Overview of Psychology

What is Psychology?

• Definition: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

History of Psychology

• Roots in Philosophy and Physiology:

  • Philosophy: Explored questions of mind and body.

  • Physiology: Provided insights into biological functions affecting behavior.

Key Historical Figures and Concepts

Ancient Perspectives

• Aristotle (335 BC): Denied innate ideas; suggested the heart is the seat of mental processes.

• Plato (387 BC): Supported innate ideas; proposed that the mind is the seat of mental processes.

17th Century Developments

• Descartes (1637 AD): Introduced the doctrine of innate ideas and the famous quote "I think, therefore I am".

• Locke (1690 AD): Presented the idea of the mind as a blank slate (tabula rasa), emphasizing experience's role in development.

19th Century Advances

• Gall (1808): Proposed phrenology, claiming that the shape of the skull reveals mental faculties.

• Phineas Gage (1848): Case study showing personality changes resulted from brain injury (iron rod accident).

• Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920): Established the first psychology lab, promoting structuralism, emphasizing careful measurements and experiments.

• William James (1842-1910): Father of American psychology, introduced functionalism, viewing psychological processes as adaptive.

Major Psychological Schools of Thought

Behaviorism (Early 20th Century)

• John B. Watson: Emphasized observable behavior as a subject of study.

• B.F. Skinner: Studied the role of reinforcement in shaping behavior; dismissed introspection.

Cognitive Psychology (1960s)

• Shifted focus back to internal mental processes, merging with neuroscience. Greater emphasis on understanding how processes like memory and perception work.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

• Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939): Founded psychoanalysis, focusing on unconscious processes and their impact on behavior.

Humanistic Psychology

• Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers (1960s): Studied flourishing individuals and developed theories aimed at personal acceptance and potential realization.

Levels of Analysis - Biopsychosocial Model

• Biological Level:

  • Factors: Genes, brain, neurotransmitters, survival instincts.

• Psychological Level:

  • Factors: Thoughts, emotions, behaviors, motivations, and traits.

• Social-Cultural Level:

  • Factors: Family influences, cultural norms, social groups.

Influences on Behavior and Mental Processes

• Biological Influences:

  • Natural selection, genetic predispositions, brain mechanisms, hormonal influences.

• Psychological Influences:

  • Learned fears, emotional responses, cognitive processing.

• Social-Cultural Influences:

  • Presence of others, cultural expectations, peer influences.

Perspectives in Psychology

• Cognitive: Focus on mental processes like memory and thinking.

• Social-Cultural: Examining how societal factors influence behavior.

• Behavioral Genetics: Investigating the interplay between genetics and behavior.

• Neuroscience: Understanding the biological underpinnings of behavior.

• Psychodynamic: Exploring unconscious processes.

• Behaviorist: Analyzing observable behavior and its reinforcements.

• Evolutionary: Assessing behaviors through evolutionary lenses.

Major Subfields of Psychology

Applied Psychology

• Clinical Psychology: Treatment of mental disorders.

• Counseling Psychology: Assisting individuals with personal and interpersonal issues.

• Educational Psychology: Focused on understanding how people learn.

• Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Enhancing workplace productivity.

• Community Psychology: Addressing social issues affecting community well-being.

Basic Research Areas

• Biological Psychology: Exploring the brain and behavior connections.

• Developmental Psychology: Studying how people change over time.

• Cognitive Psychology: Investigating thought processes.

• Personality Psychology: Examining individual differences.

• Social Psychology: Understanding how individuals influence and are influenced by others.

• Positive Psychology: Focusing on what makes life worth living.

Research Methods in Psychology

• Types of Research Questions:

  • Cognitive development stages.

  • Language processing locations in the brain.

  • Memory storage types.

  • Stability of personality traits in contexts.

  • Influences of social presence on performance.

Application of Psychological Principles: Improving Test Performance

• Retrieval Practice Effect: Testing oneself enhances retention.

• Active Processing: Putting material into one’s own words improves understanding.

• Spaced Rehearsal: Distributing study sessions over time aids retention compared to cramming.

• Familiarity with Concepts: Merely recognizing concepts does not equate to mastery, caution against overestimating understanding.

The birth of psychology is often attributed to Wilhelm Wundt because he pioneered the investigation of mental processes using scientific methods. Wundt established the first psychology laboratory and emphasized careful measurements and experiments, laying the foundation for psychology as a scientific discipline.