Introduction to Psychology

What is Psychology

  • Etymology: psych = “breath, spirit, soul, mind”; -ology = “scientific study of”

  • Psychology = scientific study of the human mind and behavior

    • Key topics often include: the human brain, consciousness, learning & memory, language, reasoning, personality, mental health, and many more areas

The Scientific Method in Psychology

  • Psychology is a science that uses the scientific method

    • Step 1: Question about how/why something happens

    • Step 2: Propose a hypothesis — a testable explanation/prediction

    • Step 3: Accumulation of evidence leads to theory — a broad collection of supporting evidence and explanations

  • Empirical method: acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation (vs. relying on logic or intuition alone)

History of Psychology

  • Wilhelm Wundt (Structuralism)

    • Founder of psychology and creator of the first psychology research laboratory

    • Emphasized Structuralism

    • Introspection: process by which a person examines their own conscious experience to break it into component parts

  • William James (Functionalism)

    • First American psychologist

    • Focus on function vs. structure; how mental activities contribute to environmental survival

  • Sigmund Freud (Psychoanalytic Theory)

    • Emphasized the unconscious mind & drives and the influence of early childhood experiences

    • Clinical focus on hysteria and neurosis

    • Core idea: problems arise from conflicts in the unconscious mind

    • Dream analysis used as a tool to access the unconscious mind

    • Distinction noted between generative (theory-building) vs. empirical (observable data) approaches

  • Gestalt Psychology

    • “Gestalt” = “whole” or “form”

    • The whole of a sensory experience is more than the sum of its parts

    • Perception is not just a collection of parts but a composite whole

    • Key figures: Kohler, Koffka, Wertheimer (German psychologists who moved to the U.S. to escape Nazi Germany)

  • Ivan Pavlov (Classical Conditioning)

    • Discovered classical conditioning

    • Concepts of stimuli and reflexes

    • Learned associations arise from pairing natural associations with new—learned—stimuli

  • John Watson (Behaviorism)

    • Father of behaviorism

    • Argued that objective analysis of the mind was impossible; focus on observable behavior

    • Influenced approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

    • Notable view (summarized): much of psychology can be investigated through experimental/theoretical analysis of behavior in controlled settings

  • B. F. Skinner (Operant Conditioning)

    • Emphasized how behavior is shaped by its consequences

    • Studied reinforcement and punishment as primary drivers of behavior

  • Abraham Maslow (Humanism)

    • Emphasized human capacity for good

    • Proposed hierarchy of needs guiding motivation

    • Basic needs must be satisfied before higher-level needs influence behavior

  • Carl Rogers (Humanism)

    • Developed client-centered therapy

    • Core requirements for effective therapy: unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy

  • The Cognitive Revolution

    • Emerged in the 1950s with advances in linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science

    • The mind became the central focus of scientific inquiry

    • Noam Chomsky played a pivotal role in arguing for considering mental functioning to understand behavior

  • Multicultural & Cross-Cultural Psychology

    • Psychology historically studied WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) populations

    • Environment and culture significantly shape thought and behavior

    • Notable mention: George I. Sanchez; Henrich et al., 2010 critique of WEIRD bias

Contemporary Psychology

  • Biopsychology (Behavioral Neuroscience)

    • Studies how structure and function of the nervous system generate behavior

    • Research areas include: sensory and motor systems, sleep, drug use and abuse, ingestive and reproductive behavior, neurodevelopment, plasticity, and biological correlates of psychological disorders

  • Sensation & Perception

    • Sensation: sensory information (sights, sounds, touch, smell)

    • Perception: experience of the world, influenced by attention, prior experience, and culture

    • Example: an image that can be seen as a duck or a rabbit illustrates how same sensory input can yield different perceptual interpretations

  • Personality Psychology

    • Focus on behaviors and thought patterns that are characteristic of each individual

    • Emphasizes the Five Factor Model (Big Five) with multiple personality dimensions

    • Resource: Big Five assessment link mentioned for further exploration

  • Social Psychology

    • Focuses on how people relate and interact with others and how these interactions influence behavior

    • Key topics: prejudice, attraction, interpersonal conflicts, obedience

    • Milgram’s obedience study highlighted in discussions of conformity and authority

  • Health Psychology

    • Explores how health is influenced by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors

    • Biopsychosocial model: health/illness results from the interaction of these three factors

  • Clinical Psychology

    • Focus on diagnosing and treating psychological disorders and problematic patterns of behavior

    • Clinical therapy and counseling are central activities

    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one among several therapeutic strategies used by clinical psychologists

  • Applied Fields

    • Industrial & Organizational (I/O) Psychology

    • Applies psychological theories, principles, and research to workplace settings

    • Addresses personnel management, organizational structure, and workplace environment

    • Sports & Exercise Psychology

    • Examines motivation, performance-related anxiety, and mental well-being in sports and physical activity

    • Forensic Psychology

    • Applies psychology to the justice system

    • Roles: assess mental competency to stand trial, provide sentencing/treatment recommendations, and offer expert input on eyewitness testimony

Review/Practice Questions (iClicker Quiz #1)

  • Question #1 (Options): A. Positive Psychology, B. Psychoanalysis, C. Operant Conditioning, D. Classical Conditioning, E. Cognitive Psychology

    • Answer: C. Operant Conditioning (as pioneered by B. F. Skinner)

  • Question #2 (Options): A. Physiological, B. Self-Actualization, C. Esteem, D. Security, E. Social

    • Answer: B. Self-Actualization (top level of Maslow’s hierarchy)