PsychologyPsychology

Studying the mind of the Studying the mind of the individualindividual

Who are these Who are these Psychologists?Psychologists?

They study how and why humans act They study how and why humans act as they doas they do

Instead of studying how humans Instead of studying how humans function in cultures or societies, function in cultures or societies, psychologists focus on the individual, psychologists focus on the individual, and the personal and unique and the personal and unique experiences that influence how the experiences that influence how the individual acts and thinksindividual acts and thinks

Types of PsychologyTypes of Psychology

Experimental PsychologyExperimental Psychology The branch of the discipline that sets The branch of the discipline that sets

up experiments to see how up experiments to see how individuals act in particular situationsindividuals act in particular situations

Question - Would you help a Question - Would you help a complete stranger that was being complete stranger that was being threatened with violence from threatened with violence from another person?another person?

The Case of Kitty GenoveseThe Case of Kitty Genovese

The Case of Kitty Genovese - Kitty was murdered The Case of Kitty Genovese - Kitty was murdered on the street outside her New York City apartment on the street outside her New York City apartment after loud shouting was heard - 38 people after loud shouting was heard - 38 people witnessed the murder but did nothing to stop itwitnessed the murder but did nothing to stop it

Psychologists have long been interested in our Psychologists have long been interested in our unwillingness to get involved in uncomfortable unwillingness to get involved in uncomfortable situations even if someone’s personal safety is at situations even if someone’s personal safety is at riskrisk

People have a tendency see themselves as People have a tendency see themselves as bystanders in such situations rather than as bystanders in such situations rather than as ACTORSACTORS

ACTORSACTORS are people who become active are people who become active participants in a situationparticipants in a situation

Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGYCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY is the is the branch of the discipline that develops branch of the discipline that develops programs for treating individuals programs for treating individuals suffering from mental illnesses and suffering from mental illnesses and behavioural disordersbehavioural disorders

Eg. Psychologists treat dangerous Eg. Psychologists treat dangerous offenders in federal prisons in an offenders in federal prisons in an attempt to prevent them from attempt to prevent them from reoffending on releasereoffending on release

Psychological Schools of Psychological Schools of ThoughtThought

Like the other social sciences, Like the other social sciences, psychology psychology

has been divided into a number of has been divided into a number of schools schools

of thoughtof thought Psychoanalytic TheoryPsychoanalytic Theory BehaviouralismBehaviouralism Learning TheoryLearning Theory

Psychoanalytic TheoryPsychoanalytic Theory

The mind is divided into two parts: The mind is divided into two parts: the conscious and the unconsciousthe conscious and the unconscious

We are aware of our conscious but We are aware of our conscious but not aware of our unconsciousnot aware of our unconscious

According to psychologists, our According to psychologists, our unconscious mind has more influence unconscious mind has more influence than our conscious mind on our than our conscious mind on our personalities and our behaviourpersonalities and our behaviour

The Unconscious MindThe Unconscious Mind

The Unconscious mind is divided into The Unconscious mind is divided into three three

parts:parts:1.1. Id – which encourages us to seek Id – which encourages us to seek

physical satisfactionphysical satisfaction2.2. Superego – prompts us to do the moral Superego – prompts us to do the moral

thing, not the one that feels bestthing, not the one that feels best3.3. Ego – the referee between the two and Ego – the referee between the two and

deals with external reality, this is our deals with external reality, this is our most conscious selfmost conscious self

Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud The founder of The founder of

psychoanalytic theorypsychoanalytic theory He believed our early He believed our early

childhood experiences, childhood experiences, usually involving our usually involving our relationships with parents relationships with parents and family, are stored in and family, are stored in our unconscious mindour unconscious mind

While we are normally While we are normally unaware of these unaware of these memories, they can have a memories, they can have a powerful influence on the powerful influence on the way we functionway we function

Alfred Adler Alfred Adler (1870-1937)(1870-1937)

Adler believed that Adler believed that difficulties people difficulties people encounter in gaining encounter in gaining self-esteem and self-esteem and recognition, if not recognition, if not overcome by the normal overcome by the normal means lead to means lead to compensatory behaviour compensatory behaviour and resultant personality and resultant personality disorders which are now disorders which are now widely referred to as an widely referred to as an inferiority complexinferiority complex. .

Carl Jung (1875-1961) Carl Jung (1875-1961) Responsible for the Responsible for the

identification of the identification of the ExtrovertedExtroverted (outward- (outward-looking) and looking) and IntrovertedIntroverted (inward-looking) (inward-looking) personality types. personality types.

Worked closely with Freud Worked closely with Freud but split later in their but split later in their careerscareers

The other aspect of Jung's The other aspect of Jung's work which has been very work which has been very influential is his approach influential is his approach to the analysis of dreams. to the analysis of dreams.

