Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology

  • Lead-in question on psychological inquiry

    • Key Questions:

    • How can we optimize the health of people?

    • How do genes and environments shape our behavior?

    • How do organisms acquire and retain information?

    • What brain mechanisms influence behavior?

    • What similarities and differences exist in the behaviors of different species?

    • How do processes like language, memory, and attention shape our understanding of the world?

    • How does behavior change from birth to old age?

    • How can we diagnose, prevent, and treat abnormal behaviors?

    • What drives our interactions, feelings of liking, loving, and hating others?

  • Introduction to PSYCH10, presented by BRUINS

What is Psychology?

  • Various definitions collected from a pre-course survey:

    • “The study of the mind”

    • “Why people do what they do”

    • “How the brain functions”

    • “Study of behavior”

    • Noted survey participation available in Week 1 module on BruinLearn.

  • Traditional breakdown of the term psychology:

    • Psyche: soul, spirit, mind

    • Logos: the study of

  • Definition:

    • Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Big Questions in Psychology

  • How do we think?

  • How do the senses (seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling) work?

  • How do we learn?

  • How does memory operate, categorized in terms of:

    • Short-term

    • Long-term

    • Childhood memory

  • How do we acquire language?

  • How does thinking evolve over time?

  • What is the influence of others on our behavior?

  • How do we diagnose and treat mental health issues?

Learning Objectives for the Course

  1. Understand types of questions psychologists ask and methods to answer

  2. Learn to critically evaluate psychological research claims and assess practical applicability in life

Historical Roots of Psychology

  • Established as a relatively new science:

    • Wilhelm Wundt opened the first experimental psychology lab in 1879.

    • However, the exploration of the mind and behavior can be traced back to ancient civilizations.

Psychology in Ancient Civilizations

  • Ancient Egyptian doctors associated brain injuries with behavioral changes.

  • Ancient Greek philosophers (e.g., Plato and Aristotle):

    • Engaged in philosophical debates on the nature vs. nurture debate.

  • Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician, formulated the first personality classifications based on bodily fluids:

    • Four Humors:

    • Yellow bile (Fire)

    • Black bile (Earth)

    • Blood (Air)

    • Phlegm (Water)

19th Century Influences

  • The influence of Evolution (1800s):

    • Evolution through natural selection implies behaviors are shaped by survival practices, linked to the works of Charles Darwin (e.g., “survival of the fittest”).

  • Medicine (1800s):

    • Phrenology studied brain functions localized within the skull to connect cognitive functions to specific brain regions.

    • Case study of Phineas Gage demonstrates significant personality changes due to traumatic brain injury, impacting views of brain functions.

Contemporary Psychology

  • The first experimental psychology lab opened in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt marks the foundation of psychology as a scientific discipline.

Schools of Thought in Psychology

Structuralism

  • Structuralism seeks to analyze conscious experiences by parsing them into their foundational elements, assessing the structure of the mind.

    • Key figures: Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener.

    • Utilizes Introspection:

    • The method for subjective observation of personal experiences.

    • Weaknesses:

    • Subjective experience can vary widely among individuals, making it difficult to access subconscious elements of cognition.

    • Example of varying visual experiences: Color blindness vs. normal vision.

Functionalism

  • Functionalism focuses on the purpose and functions of behaviors and mental processes, influenced by Darwin's evolutionary theory.

    • Examines questions about the functions of the mind rather than its structure, emphasizing practicality.

Behaviorism

  • Behaviorism confines its study to observable behaviors—allowing for more scientific rigor.

    • Central concept: Behavior is shaped by environmental stimuli rather than internal motivations.

Cognitive Psychology

  • Prominent figures include Elizabeth Loftus and Brenda Milner, who significantly advanced our understanding of cognitive processes such as memory and perception.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

  • Psychoanalysis explains behavior and personality through unconscious processes, predominantly advanced by Sigmund Freud.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

  • This school compares behaviors across countries, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual and group behaviors in varied cultural contexts.

    • Notably focuses on Western perspectives:

    • Descriptive factors encapsulated as Western Educated Industrialized Rich Democratic (WEIRD) societies, representing about 12% of the global population.

Psychology Today

  • Encompasses various branches of research:

    • Basic Research: In-depth inquiries aimed at increasing foundational knowledge.

    • Applied Research: Focused on solving practical problems through psychological principles.

    • Translational Research: Bridges fundamental findings to practical application in real-world settings.

  • Key subfields of contemporary psychology include:

    • Biological/Psychological/Neuroscience: Investigating brain activity and the role of neurochemicals.

    • Cognitive Psychology: Exploring processes related to thinking, memory, and attention spans over individual lifetimes.

    • Developmental Psychology: Examining changes over the lifespan from infancy to old age.

    • Social Psychology: Study of interpersonal influences and societal interactions.

    • Clinical Psychology: Addressing mental illnesses and therapeutic strategies.

    • Educational Psychology: Developing teaching methodologies and diagnosing learning disorders.

    • Forensic Psychology: Application of psychological principles in legal contexts.

    • Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Assessing behavior in workplace settings.

  • Distinctions between fields are often blurred, and interdisciplinary collaboration fosters emerging sub-areas like Social Cognitive Neuroscience.