Psychology Chapter 1

History & Definitions

Psychology- The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Behavior- anything a person does

Socrates & Plato- The mind Is separate from the body, and continues after the body dies, knowledge is innate (born with)

Aristotle- (Plato’s student) Knowledge is NOT pre-existing, it grows with experience and is stored in our memory

Rene Descartes- born with knowledge and the mind IS separate from the body and is able to SURVIVE ITS DEATH (DISCOVERED REFLEXES)

Francis Bacon- Founder of modern science

John Locke- Tabula Rasa: the mind is a blank sheet at birth

Empiricism- Knowledge originates from experience, science should rely on observation and experimentation

Wilhelm Wundt- the Father of psychology, founded the first experimental psychology lab in 1879 emphasizing introspection through controlled and disciplined observation of one's mind. Combined philosophical introspection with techniques and lab apparatuses. Trained observers make observations under carefully specified conditions.

G. Stanley Hall- First Ph.D., first psychology research lab, founded the American Psychological Association (APA)

Gestalt Psychology- First Ph.D., first psychology research lab, founded the American Psychological Association (APA)

Structuralism- Function and purpose of the mind as a whole, ==studies how the mind and consciousness work. created by William James==, observed darwin's studies, and believed that consciousness

Like a bird's wings or a cheetah's legs, ==it developed through evolution in humans== as a form of survival.

Object Sensations- sight, taste, seen as accurately representing the outside world.

Subjective Sensations- Thoughts, emotional responses, and mental images

Perspectives

Psychodynamic- ==Early childhood experiences== and ==interpersonal relationships== to explain human behavior as well as to treat mental illnesses, ==Unconcious== drives, and unresolved issues. (==Dreams, memories, the past==) Created by ==Sigmund Freud==

Cognitive- Behavior is influenced by ==how we process, store and retrieve information==. Mental processes (problem-solving, language and decision making). How ==people interpret a situation which affects how we respond.==

Behavioral- ==Observational learning== (John Watson), ==Operant Conditioning==- reward & punishments (B.F Skinner), ==Classical Conditioning==- forms associations (Ivan Pavlov). Focuses on OBSERVABLE BEHAVIORS rather than on emphasizing internal states.

Humanistic- Motivated to behave to satisfy needs, focused on self-improvement, ==reaching one’s full potential. (environment can help or hurt)==

Biological- We behave because of the physical structures and substances underlying a ==particular behavior, thought or emotion== (how the brain and nervous system impact aggressive behavior)

Socio-cultural- Focus on how your culture affects your behavior, behavior & thinking vary across situations and cultures

Basic Research- type of investigation focused on improving the understanding of a particular phenomenon, study or law of nature.

Applied Research- the goal of creating a better solution for a known problem

Experimental Research- trying to prove a hypothesis by experimenting

Introspection- the observation of ones own emotional and mental processes

People & What they did

BF Skinner, concept of reinforcement, (dogs salivating at sound of bell)

William James, functionalism, function/purpose of the mind as a whole,how the mind and consciousness work.

John B Watson, Analyzed emotions, memories, streams of consciousness.

Our conscious mind helps us adapt to the environment around us.

Sigmund Freud, founded psychoanaylsis

Wilhelm Wundt, founded structuralism, father of psychology, opened the first experimental psychology lab in 1879

Francis Bacon, theories centered on experiment, experience and common sense judgment, founder of modern science

John Locke, helped form the idea of empiricism

Psychology Careers

Counseling Psychologist- help people with challenges, vocational, marriage

Clinical Psychologist- treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders

Psychiatrist Psychologist- medical doctors who can prescribe medicine

Enviromental Psychologist- studies the effects of enviroment on behavior,

Consumer Psychologist- study the behavior of shoppers to explain and predict behavior

School Psychologist- help students with problems learning

Forensic Psychologist- advises in the field of law and acts as an expert witness to testify at trials

Health Psychologist- study the link between psychology and our physical health

Educational Psychologist- studies and helps students in schools

Industrial Psychologist- study and advises on behavior in the workplace

Social Psychologist- explores how people influence one another

Personality Psychologist- investigate our persistent traits

Developmental Psychologist- changes in people as we age, from womb to tomb