lecture 1 : history and current perspectives

who made some of the early philosophical arguements for the roots of human psychology?

Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes

Plato

Advocated for nativism (knowledge is innate)

Believe people are born with certain knowledge and abilities

modern connection: genetics and inherited traits

Aristotle

advocated for empiricism —> all human knowledge comes from sensory experiences

all knowledge comes from experience and nurture

learning occurs from interactions with the environment

Descartes

proposed dualism (cartesian dualism)

mind and body are separate

body operates mechanically, while the mind controls thoughts and decisions

What is the opposing view to dualism (descartes)

Materialism: mind and body are not separate

Wilhem Wudnt

father of psychology

philospher —> psychgologist

established first psychology research lab

helped make psychology a scientific discipline

Structuralism

Develeoped by EDWARD TITCHENER (Wudnts student)

adult mind could be reduced to three core states

1. sensations (sights, sounds)

2. images (components of thoughts)

3. affections (components of emotions)

Used a scientific approach to study the components of consciusness

William James

influenced by charles darwin

focused on understanding the purpose (function) of mental processes

intersted in how thoughts and behaviors help people adapt to their environment

Functionalism

studies the function of mental processes and behavior

examines how psychological processes promote survival and adaption

foundation of evolutionary psychology

Sigmund Freud

developed psychoanalytic theory

created one of the first forms of psychotherapy (physoanalysis)

Psychoanalytic Theory (sigmund freud)

focuses on early childhood experiences and emphasizes relationships with parents, siblings, and others

believed much of your personality is driven by the unconscious mind

Studied: dreams, defense mechanisms (denial, regression, projection) and unconscious motivations

what are the three defense mechanisms?

denial, regression, projection

behaviorism

scientifc study of observable behaviors

focuses only on behaviors that can be observed or measured

who were the three essential contributors to behaviorism?

1. Ivan Pavlov : developed classical conditioning

2. John Watson : applied classical conditioning to humans

• created conditioned fear (phobia) in children

3. B.F. skinner

• developed operant conditioning: behavior is shaped by rewards and punishments

humanistic psychology

focuses on helping people thrive and reach their potential

emphasizes personal growth and self-improvement

developed as a reaction against behaviorism and psychoanalysis

uses evidence-based therapy to help people overcome challenges

• ex) active listening, unconditional positive regard

Who was a key proponent to humanistic psychology?

Abraham Maslow

• believed in hierachy of needs

• self-actualization (becomings ones best self)

Neurotransimission (biological revolution)

serotonin, dopamine, etc

ties into neuropsychopharmacology: how drugs can impact the brain both through elicit and prescribed medications

human genome and biological revolution

helped us better understand how the human genome gives to different neurological structures

• human genome was completed 25 years ago

• we only have 20,000 genes that code for proteins

• orginally believed the human genome was more than that

epigenetics

how our environment can change our genes