WHSAP Psychology

Growth of Psychology

I CAN

Trace the growth of psychology.

What is Psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and

mental processes Scientific?

Not just common sense or guesses Psychology uses the scientific method Scientific Method is careful observations and the

experimental testing of hypothesis Behavior – what people do on the outside Mental Processes – What is going on inside

someone's head. We call this cognition. Psychology includes the study of both humans and

animals

Psychology’s Roots

Wilhelm Wundt (vil´helm voont) opened the first psychology laboratory at the University of Liepzig (c. 1879)

Psychology’s Roots

Wundt’s significance? By insisting on

measurement and experimentation he moves Psych from Philosophy to Science

Psychology’s Roots 1. Structuralism –

School of psychology that stressed the basic units of experience (physical sensation, feelings, and memories) and the combinations in which they occur.

Study these ‘atoms of experience’ to get the structure of the mind Uses INTROSPECTION:

The process of reporting one’s own conscious mental experiences

Prologue: Psychology’s Roots

William James Rejects

Structuralism Influenced by

Darwin 2. Functionalism –

theory of mental life and behavior that is concerned with how an organism uses its perceptual abilities to function in its enviroment.

The Growth of Psychology

Sigmund Freud: 3. Psychodynamic psychology Behavior results from forces at work

within the individual, often at an unconscious level

Late 1800s Hard to prove or disprove scientifically

Return to the observable in the early 1900s

John B. Watson: 4. Behaviorism Studied only observable behaviors Expanded upon the work of Pavlov

B.F. Skinner: Behaviorism revisited Expanded behaviorism Viewed the mind as a “black box” that

was irrelevant

The Cognitive Revolution

The precursors to 7. cognitive psychology: 5. Gestalt psychology

Study of how we perceive objects as whole patterns

Therapy that wishes to treat the whole person

6. Humanistic psychologyEmphasizes realization of full potentialRecognizes importance of love, self esteem,

belonging, and self-actualization

The Cognitive Revolution of the 1960s

Study of mental processes Thinking Learning Feeling Remembering Decision making

New Directions in Psychology

8. Evolutionary psychology Studies the adaptive value of behaviors

and mental processes9. Positive psychology

Study of the subjective feelings of happiness and well-being

Focus is on positive attitude

Multiple Perspectives

10. ECCLECTICISM

There is no single right answer

Several perspectives can provide insight into behavior

Psychology’s Big Issues

Nature-nurture controversy Are we a product of innate, inborn tendencies controlled by

our genetic make-up? Are we a reflection of experiences and upbringing?

Person–Situation Is behavior caused by factors inside the person or outside?

Stability–Change Are behavior patterns learned in childhood permanent or do

people change over time? Diversity-Universality

How am I like every person, like some people, and like no one else?

Mind–Body What is the relationship between the mind and the body?

Can I

Trace the growth of psychology?