The History of Psychology

Psychology

• What does it mean?

Inner sensations- mental processes

Observable behavior

Psychology: A Definition

The science of behavior and mental

processes.

Pre- PsychologySocrates and Plato

-the mind and the body are separate – Dualism

-knowledge is innateAristotle

-Everything comes from experience stored in memory-Mind and body are inseparable-

Monism

Pre- PsychologyRene Descartes

-Brain cavity contains animal spirits that flow through nerves to muscles

Francis Bacon-science should be based on

experiments, experience, and common-sense

Pre- PsychologyJohn Locke

-The mind is a “blank slate” and everything is based on experience

-Observation and experimentation should be the basis for scientific knowledge

Start of Psychology

• Wilhelm Wundt– The “father of psychology” – opened

first psychology lab in Liepzig,Germany (Dec. 1879)

– Introspection - people self reflect (internally) and report what they experience

– Founded Structuralism – reveal the structure of the brain using introspection

Start of Psychology

• William James– Argued you can’t break things down to

simple– Need to look at bigger and more

complete components and functions– Founded Functionalism - explored how

mental and behavioral processes function

• Biology versus Experience• Am I the way I am because I was

born that way or because of my surroundings?

Nature v. Nurture

Can I ever be like these people, or does nature give me limitations?

Psychology’s Perspectives

The Big Seven

Neuroscience Perspective

• Focus on how the physical body and brain creates our emotions, memories and sensory experiences.

If you could not remember the names of your parents and went to a psychologist who adheres to the neuroscience perspective, what might they say?

Evolutionary Perspective

• Focuses on Darwinism.

• We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors.

• Thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival. How could this behavior

ensured Homer’s ancestors survival?

Psychodynamic Perspective

• Fathered by Sigmund Freud.

• Our behavior comes from unconscious drives.

• Usually stemming from our childhood.

What might a psychoanalyst say is the reason someone always needs to be chewing gum?

Behavioral Perspective

• Focuses on our OBSERVABLE behaviors.

• Only cares about the behaviors that impair our living, and attempts to change them.

If you bit your fingernails when you were nervous, a behaviorist would not focus on calming you down, but rather focus on how to stop you from biting your nails.

Cognitive Perspective• Focuses on how we

think (or encode information)

• How do we see the world?

• How did we learn to act to sad or happy events?

• Cognitive Therapist attempt to change the way you think.

Meet girl Get Rejected by girl

Did you learn to be depressed

Or get back on the horse

Social-Cultural Perspective• Focus on how your culture effects

your behavior.

Even in the same high school, behaviors can change in accordance to the various subcultures.

Humanistic Perspective• Focuses on positive growth• Attempt to seek self-actualization• Therapists use active listening and

unconditional positive regard.

Mr. Rogers would have made a great Humanistic Therapist!!!