General Psychology - Chapter 1 Notes

• Study notes for General Psychology, Chapter 1

History of Psychology

• Aristotle suggested human behavior is subject to knowable rules, initiating the scientific study of behavior.
• Democritus posited a split between body and mind, implying behavior is not solely explained by understanding the body.
• Wilhelm Wundt advocated for structuralism and established the first psychology research laboratory.
• William James proposed functionalism and authored the first psychology textbook.
• Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasized the unconscious mind and early childhood in addressing adult issues.
• John Watson, the first behaviorist, proposed psychology should focus on observable and measurable phenomena.
• B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory is a well-known behaviorist approach focused on the effects of reward and punishment.

Perspectives in Psychology

• The Psychoanalytic perspective attributes behavior to inner, unconscious conflicts.
• The Biological perspective connects thought and behavior to brain structure, function, and neurochemistry.
• Humanism emphasizes self-awareness and free choices to meet perceived needs, rejecting blame on rewards or unconscious urges.
• The Evolutionary perspective suggests inherited, adaptive traits become genetically encoded.
• Behaviorism includes learning through reward, punishment, and observation of others' behavior.
• Cognitive psychology focuses on the impact of thought processes on behavior.
• The Sociocultural perspective considers the influence of factors like race, ethnicity, and socioeconomics on thought and behavior.

Fields of Psychology

• Counseling psychologists aid people in adjusting to life by addressing issues like depression related to divorce or job loss.
• Experimental psychologists conduct laboratory research on basic principles of learning, perception, motivation, and testing variables.
• Health psychology explores the impact of psychological factors such as negative attitudes and stress, on physical health.
• Clinical psychologists are trained to diagnose and treat serious psychological disorders such as schizophrenia.
• Developmental psychologists study how people change throughout their lifespan.
• Personality psychology studies how to describe and reliably measure people's stable traits in thinking and behaving.

Research Designs

• Naturalistic observation records real-life behavior without researcher interference.
• Case studies provide detailed, individualized data but may not be generalizable due to small sample size.
• Surveys gather many observations quickly but are susceptible to untruthful responses.
• Correlational designs compare naturally occurring variables to find consistent relationships for predictive purposes.
• Experimental designs test cause and effect by introducing a suspected cause and measuring the anticipated effect.
• Institutional Review Boards review research proposals for ethical practices like informed consent to ensure volunteer participation is voluntary with sufficient information.

Features of Experiments

• Experiments begin with a testable Hypothesis, which is a specific statement about behavior or thought.
• Random sampling ensures the study sample reflects the target population fairly.
• The Independent variable, the cause being tested, is applied to the Experimental group.
• The Control group does not receive the test variable, to provide a basis for comparison.
• A Placebo is a fake treatment used to make participants believe they are receiving the same treatment.
• Operational definitions clarify the procedures and measures used in the study.
• A double-Blind study eliminates bias by keeping both participants and observers unaware of group assignments.

Concise study notes for Chapter 1 of a General Psychology course. Covers the history of psychology from early philosophers to modern perspectives. Key figures like Wundt, James, Freud, Watson, and Skinner are highlighted.