Lesson 2 3 - roots and Perspective

Psychology Overview

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
- The “father of psychology”
- Founder of modern psychology
- Opened the first psychology lab in 1879

William James (1842-1910)
- First American psychologist
- Author of the first psychology textbook
- Founder of Functionalism
  - Focused on the mind's functions in adapting organisms to their environment
  - Provided objective descriptions of behavior

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
- Founder of the psychoanalytic perspective
- Proposed that abnormal behavior originates from unconscious drives and conflicts

Influence on Pop Culture
- Freudian slips
- Concepts of anal-retentive and anal-expulsive personalities
Influence on Psychology
- Development of psychodynamic theory
- Emphasis on unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
- Russian physiologist
- Studied learning in animals
- Emphasized observable behaviors

Behaviorism
- Most influential school of thought
- Focused on observable and measurable behavior
- Investigated how behaviors are learned and modified

John B. Watson (1878-1958)
- Founder of behaviorism
- Studied only observable acts
- Emphasized objective and scientific methodology

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
- Behaviorist focused on learning through rewards and observation
- Famous quote on shaping individuals through environment

Humanistic Psychology
- Stressed the study of conscious experience and individual free will
- Emphasized striving to reach personal potential

Psychological Perspectives
- Methods of classifying ideas in psychology
- Also known as “schools of thought” or “psychological approaches”
- Provides different views on behavior

Cognitive Perspective
- Focus on thought processes and information processing
- Explains behavior through interpretation of situations

Biological Perspective
- Examines biological structures and substances affecting behavior
- Questions related to brain chemistry, genetics, and predispositions

Social-Cultural Perspective
- Focus on how behavior changes in different settings
- Explores the influence of social contexts on behavior

Behavioral Perspective
- Focus on learning through rewards, punishments, and observation
- Investigates how previous learning shapes behavior

Humanistic Perspective
- Views behavior as determined by individual choices
- Emphasizes personal perceptions of the world

Psychodynamic Perspective
- Focus on unconscious drives and conflicts
- Explains behavior through childhood experiences and motivations

Humanistic Psychology
- Emphasizes individual reflection on life choices
- Highlights the ability to weigh human values and find meaning in life

Field of Psychology
- Broad and diverse, exploring behavior and mental processes
- Multiple perspectives contribute to understanding human behavior
- Critical thinking about perspectives aids in accurate judgments

Critical Thinking
- Encourages exploration of various psychological perspectives on issues like obesity, depression, and aggression

Aggression Perspectives
- Behavioral: Learning and reinforcement of aggressive behavior
- Psychodynamic: Unconscious impulses driving aggression
- Humanistic: Frustration from blocked goals leading to violence
- Biological: Brain mechanisms and abnormalities influencing aggression
- Cognitive: Thoughts and beliefs that trigger aggressive responses
- Sociocultural: Social conditions and societal influences on aggression

Behavior Genetics
- Focus on the interplay of genes and environment
- Combines biological and behavioral approaches

Evolutionary Psychology
- Integrates biological, psychological, and social perspectives
- Explains behavior in terms of survival and reproduction

Positive Psychology
- Focus on studying and promoting optimal human functioning
- Advocated by Martin E.P. Seligman, emphasizing positive