Introduction to Psychology

Definition of Psychology

• Psychology is a scientific discipline focused on understanding how individuals think, feel, and behave.
• It encompasses the study of both behavioral and mental processes.

Brief History of Psychology

• John Locke introduced the concept of "Tabula Rasa" in the 1600s, suggesting that the mind is a blank slate at birth.
• Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) established psychology as a scientific field by conducting the first psychological experiment in 1879 at the University of Leipzig, defining it as the "Science of Mental Life."
• Edward Titchener, a student of Wundt, developed Structuralism, emphasizing introspection and self-report data to understand the mind’s structure.
• William James (1842-1910), a pioneer of Functionalism, explored the purposes of thoughts and behaviors, contributing significantly to psychology with his book "Principles of Psychology" and promoting the idea of survival through adaptive behaviors.
• Mary Calkins, admitted to James' seminar, became the first female president of the APA, overcoming gender barriers in psychology.
• Margaret Washburn (1871-1939) was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, known for her work "The Animal Mind" (1908).
• Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory influenced psychology, proposing that natural selection affects both physical and behavioral traits essential for survival.
• Sigmund Freud introduced Psychoanalytic Theory, emphasizing the unconscious mind, formative childhood experiences, and dream analysis, while also being noted as a cocaine addict and asserting personality is shaped by age five.
• Humanistic Psychology, established by Carl Rogers (1902-1987), stressed the importance of personal growth and fulfillment, advocating for Client-Centered Therapy where the client leads the discussion.
• Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs, ranging from survival to self-actualization, emphasizing that higher-level needs emerge only after basic needs are satisfied.
• John Watson and B.F. Skinner pioneered Behaviorism in 1913, defining psychology exclusively in terms of observable behavior, dismissing introspection, and focusing on classical and operant conditioning.
• Aaron Beck (1960) founded Cognitive Psychology, investigating how people perceive, process, and remember information, known for "Beck’s Cognitive Theory."

Chapter 1: The Scientific Method

• The scientific method involves observing the world, forming hypotheses, making predictions, and testing them, leading to new insights.
• Descriptive Research gathers general behavioral data through methods like case studies or surveys.
• Correlational Research investigates the relationship between two traits or behaviors, distinguishing between positive and negative correlations while noting that correlation does not imply causation.
• Experimental Research manipulates independent variables to observe their effect on dependent variables, analyzing outcomes to establish causal relationships.