intro to psychology history of psychology, types of psychologists
TRANSCRIPT
Intro to Psychology
History of Psychology, Types of Psychologists
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processesMental processes: what the brain does when we
think, remember, feel, etc.Behavior: outwardly observable acts of an individual,
alone, or in a group.Goals
DescribeExplainpredictcontrol mental processes and behavior.
The experimental study of behavior and the practical applications that arise from them
A very broad and interdisciplinary field
Brief History of Psychology
Earliest roots: philosophyE.g., Descartes
What is the mind? Is it different from the body?Cartesian dualismstudied reflexes
Focus on existence of mind
Toward a Scientific Psychology: Biology
Pierre Flourens - Experimental AblationCase of Phineas GageHermann von Helmholtz – Studied neuronal
transmission.Ernst Weber and psychophysics
Scientific Study of Psychology: Structuralism (ca 1870’s -1900)
Wilhelm Wundt – the father of psychologySet up the first psychology lab in 1879.Created the approach of structuralismWanted to know what the structure of the mind wasUsed introspection
Edward Titchener – student of Wundt, introduced experimental psychology to the USA.
Functionalism (ca 1880’s – current)
Arose in protest to the private mental events studied by structuralists
Focused on the process of conscious activityHad its roots with evolution. How is a
particular behavior adaptive?William James: Not what mind does, but why
it does itBecame incorporated into all of psychology
Gestalt Psychology
School of thought that emphasized the total experience of the individual and not just parts of the mind or behavior
The whole is greater than the sum of its partsWanted to stay away from reductionismLacked scientific rigor and was displacedMajor influence in sensation and perception
Psychoanalysis
Sigmund FreudFocused on the causes and treatment of
emotional disturbances, and particularly the unconscious.
Assumed that psychological maladjustment is a consequence of unresolved conflict
Important in the history of psychotherapy
Behaviorism (ca 1915 – current)
Rejected mental events.Psychology should only study observable and
verifiable events.John Watson – Father of behaviorism.Simplicity; belief in reductionism.
Stimulus – responseUsed animals (pigeons and rats)
B. F. SkinnerDominated psychology for over 50 years.
The Cognitive Revolution (mid 1970’s)
A return to the studies of the mind and how it worked
The computer largely influenced theories of the mind.
Study of perception, representation, decision making, memory, etc.
Evolutionary Psychology
Relies heavily on Darwinian evolution.Traits and behaviors exist because they
were selected during evolution.Individuals who possessed the particular trait had
a reproductive advantage on individuals who did not.
Behaviors exist for a reason.
Compare human behaviors with other animals. Comparative psychology.
Behavioral Neuroscience (1990’s especially)
The “Decade of the Brain”Technological advancesGoal is a biological explanation of behavior.
Behavioral Genetics (2000’s)
How does our genetic makeup influence our behavior
Encouraged by newer technologies and developments
Human genome projectLevel of analysis is the gene
Types of Psychologists
Experimental vs. Applied
Experimental: Use the scientific method to uncover principles of psychology.
Applied: take the principles and apply them to help others
Biological psychology – also called physiological psychology, neuroscience, neuropsychology
Studies how the brain works. How does it produce the behavior that we show?
How are things learned in the brain? How are emotions generated?
Often study animals Often study cases of brain damage Very interdisciplinary
Learning / Animal Behavior Very influenced by behaviorism Study how animals (including humans) learn. Typically use rats, mice, or pigeons
Comparative psychology / evolutionary psychology
Based around evolution – how has behavior evolved.
Comparison is of species! Study many different species
E.g., evolution of emotion E.g., chimpanzees and language E.g., lemur memory
Cognitive psychology– study of the mind emphasizes internal mental processes emphasizes the importance of cognitive
processes, such as perception, memory, and thinking
E.g., how does memory work? Think of your grandmother
Social psychology - study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others
Study attitudes, conformity, helping behavior, etc.
E.g., Why does Bob like Coors light? E.g., How does a jury reach a verdict?
Developmental psychology – studies how behavior changes over time
Studies children – lifespan approach How do we change as we age? E.g., when do infants start walking? E.g., what can be done to help children
that are not thriving. E.g., is it healthy for teens to vent to their
friends?
Applied Psychologists
Clinical – PhD in clinical psychology Tries to help individuals suffering from psychological
maladjustment Uses psychotherapy to treat psychological disorders E.g., treat depression, anger management, etc.
Psychiatry – MD or DO – branch of medicine that specializes in psychological disorders
Can prescribe medication to help alleviate a problem
May also use psychotherapy E.g., treat depression, anger management, etc.
Counseling psychologyVery similar to clinicalTypically deal with healthier individuals
career and vocational assessment
Industrial / Organizational seek to apply psychological principles to practical
problems of education, industry, marketing, etc.E.g., implement leadership programE.g., Help companies get the most out of
employees – The two Bobs
School psychologist – help children in schoolAddress things like:
Learning disabilitiesAttention-deficit disorderBehavioral disorders
Sport psychologist – applies psychological principles to improve athletic performance
Forensic psychologist - applications of psychological knowledge to the understanding of crime and criminal justice
Study abnormal psychology Personality psychology Social psychology
Ethics
Immoral studiesExperiments in Nazi GermanyOther studies in the US and around the world
Research with humans and animals must now be carefully reviewed.
All research must be approved by an institutional review board (IRB).IRB’s consist of both scientists and people in the
community.The IRB considers the risks and benefits of each
research proposal and decides if it should be performed.
Requirements with Human Research
1. Must have informed consent.2. Be advised of the possible risks and benefits
of the procedure.3. Be told that they can withdraw from the study
at any time without being penalized.4. After the experiment, participants must be
debriefed.5. Deceiving participants is approved only when
the participant will not be harmed and knowledge gained outweighs the use of dishonesty.
Research with Animals
All research with animals must have the approval of an IRB.
The IRB ensures that:1. Animals are housed properly2. Animals are not mistreated.3. Researchers may not cause animals pain unless
that is what is explicitly being studied and there are potential benefits to humans of inflicting pain.
Labs may also inspected by USDA, OSCA, and must have a veterinarian in charge of care.
PETA may also have an eye on laboratories.