Intro to Psychology Module 1

Introduction to Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behaviors and mental processes.
• The definition of psychology has changed over the past century, and it is now a separate and unique scientific discipline.

Objectives of Psychology

• To describe behavior
• To understand behavior and why it occurs
• To predict behavior and when it will occur
• To influence or alter behavior to achieve a goal
• To identify the conditions that affect behavior

History of Psychology

• The beginning of psychology can be traced back to the writings of Greek philosophers.
• Wilhelm Wundt applied experimental methods to the study of fundamental psychological processes in 1874.
• Wundt published the first psychology textbook, "Principles of Physiological Psychology", which outlined the connections between physiology and psychology.

Structuralism

• Established by Edward Titchener, a student of Wundt
• Focuses on breaking down complex conscious experiences into elemental structures or component parts of sensation and feelings
• Uses introspection, a process where subjects describe their sensations and feelings immediately after viewing a stimulus

Functionalism

• Established by William James, a Harvard professor
• Focuses on how behavior functions to allow people and animals to adapt to their environment
• Expands research scope to include direct observation of living creatures in natural settings

William James and his Students

• G. Stanley Hall received the first Ph.D in psychology in America in 1878
• Mary Whiton Calkins, under the direction of James, completed requirements for a Ph.D in psychology in 1890
• Calkins established a psychology laboratory at Wellesley College and became the first woman president of the American Psychological Association

Twentieth Century Leaders in Psychology

• Beginning in the early 1900s, new approaches emerged that challenged structuralism and functionalism

Behaviorism

• Emerged as a dominant force in the early 1900s
• Rejected the emphasis on consciousness promoted by structuralism and functionalism
• Focuses on observable behavior that can be objectively measured and verified
• Developed by John Watson, who championed behaviorism as a new school of psychology

Psychoanalysis

• Developed by Sigmund Freud, an Austrian physician
• Focuses on uncovering causes of behavior that are unconscious or hidden from conscious awareness

Humanistic Psychology

• Emerged in the 1950s as a new school of thought
• Founded by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
• Emphasizes conscious experiences, self-determination, free will, and the importance of choice in human behavior
• Focuses on psychological growth and self-direction

Four Major Perspectives in Psychology

• Biological Perspective: focuses on the influence of genetics or physical bases on behavior
• Behavioral Perspective: focuses on the environmental influences on behavior

Explore the basics of psychology in this introductory module. Learn about the purpose and fundamentals of psychology.