

►Our behavior comes Our behavior comes from unconscious from unconscious drives.drives.

► Usually stemming Usually stemming from our childhood.from our childhood.

What might a psychoanalyst say is the reason someone always needs to be chewing gum?

Behavioral PerspectiveBehavioral Perspective

►Focuses on our Focuses on our OBSERVABLE OBSERVABLE behaviors.behaviors.

►Only cares about Only cares about the behaviors the behaviors that impair our that impair our living, and living, and attempts to attempts to change them.change them.

If you bit your fingernails when you were nervous, a behaviorist would not focus on calming you down, but rather focus on how to stop you from biting your nails.

Cognitive PerspectiveCognitive Perspective►Focuses on how we Focuses on how we

think (or encode think (or encode information)information)

►How do we see the How do we see the world?world?

►How did we learn to How did we learn to act in response to act in response to sad or happy sad or happy events?events?

►Cognitive Therapist Cognitive Therapist attempt to change attempt to change the way you think.the way you think.

Meet girl Get Rejected by girl

Did you learn to be depressed

Or get back on the horse and try again

Social-Cultural PerspectiveSocial-Cultural Perspective►Focus on the effect of culture and social Focus on the effect of culture and social

dynamics on your behavior, thoughts, etc...dynamics on your behavior, thoughts, etc...

The people we surround ourselves with have PROFOUND influences on us.

Humanistic PerspectiveHumanistic Perspective►Focuses on positive growthFocuses on positive growth►Attempt to seek self-actualizationAttempt to seek self-actualization►Therapists use active listening and Therapists use active listening and

unconditional positive regard.unconditional positive regard.

Mr. Rogers would have made a great Humanistic Therapist!!!