Condensed Keywords of Module I, Lesson 1

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Psychology

Word origin: Psyche (mind) + Logos (study)

study of the mind

not tangible, not observable by others

Mind ≠ directly studied

observable by third-party

Science requires

behavior seen

Mind unseen

can observe responses & reactions

Can’t read mind

(thinking, dreaming) studied via interviews, brain scans

Covert processes

Main focus (observable, measurable, recordable, analyzable)

Overt behavior

Science → orderly body of knowledge

Psychology

facts > feelings; test & verify hypotheses; repeatable experiments

Objective

based on observation + experiment, not argument

Empirical

data organized & classified into meaningful order

Systematic

behavioral & social science

Nature

4 Goals of Psychology

Describe, Explain, Predict, Control

accurate, factual details of behavior

Describe

cause & effect; theories based on research

Explain

foresee outcomes (ex: no homework → poor performance)

Predict

apply knowledge to change behavior (ex: improve study habits)

Control

man fascinated by own behavior

Early roots

each developed ways to study mind & behavior

Cultures

last quarter of 19th century

Science stage

European culture

Origin

Western philosophy + physiology

Disciplines

17th century, French philosopher

Rene Descartes

empirical study of body

Reflex action

mind & body = separate systems

Psycho-physical dualism

Roots of dualism

Plato

no minds, just like machines to study

Animals

still debated today (separate or one unit?)

Mind-body problem

When did the British empiricists contribute to psychology?

19th century

Who was a key British empiricist?

John Locke

What did British empiricists focus on?

Physiological basis of behavior

What did British empiricists ideas lead to?

Behaviorism

What did German rationalists de-emphasize?

Sense perception

What did German rationalist emphasize instead?

The mind

What capacities did they identify?

Perceiving, remembering, reasoning, knowing, willing (mental faculties)

Where did many modern psychologists come from?

Germany and neighboring countries

What issue did psychology take from philosophy?

Free will vs. determinism

How did philosophy resolve free will vs. determinism?

Logic and reasoning

How did psychology study free will vs. determinism?

Objectively and measurably with scientific tools

When did psychology formally begin as a science?

1879

Who started the first psychology lab?

Wilhelm Wundt

Where was the first psychology lab founded?

Leipzig, Germany

Who is the father of modern psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt

What school did Wundt found?

Structuralism

What did Structuralism study?

Structures of the mind/consciousness

Which school emerged in the early 20th century?

Gestalt psychology

What did Gestalt psychology emphasize?

Perception as a whole

: When did psychology thrive in the U.S.?

When did psychology thrive in the U.S.?

1888

Who was the first professor of psychology?

James McKeen Cattell

Where was the first psychology professorship?

University of Pennsylvania

Why was Cattell’s appointment important?

Psychology recognized as separate field

When was APA founded?

1892

Who defined psychology as “science of behavior”?

William McDougall (1908)

How did psychology expand beyond research?

into psychotherapy and education

How is psychology evolving today?

Becoming global

Earlier focus of psychology?

White, middle-class behavior

Modern research trend?

Cross-cultural studies

Example of cultural integration?

Asian meditation in psychotherapy

First two schools of psychology?

Structuralism & Functionalism

What happened to them?

Extinct, ideas absorbed

Schools of thought today?

At least seven

Schools can be regarded as?

Conceptual perspectives

Founder of modern psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt

Who brought Structuralism to America?

Edward Titchener

Method of Structuralism?

Introspection

Focus of Structuralism?

Sensations, feelings, images

Goal of Structuralism?

Uncover physiological mechanisms

When did it end?

After 1930

Contribution of Structuralism?

Sensory psychology experiments

Key figure in Functionalism?

William James

Functionalism opposed what?

Structuralism & introspection

Focus of Functionalism?

Function of the mind

Purpose of consciousness?

Serves a function

Main question of functionalism?

What does the mind do?

Psychology defined as?

Study of man’s adjustment to environment

Founder of Gestalt psychology?

Max Wertheimer (with Koffka & Köhler)

Reacted against?

Structuralism

Gestalt is also called?

Field theory

Famous phrase?

Whole > sum of parts

View of experience of Gestalt?

Whole affects the parts

In Gestalt, Learning is seen as?

Problem-solving / reasoning

Founder of psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalysis is also known as?

First Force in psychology

Psychodynamics meaning?

Freud’s theories & clinical use

Emphasis of Freud?

Unconscious thoughts & feelings

Main method of Psychoanalysis?

Free association (talking out)

Key factor in personality of Psychoanalysis?

Early childhood experiences

Controversial theory in Psychoanalysis?

Infantile sexuality

Freud’s main contribution?

Study of unconscious, motives, conflicts, defense mechanisms

Leader of Behaviorism?

John B. Watson