Psychology unit 1

Psychology

The study of behavior and the mind

Behavior

A natural process subject to natural laws, refers to observable actions

Mind

the sensations, memories, motives, emotions, thoughts, and other subjective phenomena particular to an individual or animal that are not readily observed

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

• dualist (body & spirit)

• humans have mind (not like animal machine)

• mind is not observable

• mind controls body, body gives info

• nature > nurture

John Locke

• everything is under natural laws (even humans)

• empiricism: acquisition of knowledge through observation

• tabula rasa: blank slates

• nurture > nature

Thomas Hobbes

• idea of mind/soul is meaningless

• materialism (only matter and energy exists)

• influenced by behavioralism

Charles Darwin

His theory of natural selection provided a way to explain the difference between species and justifying the use of animals as a means to study human behavior

Wilhelm Wundt

• The founder of science of psychology

• applied methods used to study body to the mind

• brought to US

Edward Titchener

• student of Wundt

• Structuralism: focuses on individual parts of the brain

• introspection: an interview process used to for structuralism

William James

• opposed structural approach

• functionalism: the function of the mind and how it solves problems is more important

Dorothea Dix

rights for the mentally ill

Mary Whiton Calkins

first female graduate in psychology

Margaret Floy Washburn

first female PhD in psychology, second female president of the APA

Approach 1: Biological

understand the interactions between the anatomy and behavior

• uses CAT, MRI, and PET scans

Approach 2: Behavioral Genetics

explores how particular behavior is caused by genetics

• takes into account biological and environmental factors

Approach 3: Behavioralist

Study of observable behavior

• classical conditioning: dog and whistle

• no longer prevailing approach, still used in behavior modification

John Watson

applied classic conditioning to a baby to make him scared of white and furry things

B.F.Skinner

Operant conditioning: behavior with outcome

• Skinner Box experiment, described operant conditioning

Approach 4: Cognitive

what affects how people think

• combines structuralist approach and functionalist approach

• the cognitive-behavioral approach has replaced the purely behavioral approach in the US

• computer models of memory networks

Approach 5: Humanistic

studies the roles of consciousness, free will, and awareness

• a holistic approach that developed as a response to dissatisfaction with behaviorism's inattention to mind and function

• emphasizes personal values and goals, and how that influences behavior

• talk therapy

Abraham Maslow

proposed the idea of self-actualization (the need for individuals to reach their full potential creatively)

• accepting yourself and your nature while knowing your limits

Carl Rogers

stressed the role of unconditional positive regard in interactions and the need for positive self-concept as critical factors in attaining self-actualization

Approach 6: Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic

Sigmund Freud developed this theory, the distinction between the conscious and unconscious mind, stresses the importance of early childhood experiences and a child's relationship with parents

• dream analysis, talk therapy to uncover information that has been repressed

Approach 7: Sociocultural

how does environment and culture affect how a person behaves and how others percieve that behavior

• cross cultural studies

Approach 8: Evolutionary

evolutionary approach (how does this affect survival),

• species comparison

Approach 9: Biopsychosocial

emphasizes the need to investigate the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors as contributing to a behavior or a mental process

Domains

broad areas of psychological research

• biological, social, clinical, cognitive, counseling, development, educationals, etc