The Birth of Psychology

Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning

Defining Psychology Defined-The study of behavior and mental

processes Goals of Psychology

• To fulfill a genuine curiosity about behavior• To study behavior by observation• To understand the contributions of genetics and

environment (social and cultural) in behavior and mental process

• To study behavior using methods that deem the study scientific

The Roots of Psychology

In the late 1800’s both physiologists and philosophers will be investigating the mind

Philosophy• Provides the undying questioning of “why”

Physiology• Provides the methodology that will be used to

answer “how”

Psychology-A scientific discipline

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)• Works to have psychology become an

independent science• Founds the 1st psychology laboratory in

Germany (1879)• Founds the 1st journal dedicated to publishing

research in psychology (1881)• Wundt defines psychology as the study of

conscious experience

Psychology Comes to America

G. Stanley Hall (1846-1924)• A student of Wundt• Establishes 1st American laboratory dedicated to

the study of Psychology at Johns Hopkins (1883) • Founded 1st American journal dedicated to

publishing work of psychologists (1887)• Founded American Psychological Association

(1892)

Structuralism• Wundt and Titchener were primary contributors

to this school of thought• Structuralism focused on the structure of

consciousness• Premise-The content of conscious experience

can be analyzed into its basic elements

Competing Schools of Thought That Shape Psychology

Competing Schools of Thought That Shape Psychology Functionalism

• William James and G. Stanley Hall were the primary proponents

• Interested in studying the functions of consciousness

• Premise-the function of a conscious experience in providing adaptation of the organism is more important than the structure of that conscious experience

Current Perspectives in Psychology

Research Perspectives

Developmental Psychology Social Psychology Experimental Psychology Physiological Psychology Cognitive Psychology Personality Psychometrics

Applied Perspectives/a short list

Clinical Psychology-provide counseling to clients with psychological disorders

Counseling Psychology-provide counseling to clients with more day to day problems

Educational and School Psychology-work to improve the delivery of education to students

Applied Perspectives/a short list

Industrial and Organizational Psychology-work to improve work conditions, productivity and morale in business and industry

Sports Psychology-work to train athletes in mental preparation for performance

Forensic Psychology-as an example, work to provide profiles of criminal behavior, to advise on the psychology of courtroom proceedings

In Such a Diverse Science, What Holds It All Together The Desire to: Describe Predict Understand & Control Behavior