Sneak Peak 1

Trephination

Surgical procedure where the doctor drills a hole into someone’s skull and removes it, used as a therapy to help those “possessed” by demons. If they died, it was stated that the belief was the demons wouldn’t let go of the person, so the person left them.

Introspection

The examination of a person’s own conscious thoughts, feelings, and motives

Wilhelm Wundt

Founded the first psychology lab and created the first ever psychology experiment, which tested the reaction time from when a person heard the drop of the ball. He is nicknamed the “Father of Psychology.”

William James

Harvard professor who wrote the Principles of Psychology, came up with functionalism (shows how mental and behavioral processes function, and fought against sexism by tutoring Mary Calkins to achieve a degree in psychology.

Principles of Psyschology

Published in 1890 by William James, a foundational two-volume work that made psychology a serious scientific field.

Mary Calkins

First woman to try to study psychology at Harvard, denied a degree but gained PhD from sister school with the mentorship and tutoring of William James. First female president of the APA (American Psychology Association).

Psychology First Definition (1879 - 1920s)

Study of the mind by William James and Wilhelm Wundt

Psychology Second Definition (1920s - 1960s)

Study of observable behavior

Psychology Third Definition (1960s - Present)

The science of behavior and mental process

Stability vs. Change

1. Does the personality of others change through life or stay the same, do we become a new person or stay the same?

2. Stability: Traits remain throughout life; Change: traits change due to everyday interactions.

Rationality vs. Irrationality

1. Are people more likely to make decisions based on facts and reasons or not? Rational or irrational?

2. Rationality: thinking based on facts; Irrationality: thinking by emotions

Nature vs. Nurture

1. Do genes (nature) or environmental factors (nurture) contribute to a person’s being?

2. Nurture works on what nature endows. Your environment and experiences (nurture) influence and develop the abilities and traits you are born with (nature).