Developed the concept of the Hierarchy of Human Needs.
The hierarchy is crucial in understanding what motivates human behavior.
Basic Needs (required for survival):
Includes necessities like food, water, and shelter.
Once basic needs are satisfied, Higher-Level Needs begin to motivate behavior:
These include social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs.
CARL ROGERS (Humanism)
Known for the Client-Centered Therapy method.
This therapeutic approach has gained prominence in clinical settings.
Introduces the idea that the patient should lead the therapy sessions.
Rogers posited that therapists need to provide:
Unconditional Positive Regard: Accepting and supporting a person regardless of what they say or do.
Genuineness: Being authentic and transparent with clients.
Empathy: Understanding the client's feelings and perspectives deeply.
CLARK MOUSTAKAS (Humanism)
Renowned as one of the leading experts in humanistic psychology.
Founded the Association for Humanistic Psychology.
Contributed to the establishment of the American Psychological Association's Division of Humanistic Psychology.
Co-founded the Center of Humanistic Studies (CHS).
BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
Biopsychology
Evolutionary Psychology
Sensation and Perception
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Personality Psychology
Social Psychology
Health Psychology
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Sports and Exercise Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Forensic Psychology
BIOPSYCHOLOGY
Explores how the structure and function of the nervous system generate behavior.
It is a component of the broader field known as neuroscience.
Research Areas in Biopsychology:
Investigates various aspects including:
Sensory and motor systems
Sleep patterns
Drug use and abuse
Ingestive behavior (eating and drinking behaviors)
Reproductive behavior
Neurodevelopment
Plasticity of the nervous system (how it adapts to experiences)
Biological correlates of psychological disorders (links between biological factors and mental illness).
SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
Examines both the physiological and psychological experiences of sensory information.
Sensation
Refers to the raw sensory data received (e.g., sights, sounds, touch, smell).
Perception
Involves how we interpret and experience the sensory information.
Influenced by:
Attention focus
Previous experiences
Cultural backgrounds
Example: Sensory information may remain constant, yet perception can vary significantly among individuals.
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Investigates the physical and mental changes associated with aging and maturation.
Encompasses growth in various skills:
Moral Reasoning
Cognitive Skills
Social Skills
Jean Piaget:
Renowned for his theories on cognitive development across different stages of life.
Piaget's Theory on Cognitive Development:
Sensorimotor Stage
Pre-operational Stage
Concrete Operational Stage
Formal Operational Stage
PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY
Examines individual behaviors and thought patterns that are distinctive to each person.
Studies include:
Conscious and unconscious thought processes
Identification of personality traits.
Five Factor Model: A major framework for understanding personality traits.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Studies how individuals interact with one another and the impact of these interactions on behavior.
Focus areas include:
Prejudice
Attraction
Interpersonal conflicts
Obedience
MILGRAM'S EXPERIMENT
Aimed to comprehend obedience in relation to authority figures, particularly in the context of Nazi compliance.
Key Goals:
Understanding how far individuals will go in obeying authority when it contradicts personal conscience.
Methodology:
Participants: 40 male participants aged 20-50 years, recruited via newspaper ads and mail under the guise of a memory study.
Roles were assigned randomly (the drawing was rigged so all were teachers).
Procedure:
Teachers read word pairs to the 'learner', administering increasing voltage shocks for incorrect answers (shocks were not real).
Findings From Milgram's Experiment:
Learner Response:
After receiving shocks, the learner would show signs of distress, including complaints of heart conditions, eventually leading to silence (indicating unresponsiveness).
Enticements to Continue:
If teachers hesitated, experimenters prodded them with phrases:
"Please continue."
"The experiment requires you to continue."
"It is absolutely essential that you continue."
"You have no other choice but to continue."
Results:
65% of participants administered the maximum voltage of 450 volts.
100% of participants shocked at least until 300 volts.
Notably, 14 participants stopped before reaching the highest voltage:
5 stopped at 300 volts.
4 at 315 volts,
2 at 330 volts,
1 each at 345, 360, and 375 volts.
Behavioral Observations:
14 out of 40 participants exhibited nervous laughter or smiling, indicating psychological conflict.
One participant suffered a physical seizure due to stress.
Other observed behaviors entailed sweating, trembling, stuttering, biting lips, and digging fingernails into flesh—reflecting the internal struggle between obedience and personal conscience.
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Investigates how various factors—biological, psychological, and sociocultural—affect individuals' health.
Biopsychosocial Model:
This model proposes that health and illness arise from interactions among biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and problematic patterns of behavior.
Involves:
Psychotherapy
Psychological assessment
Some research activities.
OTHER AREAS OF PSYCHOLOGY
Industrial-Organizational Psychology:
Applies psychological theories and research to workplace settings.
Sports & Exercise Psychology:
Focuses on the psychological aspects affecting sports performance, including motivation, anxiety, and mental well-being.
Forensic Psychology:
Engages with the justice system, covering tasks like mental competency assessments, treatment suggestions for offenders, and advising on eyewitness testimonies.
Professionals in this field require a solid understanding of legal systems.
CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Most careers in psychology necessitate at least a Master's or Doctorate degree.