BehaviouralismBehaviouralism

Behaviourists believe that psychologists Behaviourists believe that psychologists can predict and control or modify human can predict and control or modify human behaviour by identifying the factors that behaviour by identifying the factors that motivate it in the first placemotivate it in the first place

Behaviourists placed particular stress on Behaviourists placed particular stress on the early childhood years, and the rules or the early childhood years, and the rules or practices parents use to raise their children practices parents use to raise their children because they believe these methods have because they believe these methods have a huge influence on the character of a huge influence on the character of individuals even into adulthoodindividuals even into adulthood

Charles B. Watson (1878-Charles B. Watson (1878-1958) 1958)

The founder of The founder of behaviouralismbehaviouralism

He used animal He used animal experiments to experiments to determine whether determine whether strict of flexible learning strict of flexible learning patterns are more patterns are more effectiveeffective

He believed children He believed children should be brought up should be brought up using strictly scheduled, using strictly scheduled, rules-based models.rules-based models.

Benjamin Spock (1903-Benjamin Spock (1903-1998)1998)

He believed that a He believed that a permissive permissive approach to child approach to child rearing, rather than rearing, rather than a strict one, would a strict one, would result in successful, result in successful, well-adjusted well-adjusted adults.adults.

He encouraged He encouraged parents to be parents to be loving, flexible and loving, flexible and supportivesupportive

Learning TheoryLearning Theory

Learning Theorists agree that Learning Theorists agree that humans are born with little instinct humans are born with little instinct but much learning potentialbut much learning potential

They believe that most human They believe that most human behaviour is learned, especially in behaviour is learned, especially in children and youthchildren and youth

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)

Pavlov’s experiments Pavlov’s experiments with dogs showed that with dogs showed that is was possible to get is was possible to get a dog to associate the a dog to associate the sound of a bell with sound of a bell with the imminent arrival the imminent arrival of foodof food

At the sound of a bell, At the sound of a bell, the dog would salivate the dog would salivate in anticipationin anticipation

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) Skinner proved that pigeons Skinner proved that pigeons

could be trained to peck at a could be trained to peck at a particular coloured disk to particular coloured disk to get food rewardsget food rewards

Rats received food rewards Rats received food rewards for pressing a bar in a for pressing a bar in a complicated sequence complicated sequence leading many theorists to leading many theorists to believe that learning was a believe that learning was a STIMULUS-RESPONSESTIMULUS-RESPONSE effecteffect

He believed that if the He believed that if the subject is correctly subject is correctly stimulated it will give the stimulated it will give the appropriate responseappropriate response

Albert Bandura (Born in Albert Bandura (Born in 1925)1925)

Bandura concluded that learning Bandura concluded that learning is largely a modeling experienceis largely a modeling experience

When humans observe When humans observe behaviour – either acceptable or behaviour – either acceptable or unacceptable – they are more unacceptable – they are more likely to practice itlikely to practice it

Experimented with children who Experimented with children who observed adults hitting a Bobo observed adults hitting a Bobo doll and who were either doll and who were either rewarded or reprimanded for rewarded or reprimanded for their behaviour.their behaviour.

Children learn through the Children learn through the experiences of others.experiences of others.

Question - What does this mean Question - What does this mean to us?to us?

Psychology and Social Psychology and Social ChangeChange

Questions a Psychologist would ask:Questions a Psychologist would ask: What must people do to successfully What must people do to successfully

change their behaviours?change their behaviours? What factors make behaviour What factors make behaviour

modification programs successful?modification programs successful? Do most people need help changing Do most people need help changing

their behaviours, or can they be self-their behaviours, or can they be self-changers?changers?

ActivityActivity On a piece of paper, draw a five point scale On a piece of paper, draw a five point scale

ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Rank the following statements on this agree). Rank the following statements on this scale according to your opinion.scale according to your opinion.

– World hunger is a serious problem that needs attention.World hunger is a serious problem that needs attention.– Our country needs to address the growing number of Our country needs to address the growing number of

people living below the poverty line.people living below the poverty line.– The right to vote is one of the most valuable rights of The right to vote is one of the most valuable rights of

Canadian citizens.Canadian citizens.– Our government should spend less money on the Our government should spend less money on the

military and more money on addressing the issue of military and more money on addressing the issue of global warming.global warming.

– In order for world peace to exist, we all need to take a In order for world peace to exist, we all need to take a more active role in helping our fellow man/woman.more active role in helping our fellow man/woman.

Turn your paper over, and answer the next series of Turn your paper over, and answer the next series of questions with “Yes” or “No.”questions with “Yes” or “No.”

– Do you personally do anything to lessen world hunger (eg. Do you personally do anything to lessen world hunger (eg. Donate food or money, work at a food bank, write your local Donate food or money, work at a food bank, write your local representative)?representative)?

