Psych - 1/1 - Psychology's History and Approaches

The scientific attitude

Curiosity, skepticism, humility

Critical thinking

The scientific attitude’s thinking style

Benefits of critical thinking

Following facts instead of instinct

Overcoming bias

Disproving popular belief

Philosophically + Physiologically

How modern pyschology was addressed in the past

Socrates and Plato

Greek philosophy

Favored logic

Believed knowledge was innate

Nature > nurture

Aristotle

Greek philosophy

Favored data

Believed knowledge was acquired

Nurture > nature

Francis Bacon

Pioneer of modern science

Observed humans’ enjoyment of patterns

John Locke

Philosopher inspired by Francis Bacon

Wrote famously about tabula rasa

Helped create modern empiricism

Empiricism

What we know comes from experience; exploration and experimentation drives scientific knowledge

Wilhelm Wundt

Pioneer of modern psychology (1879)

Measured “atoms of the mind” by observing people’s response times while pressing keys

Structuralism

Branch of psychology

Understanding the brain’s structure

Unreliable; faded in popularity due to use of introspection

Introspection

Looking inward

Functionalism

Branch of psychology

Studying evolved functions of the brain (emotions, memories, habit)

Introduced by William James

William James

Psychologist inspired by Darwin

Pioneered functionalism

Great teacher, hated proofreading

Margaret Whiton Calkins

First woman to complete the requirements to attain a psychology PhD

Refused her degree by Harvard

Studied under William James

First female APA president

Margaret Floy Washburn

First woman to receive a PhD in psychology

Second female APA president

Author of The Animal Mind

APA

American Psychology Association

APS

Association for Psychological Science

Modern psychology definition

The science of behavior and mental processes

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Leaders of 1960s humanistic psychologists

Cognitive revolution

Intellectual movement of the 1960s

Cognitive psychology

How information is perceived, processed, and stored

René Descartes

Follower of some of Socrates & Plato’s mind-body separation and innate knowledge ideas

Nature > nurture to some extent

Supported by Charles Darwin

Evolutionary psychology

Studies similarities in people from shared biology

Influenced by nature-nurture debate (nature)

Behavior genetics

Studies differences in people caused by varying genes and environments

Influenced by nature-nurture debate (nurture)

WEIRD cultures

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic

Positive psychology

Explores how to build happy lives instead of fixing issues

Biopsychosocial approach

Approach examining the biological, psychological, and social-cultural lenses that shape a person

Behavioral perspective

How we develop behavioral responses

Biological perspective

Environmental influences and physical processes

Cognitive perspective

How we perceive, process, and store information

Evolutionary perspective

How natural selection has influenced the gene pool

Humanistic perspective

How we achieve personal growth and satisfaction

Psychodynamic perspective

How unconscious efforts and drives influence our behavior

Social-cultural perspective

How situations and culture influence our behavior

Testing effect

Rehearsing and self-testing material improves understanding more than rereading

SQ3R method

Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

Psychometrics

The measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

Basic Research

Pure science aiming to build the scientific knowledge base

Developmental psychologists

Study physical, cognitive, and social change throughout our lives

Educational psychologists

Study how physiological processes can affect and enhance teaching and learning

Personality psychologists

Individuals’ characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting

Social psychologists

How we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Applied research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Industrial-organizational psychologists

Apply psychology in the workplace

Human factors psychologists

Study how people and machines interact and how that can improve

Counseling psychologists

Assist people with problems in living; help people achieve greater well-being

Clinical psychologists

Study, assess, and treat people with psychological disorders

Psychiatrists

Medical doctors licensed to distribute medicine to treat psychological disorders

Community psychologists

Basic

Study how people interact with their social environments; how social institutions affect individuals and groups

Experimental psychologists

Basic

Explore various processes in humans and other animals

Motivation, learning, etc.

Psychometric and Quantitative psychologists

Basic

Focus on math behind psychology knowledge

Create and interpret cognitive assessments and research programs

Social psychologists

Basic

Study the interactions between people

Forensic psychologists

Applied

Apply psychology to legal issues; focus on the intersection of law and psychology

Neuropsychologists

Applied

Study the relationship between neurological processes and behavior

Rehabilitation psychologists

Applied

Work with people impacted by accidents, illnesses, or other events

School psychologists

Applied

Provide assessments and interventions for children in academic settings; improve student learning

Sport psychologists

Applied

Use the intersection of psychology and athletics to help athletes and coaches

Clinical psychologists

Helping

Work with a broad or specific range of disorders

Requires a doctorate and license

Community psychologists

Helping

Focus on the broader impacts of psychology in a community setting; person-environment link

Counseling psychologists

Helping

Assist people with adjusting to transitions and changes in their lifestyle

Requires a state license