Psych Module 1

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Structuralism

Associated with Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Tichtener. Studies structure and basic elements of the mind

Functionalism

Assiciated with William James. Studies how the mind allows people to work, live, play, and adapt

Psychoanalysis

Associated with Sigmund Freud. Emphasizes the revealing of unconscious conflicts

Behaviorism

Studies observable behavior

Psychodynamic Perspective

Modern psychoanalysis focused on development of sense of self and motivations behind behavior

Cognitive Perspective

Modern perspective focusing on memory, perception, intelligence, problem solving, and learning

Cognitive Neuroscience

The study of the physical changes in the brain and nervous system during thinking

Sociocultural Perspective

Focuses on the relationship between social behavior and culture

Biopsychological Perspective

Attributes human and animal behavior to biological events like genetics, hormones, the nervous system, etc.

Evolutionary Psychology

Focuses on biological bases of universal mental characteristics

Positive Psychology

Shifts the focus of psychology from negative aspects to strength, well being, and happiness

Clinical Psychology

Diagnosing and treating people with psychological disorders

Counseling Psychology

Helps people with problems of adjustment

Developmental Psychology

Studies changes in the way people think, relate, and age

Experimental Psychology

Research and experiments into learning, memory, thinking, perception, motivation, and language

Social Psychology

Focuses on how behavior is influenced by the presence of others

Personality Psychology

Studies differences in personality among people

Physiological Psychology

Studies the biological bases of behavior

Comparative Psychology

Studies animals and their behavior to compare and contrast to human behavior

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Studies the relationships between people and their work environments

Psychologists 4 Main Goals

1. Description

2. Explanation

3. Prediction

4. Control

Wilhelm Wundt

Came up with objective introspection (structuralism) in 1879

Edward Titchener

Brought structuralism to America

G. Stanley Hall

Founded the APA and the first Psychology lab in the US

William James

Proposed functionalism and influenced educational, evolutionary, and industrial psychology

Mary Calkins

• First president of the APA

• Should have earned her PhD but was denied because she was a woman

Sigmund Freud

• Father of Psychoanalysis

• Proposed the idea that repression causes nervous disorders and even physical reactions

John B. Watson

• Proposed behaviorism

• Based his work on the work of Pavlov

• Proposed that you can train someone to respond to stimuli

• Proposed that phobias are learned behaviors

  • Conducted the ‘Little Albert’ experiment

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Psychologists are trained for talk therapy. They cannot prescribe meds. Psychiatrists are trained doctors/medics. They can prescribe meds. They are more focused on the physical/biological/cognitive aspects of the mind.

Definition of a mental process

Anything that the mind does. Ex. Thinking, memory, emotions, perception, imagination, reasoning, etc.

What does research allow psychologists to do?

It allows them to get insight into how exactly the mind works, how different disorders form, how to treat different disorders, etc.