– Do you personally do anything to help the poor or homeless Do you personally do anything to help the poor or homeless (eg. Work at a homeless shelter, donate clothing or money)?(eg. Work at a homeless shelter, donate clothing or money)?

– Did you take part in the last election (student vote, research Did you take part in the last election (student vote, research parties and their platforms, etc)?parties and their platforms, etc)?

– Do you personally convey your feelings about global Do you personally convey your feelings about global warming to the government (eg. By writing you local MPP, warming to the government (eg. By writing you local MPP, protesting, etc.)?protesting, etc.)?

– Have you done something recently to help a person in need Have you done something recently to help a person in need (eg. Donate blood, volunteer at a retirement home, food (eg. Donate blood, volunteer at a retirement home, food bank, etc.)?bank, etc.)?

Question: Are your answers for each pair of questions Question: Are your answers for each pair of questions consistent? If not, how does this make you feel? Will you consistent? If not, how does this make you feel? Will you alter your behaviour as a result? alter your behaviour as a result?

Changing our MindsChanging our Minds

There is a strong connection between There is a strong connection between people’s people’s attitudesattitudes (what they think) (what they think) and and behaviours behaviours (what they do).(what they do).

Do people’s attitudes need to be Do people’s attitudes need to be changed before their behaviour can changed before their behaviour can change?change?

Ex. People’s attitudes towards Ex. People’s attitudes towards smoking or drinking and drivingsmoking or drinking and driving

Cognitive Dissonance / Cognitive Dissonance / ConsistencyConsistency

Most people strive for Most people strive for cognitive cognitive consistencyconsistency (avoiding attitudes that (avoiding attitudes that conflict with each other)conflict with each other)

When two attitudes conflict, we feel When two attitudes conflict, we feel discomfort, which makes us want to discomfort, which makes us want to change our attitudes to regain change our attitudes to regain cognitive consistencycognitive consistency

This theory is called This theory is called cognitive cognitive dissonance theorydissonance theory

Examples of Cognitive Examples of Cognitive DissonanceDissonance

Ex. Person X smokes, but also believes Ex. Person X smokes, but also believes smoking causes cancer – these attitudes smoking causes cancer – these attitudes conflict and may lead them to avoid conflict and may lead them to avoid reading articles that discuss smoking and reading articles that discuss smoking and health. health.

If X has a relative that dies from cancer If X has a relative that dies from cancer caused by smoking, this leads to increased caused by smoking, this leads to increased conflict and dissonance, which may lead conflict and dissonance, which may lead them to quit – a change in behaviour!them to quit – a change in behaviour!

Why People ChangeWhy People ChangeRead pp. 53 – 59 and complete the following chartRead pp. 53 – 59 and complete the following chart

Models of Models of BehaviourBehaviour

Why People ChangeWhy People Change ExamplesExamples

Behaviour Behaviour Modification Modification (Skinner)(Skinner)

Personal and Personal and Collective Collective Unconscious Unconscious (Jung)(Jung)

Heirarchy of Heirarchy of Human Needs Human Needs (Maslow)(Maslow)

Gender Gender Relationships Relationships (Woodman)(Woodman)

ActivityActivityStudent X is just entering grade 12 at BCI, and has Student X is just entering grade 12 at BCI, and has

struggled through her high school career so far. She is struggled through her high school career so far. She is very bright, but her transcript shows that most of her very bright, but her transcript shows that most of her marks are in the mid 50’s and 60’s. She has a habit of marks are in the mid 50’s and 60’s. She has a habit of procrastinating and handing assignments in late. She procrastinating and handing assignments in late. She has done especially poorly in math, where she has had has done especially poorly in math, where she has had Mr. Z as a teacher for the last 2 years. She frequently Mr. Z as a teacher for the last 2 years. She frequently asks teachers to leave the room and often complains asks teachers to leave the room and often complains about being hungry in class. Often, when her teachers about being hungry in class. Often, when her teachers ask her to do something, she responds by saying, “why ask her to do something, she responds by saying, “why bother” or simply putting her head down on the desk bother” or simply putting her head down on the desk and pretending to sleep. Her school records show that and pretending to sleep. Her school records show that when she was young, she moved 8 times and had when she was young, she moved 8 times and had difficulty adjusting to her new schools each time.difficulty adjusting to her new schools each time.

What can Student X do to succeed in school and reach What can Student X do to succeed in school and reach her full potential?her full potential?

Explain what Skinner, Jung, Maslow and Woodman Explain what Skinner, Jung, Maslow and Woodman would say about the origins of X’s behaviour, and what would say about the origins of X’s behaviour, and what methods they may use to change it.methods they may use to change it.