Introduction to Psychology (August 27th)

Psychology

Study of mind and behavior

Scientific Theory

Broad explanation based on observation

Wilhelm Wundt

Created first psychology experiment at University of Leipzig, studied ‘atoms of the mind’

Founded structuralism and used introspection to study the conscious

Edward Titchner

American that studied natural selection and functionalism

Introspection

Process by which someone examines the conscious

Functionalism

View behavior and mental activities as products of evolutionary pressures of adaptations

Empiricism

The collecting of evidence through observation and experimentation

Psychoanalysis was created by ….

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud

Developed Freudian Psychology; theory that the unconscious could be accessed through dream analysis

Humanistic Psychology, studied by ……, was a response to Behaviorism and Freudism Psychology, and focused on the human potential of good

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Humanism

Perspective that emphasizes potential for good

Levels of Analysis

Neuroscience (behavior/mental process)

Evolutionary (natural selection)

Behavior Genetics (Genes)

Psychodynamic (Observable responses)

Cognitive (Process info)

Social/cultural (depression in different social circumstances)

Clinical Psychologists

Assess and treat patients through medications

Counseling Psychologists

Help teach coping skills to patients

Psychiatry

Prescribes medications

Pseudoscience

System of theories erroneously regarded as science

Unfalsifiable

Exaggerated

Unfalsifiable

No way to prove wrong or no way to test

Structuralism

Focused on contents of mental process (structures) rather than functions

Cognitive Psychology

Thought that empirically examines mental process such as perception, memory, language, and judgement