AP Psychology

Unit 1: Foundations

Foundations and PerspectivesUnit EQ: How have philosophical perspectives and theoretical approaches shaped the development of psychology?EQ 1: What is Psychology?EQ 2: How have historical figures, philosophical perspectives and various theoretical approaches shaped the development of psychology?EQ 3: How is psychology distinguished by different domains?

Vocabulary• Psychology• Structuralism• Functionalism• Introspection• Gestalt

Early Influence• “What is the nature of the mind and soul?”• “What is the relationship between the mind and the body?”

Psyche = Soul ology = Study of

What is psychology?

Psych = Soul -ology = Study of

Assessment Prompt: Create a definition for Psychology

Definition: The scientific study of mental processes and behavior.

Psychological FieldsApplied vs Research

How does a psychiatrist differ from a psychologist? A psychiatrist has a medical degree and can prescribe medicine in addition to therapy.

Early Influence

Gustav Fechner• German physiologist• Realized that one could study mental

process by observing sensory stimuli• Discovered complex and predictable

relationship between changes in physical characteristics of stimuli and changes in psychological experience• Paved the way for perception research

Early Influence

Wilhelm Wundt• Father of Psychology• Developed concept of

introspection• 1st Psychology Laboratory for

studying humans• Moved from the philosophy of

mental process to the science of mental process

Edward Titchener• Expanded on Wundt’s

teaching calling it structuralism

Margaret Washburn

G. Stanley Hall• Receives first Ph.D.

based on psychological research

• Establishes first U.S. psychology lab at John’s Hopkins

• Founder of A.P.A

Early Influence

William James• Father of American

Psychology• Rejected structuralism• Founder of functionalism• Wrote first psychology

textbook

Mary Whinton CalkinsCharles Darwin• Proposed idea of

Natural Selection. Physical trait that aid in survival are passed on.

Early Influence

• Objected to structuralist point of view. Experiences couldn’t be broken down into parts and be properly understood.

• Founders of Gestalt psychology.

• Gestalt (German)• “organized wholes” or “whole

shape”• People naturally seek out patterns

(“wholes”) in sensory information• “The sum is greater than its parts”

Early Influence

Carl Jung

Alfred Adler

Anna Freud

Erik Erikson

Sigmund Freud• Founder of

Psychoanalysis• Sought to help

patients (therapy)• Idea of the

unconscious mind

Early Influence

Ivan Pavlov• His early medical

research focused on stimulus / response relationship

John Watson• Mental events should

be ignored• Founder of behaviorism• Psychology should

focus on observable behavior.

• Most important determinate of behavior is learning

B.F. Skinner• Focused on the effects of

rewards and punishments on behavior

• Founder of operant conditioning

Mary Cover Jones• Early pioneer of behavioral

therapy• Began the process of

“counterconditioning”

Early Influence

Hermann Ebbinghaus• Believed the focus of structuralism

wasn’t as important as exploring capacities and limitations of mental processes• Established a laboratory to study

memory and learning.

Diversity in Psychology

Gilbert Haven Jones• Taught at the local black high school in Carlisle, Pa • Masters degree in philosophy from Dickinson College. • Completed his Ph.D. in philosophy two years in Germany.• Jones returned to the United States where he taught at First

African American professor of psychology

Mary Whinton Calkins• Denied degree by Harvard due to gender• 1st female president of the American Psychological Association

Margaret Washburn1st Women to receive a Ph.D. in psychology

Diversity in Psychology

George (Jorg) Sanchez• Father of “Chicano Psychology”• Worked to show cultural bias in intelligence testing

Kenneth and Mamie Clark• Worked to show the negative effects of school segregation

Francis Cecil Sumner• First African American to receive a Ph.D. in psychology (1920)• Referred to as the "Father of African American Psychology“

Structuralism• Wilhelm Wundt• Focused on the basic elements of consciousness• “What are the elements of psychological processes?” • Broke consciousness down (Human Mind)• Objective sensations• Accurately reflect outside world

• Subjective sensations• Included emotional experiences

• Introspection: a person carefully examines and reports their own experiences

Functionalism

• William James• Stated conscious experience can’t be broken

down• Focused on how mental processes help

organisms adapt to their environment• “What is the purpose of behavior and process?”• Used introspection and observation• Evolution

Foundations and PerspectivesUnit EQ: How have philosophical perspectives and theoretical approaches shaped the development of psychology?

EQ 1: How is psychology distinguished by different domains?

Vocabulary• Gestalt• Psychodynamic Approach• Behavioral (Learning)

Approach• Biological Approach

• Humanistic Perspective• Sociocultural Perspective• Biopsychosocial Approach• Cognitive Approach• Evolutionary Approach

Psychodynamic Approach

• Rooted in the ideas of Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis • Behavior and mental process

reflects the unconscious struggle• Unconscious desires vs the

need to follow rules• Not as focused on unconscious

sexual desires as Psychoanalysis• More focus on sense of self and

discovery of other motives

Behavioral (Learning) Approach

• Rooted in the ideas of Watson and Skinner• Focus is on observable behavior and how behavior is

learned• Rewards and punishments affect behavior• Many now also try to understand thoughts/cognition

Cognitive Approach

• Focuses on • How we take in, mentally

represent, and store information• How we perceive and

process information• How the cognitive process

affects behavior• Text Example-Butting in line

(pg. 22)

Humanistic Approach• Influenced by Carl Rogers and

Abraham Maslow• Behavior is the result of people

choosing how to think and act• Unique experiences guide

thoughts and actions• Choices are steered by individual’s

unique perspectives• See the world as friendly ->

optimistic and secure • People have a natural tendency to

grow toward their highest potential

Bio(psycho)logical Approach

• Behavior and Mental Process shaped by the biological process• Study the effects of hormones,

genes, and the activity of the nervous system• They would examine brain

activity using brain scans when examining thinking• Treatment through medications• Highly influential today

Evolutionary Approach

• Based on Darwin’s Ideas of evolution and natural selection• Focus on Evolution’s impact on

genes• Genes result in characteristics and

behaviors that are useful and adaptive• Assumes behavior and mental

process are the result of evolution. • Ex. Aggression is a form of

territorial protection

Sociocultural

• Study the effect that people have on each other whether it is individually or in large groups• Combines:• Social Psychology – study of

groups, social roles, and rules of social action• Cultural Psychology – studies

cultural norms, values, and expectations

Biopsychosocial Approach

• An integrated viewpoint that incorporates various levels of analysis and offers a more complete picture of any given behavior or mental process.