Unit 1 - History and Approaches of Psychology

what traits are needed to have a scientific attitude?

1. curiosity 2. skepticism 3. humility

what is critical thinking?

it means that you examine assumptions, fact check, check for biases, use evidence, and asses conclusions instead of blindly beleiving what you are told

what did Plato and Socrates contribute to early psychology

They believed that the mind was separate from the body and that knowledge was something innate in humans

What did aristotle believe about psychology?

he wanted to use observation and data. he believed that knwoledge was NOT pre-existing

What did René-Descartes believe?

he agreed with Socrates and Plato, but was also a believer in science.

-his main idea was that the fluid in humans' brains was animal spirits that flow through openings (nerves)

Francis Bacon beliefs of psychology?

the brain has greater order/knowledge than it can understand

what did John Locke think of psychology?

he thought that the mind was a blank slate that would be affected/written on by experience

what is empiricism

the idea that any knowledge comes from xp, observation and experimentation, which leads to scientific knowledge

-Locke and Bacon were key contributors to this idea

when was the first psych exp. conducted? By who?

1879 by Wilhelm Wundt

what did Wundt study?

he was studying the "atoms of the mind", essentially the bare bones, using a button and ball to compare the time it took to react to the sound and to compare with a person being aware that a ball had dropped

Who was G. Stanley Hall?

worked with Wundt and created the first psych lab in 1885

What is structuralism

-an early school of thought that used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

Who founded Strucluralism?

Edward Bradfor Titchner; a student of Wundt

Why did Structuralism fade out?

-it was based on introspection which was very subjective

-many times what was recounted by experimentees was wrong due to recalling issues

-method also required smart/able to speak subjects

What is Functionalism

the study of how mental and behavioral processes function

-ess. Why do things do what they do and enable adaptations

Major proponents of Functionalism?

William James and Charles Darwin:

-would ask why the nose would smell or why the brain thinks

Notable women in early psychology?

Mary Whiton Calkins

-Margaret Flog Washburn

Mary Whiton Calkins

first woman to complete the requirements of a Harvard PHD, but ultimately did not recieve the degree

-was the president of the APA.

Margaret Flog Washburn

first female recipient of PhD

-also the president of the ADA

Behaviorism

The view/idea that psych should be 1) an objective science and 2) study behavior w/o considering mental processes

-Study of OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOR

-today we agree with one, not necessarily two

Who were important scientists under behaviorism

watson + Skinner

-they rejected introspection for the study of observable BEHAVIOR

Fruedian/Psychoanalytic

the study of the unconcioous mind and childhood affect behavior

-Sigmund Freud is important scientist for this

Humanistic Psychology

a perspective that rejected behaviorism and instead focused on the potential for human growth

-important scientists include Rogers + Malsow

Cognitive Psychology

study of mental processes (perception, learning, memory, thinking, communication, problem-solving)

Cognitive nueroscience

studying how brain activity is linked with cognition

psychology

study of behavior AND mental processes

-behavior = observable and recordable

-mental processes = inferred from the behavior

nurture-nature issue

controversy of the relative contributions of genes vs xp in developing psych traits. (does biology or lived experience have more impact)

-scientists today think its a mix of both

natural selection

Animals that have specific traits that are best adapted for their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Thus, that trait is more likely to be passed on to future generations.

evolutionary psychology

study of evol. of behavior and mind through the lens of natural selection

behavior genetics

the study of how people differ because of their genes/environment

how does biology unite humans?

although some people may think differently as a result of culture or a genetic case, many of the biological reasons are the SAME even ACROSS cultures

-ie dyslexia in all people is cause by the same thing

postive psychology

the study and enhancement of positive feelings, traits, and abilities

-helps indv and communities survive and THRIVE

biopsychosocial approach to psychology?

considers bio, psych, a social cultural view points

-looks at how these three point together affect behavior

Behavioral perspective

how we learb observable responces

biological perspective

how body and brain enable emotion, mem. and xp; genes + enir. impact on indv

Cognitive Perspective

how the brain encode, processes, stroes, and retrieves info

Evolutionary perspective

how nat. selec promotes the survival of genes

psychodynamic

how behavior stems from unconsious rives and conflcts

social-cultural perspective

how behavior and thought varies across sit. and cultures

humanistic approad

how do you achieve personal growth and self-fulmilments

What do psychometric psychologists do?

study the measurement of abilities, attitudes, and traits

what does a developmental psychologist do?

study changing abilities from womb to tomb

What does an educational psychologist do?

study the influences on teaching + learning

What does a personality psychologist do?

Study characteristics people display over time & during certain circumstances

social psychologist

exploring how we view and affect one another

-focused on interpersonal relations

industrial/organizational psychologist

using psych to optimize humans in the workplace

human factor psychologist

study interactions b/2 ppl, machines, and the envir.

counseling psychologist

help people cope w/ challenges and crises, help clients achieve inc well-being

clinical psychologist

treat mental, emotional, and behavior disorders

psychiatrist

medical doctors that can actually prescribe medications

community psychologist

create social + physical enironments that are healthy for everyone involved

experimental psychologists

the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

-study basic behavioral processes

Psychometric and Quantitative Psychologists

study the math-related methods used to acquire psychological knowledge

forensic psychologist

apply psych to legal issues to help create policies or work in the actual courtroom itself

Environmental Psych

study the effects of the environment on people (ie urban vs rural)

Health Psychologists

researchers and practitioners concerned with psychology's contribution to promoting health and preventing disease

-helpe people lead healthier lives

Neuropsychologist

Investigate the relationship between neurological processes and behavior

Rehab Psych

work with ppl who lost optimal function after and accident

School Psychologist

assessment of and intervention for children in educational settings

-diagnose and treat cognitive, social, and emotional problems that could affect a kids learning

Sport Psychologist

study the psychological factors that influence, and are influenced by, participation in sports and other physical activities