Edward Bradford Edward Bradford Titchener:Titchener:

Psychology has a short history but a long Psychology has a short history but a long past. The subject matter extends back to past. The subject matter extends back to ancient history.ancient history.

Psychology – a “soft” science. It deals Psychology – a “soft” science. It deals with the warm, “soft” world of human with the warm, “soft” world of human beings: thoughts, emotions, attitudes, etc.beings: thoughts, emotions, attitudes, etc.

Because human beings operate with a will Because human beings operate with a will of their own within a complex network of of their own within a complex network of situations and relationships, scientists situations and relationships, scientists cannot answer with certainty as they do cannot answer with certainty as they do with inanimate objects.with inanimate objects.

Dialectical Tradition -Dialectical Tradition -

There can be no meaning and thus There can be no meaning and thus no knowledge without opposition. no knowledge without opposition. There are at least two sides to every There are at least two sides to every issue. (Right and wrong, good and issue. (Right and wrong, good and bad, joy and sorrow..)bad, joy and sorrow..)

SocratesSocrates – we may begin in error – we may begin in error but will eventually arrive at truth if but will eventually arrive at truth if we continue our dialectical we continue our dialectical conversation.conversation.

SocratesSocrates – truth meant uncovering – truth meant uncovering what is already there. Hence, the what is already there. Hence, the discipline of psychology is considered discipline of psychology is considered to be dialectical.to be dialectical.

““The first step toward wisdom is The first step toward wisdom is knowing what it is that you don’t know.”knowing what it is that you don’t know.”

Therefore, thinking skills require an Therefore, thinking skills require an awareness of what one awareness of what one doesdoes believe believe and a knowledge of alternatives and a knowledge of alternatives regarding what one regarding what one couldcould believe!!!!!!!!!believe!!!!!!!!!

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGYHISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY Psychology:Psyche- soul/mind Psychology:Psyche- soul/mind Logos – study ofLogos – study of

AristotleAristotle – wanted to know – wanted to know everything about life/dissected everything about life/dissected plants and animals.plants and animals.

Knowledge comes from Knowledge comes from experience.experience.

(his method of observation is (his method of observation is the basis for contemporary the basis for contemporary science).science).

PlatoPlato – Rationalism: reasoning – Rationalism: reasoning gives access to inborn gives access to inborn knowledge.knowledge.

Early Thinkers: The Cause of Mental Early Thinkers: The Cause of Mental Illness-Illness-

1.1.PlatoPlato – when the irrational psyche – when the irrational psyche overwhelms the rational psyche.overwhelms the rational psyche.

(when you have “lost it!”)!!!(when you have “lost it!”)!!!

2.2.HippocratesHippocrates – natural/biological causes. – natural/biological causes.

33.Galen–.Galen– four (4) bodily “humors.” four (4) bodily “humors.”

4.4.SocratesSocrates – emotional causes. – emotional causes.

5.5.StSt. . AugustineAugustine – mind/body – mind/body

connection.connection.

More Recent Contributions:

1. Rene Descartes – French mathematician/ Dualism; Interactive Dualism.

2. Thomas Hobbes/John Locke – Monism

3. Nativists – we are born with certain inherent truths in us; pre-disposition.

4. Empiricists – “tabula rasa” or blank slate- knowledge comes from experience.

Hermann Von Helmholtz – Hermann Von Helmholtz – studied receptors studied receptors in the eye and ear / physiology.in the eye and ear / physiology.

Gustav Fechner-Gustav Fechner- founded Psychophysics (our founded Psychophysics (our response to physical stimuli: music, art. etc.)response to physical stimuli: music, art. etc.)

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin – “Natural Selection”/survival – “Natural Selection”/survival of the fittest.of the fittest.

British naturalist/ social scientistBritish naturalist/ social scientist

““The Origin of the Species” – 1859The Origin of the Species” – 1859 QuesQues:: Why did some plants that belonged to the Why did some plants that belonged to the

same species survived and others did not?same species survived and others did not? Darwin’s belief contradicted the beliefs of the Darwin’s belief contradicted the beliefs of the

Catholic Church:Catholic Church: Three (3) HumiliationsThree (3) Humiliations - - 1) the earth is not the center of the universe.1) the earth is not the center of the universe. 2) we are subjected to passion and 2) we are subjected to passion and

subconscious desires.subconscious desires. 3) we are creatures of nature like other animals 3) we are creatures of nature like other animals

but from a simple to more complex life form.but from a simple to more complex life form.

In MedicineIn Medicine::

Paul BrocaPaul Broca – damage to a specific area – damage to a specific area on the left hemisphere of the brain lost on the left hemisphere of the brain lost the ability to speak fluently.the ability to speak fluently.

Carl WernickeCarl Wernicke – damage to another – damage to another specific area on the left hemisphere of specific area on the left hemisphere of the brain lost the ability to understand the brain lost the ability to understand speech.speech.

Pseudoscientific Schools of Pseudoscientific Schools of ThoughtThought::

Phrenology – coined by Johanne Phrenology – coined by Johanne Spurzheim and further developed by Spurzheim and further developed by Franz Joseph Gall. Franz Joseph Gall.

(Measured the bumps and indentations (Measured the bumps and indentations on the skull).on the skull).

Mesmerism – Franz Anton Mesmer/ Mesmerism – Franz Anton Mesmer/ waved a magnetic wand and people were waved a magnetic wand and people were better. better. The forerunner of Hypnosis.The forerunner of Hypnosis.