Introduction to Psychology

Study Notes

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.