Psychology Notes: Introspection, Conditioning, and Humanism
Introspection and Subjectivity vs Objectivity
Introspection = self-reflection; question asked: what does it mean?
Structuralism critique: it was very opinion-based and subjective.
Define subjective vs objective:
Subjective: based on personal feelings or opinions; varies between people.
Objective: independent of personal feelings; unchanging; a fact.
Dialogue example to explain objectivity: “ Chelsea, what does it mean when I say something is objective? And that it doesn't change? If it doesn't change, what is it? It's a fact.”
Human tendency to think about ourselves:
“This is my achievement; what am I doing?”
Unconscious self-focus; we often put ourselves first; described as selfish by the speaker.
Child vs adult behavior:
Children resist sharing; as we grow into adults, we learn to share, though we may still struggle.
Higher state of self-awareness:
Being very aware of oneself; inner satisfaction; awareness of selfish vs selfless tendencies.
Ego and superego (psychology reference) introduced with a playful hint: “eggs in it and butter.”
Personal development example: when you bake, you name the dessert (e.g., tiramisu) and discuss controlling the environment.
Environment control in behavior:
Growing up with plant experiments (seeds, water, sunlight) shows how you control environmental variables.
Controlling factors like air conditioning (AC) or other conditions.
Another term for conditioning:
Training (alternative to conditioning).
Personal anecdote about preferences:
A husband’s interests (Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts), favorite author (William Burroughs) and the concept of punishment linked to behavior.
Reinforcement vs Punishment (key distinction):
Reinforcement: increase the likelihood of a behavior.
Punishment: decrease the likelihood of a behavior.
Simple example: giving a chocolate treat for good behavior (reinforcement) or spraying a dog for undesired behavior (punishment).
References to conversations:
Mentions of “Anthony” and “Manuel” talking about treats.
Conditioning apparatus reference:
A modified version of the altered conditioning chamber or scanner box is widely used in research today (context: operant conditioning/ Skinner box).
History and focus of humanism in psychology:
Emerged in the 1950s; emphasizes the innate potential for good in all humans.
Key figures: Maslow and Carl Rogers.
Core ideas: unconditional positive regard, listening to people, respect, and belief in inherent worth.
Emphasis on self-actualization and inner fulfillment rather than external validation.
Example of inner fulfillment and nirvana:
Nirvana described as finding inner peace; meditation discussed as a route to this state.
Five-minute guided meditation referenced; sensory experiences become perceptions.
Cognitive domain:
Focus on thoughts and their relationship to experiences and learning.
Connection to learning and conditioning (classical and operant).
Classical conditioning (definition and example):
Involves forming associations between stimuli.
Example described: touching a liver to obtain a treat (illustrative, though unusual).
Before conditioning:
$US
ightarrow UR$ (the unconditioned stimulus elicits the unconditioned response).$CS
rightarrow UR$ (the conditioned stimulus does not yet elicit the response).During/after conditioning:
$CS
ightarrow CR$ (the conditioned stimulus now elicits the conditioned response).
Operant conditioning (definition and example):
Behavior is shaped by consequences (reinforcement or punishment).
Penny and Sheldon (from The Big Bang Theory) example: Sheldon gives Penny chocolate when she does something good → operant conditioning.
Patterns of thoughts and behaviors contribute to individual uniqueness.
Psychology’s scope: diagnosis and treatment
Psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological disorders and other problematic behaviors; patterns of behavior.
Health psychology:
Examines how health is affected by the interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Other subfields mentioned:
Industrial-organizational psychology.
Connections and relevance:
Ties to foundational principles in psychology (subjectivity vs objectivity, self-awareness).
Real-world relevance in therapy, education, and workplace settings.
Ethical and philosophical implications:
Emphasis on unconditional respect and listening in therapeutic contexts.
Balancing internal fulfillment with social expectations and rewards.
Key terms and recap:
Introspection, subjectivity, objectivity, ego, superego, conditioning, reinforcement, punishment, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, Skinner box, humanism, Maslow, Rogers, nirvana, inner fulfillment, cognitive domain, health psychology, industrial-organizational psychology.
Quick reference formulas:
Reinforcement increases behavior likelihood: P(B|\text{reinforcement}) > P(B|\text{no reinforcement})
Punishment decreases behavior likelihood: P(B|\text{punishment}) < P(B|\text{no punishment})
Classical conditioning (before):
Classical conditioning (after):
Operant conditioning intuition: