Psychology and Psychology and Human Mental Human Mental

ProcessesProcesses

HPS3MHPS3M

Rabbit or Duck?Rabbit or Duck?

How many legs?How many legs?

How many black dots?How many black dots?

Are squares A and B the same Are squares A and B the same shade of grey?shade of grey?

Which monster is bigger?Which monster is bigger?

Old woman or young woman?Old woman or young woman?

What do you see?What do you see?

What is Psychology?What is Psychology?

The scientific study of behaviour and The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes, and the factors mental processes, and the factors that influence these processesthat influence these processes

Old School PsychologyOld School Psychology

Ancient Greeks:Ancient Greeks:– Personality is determined by the balance Personality is determined by the balance

of fluids a person has:of fluids a person has: Blood (social, extroverted, forgetful)Blood (social, extroverted, forgetful) Phlegm (self-confident, kind, apathetic)Phlegm (self-confident, kind, apathetic) Melancholy (thoughtful, creative, worried)Melancholy (thoughtful, creative, worried) Choler (ambitious, energetic, easily Choler (ambitious, energetic, easily

angered)angered)

– Hippocrates was first to observe that the Hippocrates was first to observe that the brain (rather than the heart) was where brain (rather than the heart) was where thinking too placethinking too place

Modern PsychologyModern Psychology

Began in late 19Began in late 19thth century century Branches:Branches:

– StructuralismStructuralism– FunctionalismFunctionalism– PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis– BehaviourismBehaviourism– HumanismHumanism– Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology

StructuralismStructuralism

Founded by German William WundtFounded by German William Wundt Conducted experiments on Conducted experiments on

sensation, perception and attentionsensation, perception and attention Interested in the inner workings of Interested in the inner workings of

the mindthe mind Emphasized the use of the scientific Emphasized the use of the scientific

methodmethod

FunctionalismFunctionalism

Founded by American William JamesFounded by American William James Based on Darwin’s idea of adaptation Based on Darwin’s idea of adaptation

– rather than physical adaptation, – rather than physical adaptation, James believed humans adapted James believed humans adapted mental characteristics in order to mental characteristics in order to survivesurvive

Studied real life (children, education, Studied real life (children, education, gender roles) rather than lab gender roles) rather than lab experimentsexperiments

PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis

Most closely associated with German Most closely associated with German Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud

Observed that many nervous Observed that many nervous problems were the result of problems were the result of unconscious mental forcesunconscious mental forces

Psychoanalysis attempts to uncover Psychoanalysis attempts to uncover patients’ unconscious thoughts by patients’ unconscious thoughts by discussing their experiences and discussing their experiences and feelingsfeelings

BehaviourismBehaviourism

Founded by American John WatsonFounded by American John Watson Disagreed with Freud – thought Disagreed with Freud – thought

psychology should be based on psychology should be based on observationobservation

Since the mind can’t be observed, Since the mind can’t be observed, behaviour is the only source of databehaviour is the only source of data

Behaviour is a response to Behaviour is a response to environmentenvironment

HumanismHumanism

Developed in the 1950s as a reaction Developed in the 1950s as a reaction against psychoanalysis and against psychoanalysis and behaviourismbehaviourism

Emphasizes that each person is Emphasizes that each person is unique, and are not controlled by their unique, and are not controlled by their unconscious drives (Freud) or by their unconscious drives (Freud) or by their environment (Watson)environment (Watson)

Rather than being controlled by outer Rather than being controlled by outer or inner factors, humans do have the or inner factors, humans do have the power to make their own choicespower to make their own choices

Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology

Study of the mental processes Study of the mental processes involved in memory, learning and involved in memory, learning and thinkingthinking

Around since the 19Around since the 19thth century and century and has become more advanced since has become more advanced since (for example through the use of (for example through the use of technology to monitor brain activity technology to monitor brain activity electronically)electronically)

HomeworkHomework

P. 45 questions #1,2P. 45 questions #1,2 Read Case Study “Touch and a Read Case Study “Touch and a

Strange New Sight” on p. 46 and Strange New Sight” on p. 46 and answer questions in the marginanswer questions in the margin