Unit 1 - Introduction to Psychology

psychology

scientific study of the mind and human behaviors

scientific

answered using facts & data

behavior

observable actions

empirical method

knowledge gained from observation (ex: experimentation) but not from logical argument

MIND (mental processes)

thoughts, feelings, sensation, perceptions, motivations, dreams, subjective experiences

subjective experiences

individuals unique perceptions shaped by their life

Wilhelm Wundt

• founder of psychology

• STRUCTURALISM

structuralism

• understanding the conscious experience through introspection

• people reporting on what they’re experiencing

  • inward focus on mental experiences (introspection)

• puzzle piece in brain

introspection

someone examines their own conscious experiences in an attempt to break it into its component parts

William James

• first american psychologist

• FUNCTIONALISM

functionalsim

• how mental activities help one adapt to its environment to survive

• habits & behaviors we develop to perform more effectively

  • why we do what we do

• snake

Sigmund Freud

PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

psychoanalytic theory

• role of unconscious in affecting conscious behavior

• behavior influenced by the unconscious mind

  • early childhood experiences shape our personalities & behaviors

• iceberg

Wertheimer, Koffka, Kohler

• 3 german psychologists

• GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY

gestalt

whole

gestalt psychology

• whole of our experiences

  • brain sees the whole of something not the little pieces

  • way our brain organizes and structures our perceptions

• how the different parts of an experience relate to each other as a whole is often what the individual responds to in perception

• fruit person - person made up of a bunch of different types of fruit

perception

makes sense of the world and become aware of something through senses

John Watson, Ivan Pavlov, BF Skinner

BEHAVIORISM

behaviorism

• focus on observing and controlling behavior

• observable behaviors that could be recorded and measured

  • shaped by rewards & punishments

John Watson

BEHAVIORISM

• focused on observable behaviors and ways to bring that behavior under control

Ivan Pavlov

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

• you can form associations between things

• dog, food & bell experiment

  • animal produces a reflex (unconscious) in response to a stimuli and overtime conditioned to produce the response to a different stimulus that was associated with original stimulus (conditioned reflex)

BF Skinner

OPERANT CONDITIONING

• behaviors are shaped by rewards and punishments and expectations about the outcomes of behavior

what were Wundt & James concerned about

Wundt & James were concerned with understanding conscious experience

what were Watson & Skinner focused on

Watson & Skinner were focused on how behavior was affected by its consequences

Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers

HUMANISM

humanism

• perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans

• free will & conscious choices

  • we make choices to give our lives meaning and purpose

Abraham Maslow

HUMANISM

• proposed a hierarchy of human needs in motivating behavior

• pyramid

pyramid

1) self-actualization

• inner fulfillment

2) esteem

• self-worth, accomplishment, confidence

3) social

• family, friendship, intimacy, belonging

4) security

• safety, employment, assets

5) physiological

• food, water, shelter, warmth

Carl Rogers

HUMANISM

• client-centered therapy involved the patient taking a lead role in the therapy session

the cognitive revolution

• incorporates linguistics, neuroscience, computer science

• Ulric Neisser - first cognitive psychology textbook

• Noam Chomsky - american linguistic: advocated for inclusion of the mind

first woman psychologists

Margaret Floy Washburn

contemporary psychology

diverse field that is influence by all of the historical perspectives

APA

American Psychological Association

• represents psychologists in the U.S.

biopsychology

study of the structures and function of nervous system generate behavior

• how biology influences behavior

• central nervous system & peripheral nervous system

sensation and perception

how both physiological aspects of sensory systems and the psychological experience of sensory information

sensation

sensory information (sights, sounds, touch, smell)

perception

experience of the world which is influence by previous experiences, cultural backgrounds, and where we focus our attention

cognitive psychology

study of cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to experiences and actions

cognitive processes

thinking, learning, memory, language, problem solving, etc.

developmental psychology

studies the physical and mental attributes of aging and maturation

• study of development across lifespan

personality psychology

behaviors and thought patterns that are unique to each individual

• conscious and unconscious thinking

• identifying personality traits (consistent pattern of thought and behavior)

social psychology

how individuals interact and relate with others and how such interactions can affect behavior

clinical psychology

focuses on diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and problematic patterns of behavior

counseling psychology

focuses on improving emotional, social, vocational, and other aspects of life

health psychology

how individual health is directly related or affect by biological, psychological, and social influences

evolutionary psychology

how behavior is impacted by genetics

industrial psychology

apply psychological theories, principles, and research to industrial settings

• personnel management, organizational structure, and workplace environment

sport & exercise psychology

interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical peformance

forensic psychology

applies the science and practice of psychology to issues within & related to justice system

PhD

doctor of philosophy

• doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspective housed in a traditional college of liberal arts and sciences

PsyD

doctor of psychology

• doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research oriented skills and focuses more on application of psychological principles in the clinical context