Introduction to Psychology and its History

Introduction to Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
• Psyche means "soul" or "mind" and Logia means "study" or "account"
• Psychology developed from philosophy
• Psychology is younger than other sciences
• Psychologists create and apply psychological knowledge
• Majority of psychologists work in clinical settings
• The second largest group of psychologists work at colleges and universities
• Pseudo-psychologies are false explanations for behavior and don’t rely on the scientific method
• The science of psychology actively looks for contradictions to advance knowledge
• A psychiatrist can prescribe medication, but a psychologist can't

History of Psychology

• Rene Descartes developed the concept of "dualism," the idea that the mind and body are separate
• He wrote "Passions of the Soul"
• The mind is cognitive, emotions are affective, and the body is psychomotor
• Johann Friedrich Herbart studied both the conscious and unconscious mind
• Charles Darwin wrote "Origins of Species" in 1859, claiming that all traits are hereditary
• Francis Galton wrote "Hereditary Genius" in 1869, advocating that nurture is more important than nature
• Wilhelm Wundt founded the first laboratory for experimental psychology in Leipzig, Germany in 1879
• Emil Kraepelin published the "Textbook of Psychiatry" in 1883 using a strict scientific and experimental approach to understanding the mind
• William James, known as the "father of Psychology", wrote "Principles of Psychology" in 1890
• He preferred a theological and philosophical approach to the study of the mind
• For nearly two centuries, psychologists have used the scientific method to understand the mind, including perception, consciousness, memory, learning, intelligence.

Goals of Psychology

• The goals are to: describe, understand, predict, and control behavior

Scientific Method

• The scientific method can be used to test the truth of a proposition
• The scientific method has high ethical standards
• Critically evaluate sources of information
• Always look for contradictions to advance knowledge
• Follow six steps to test a hypothesis:
  • Observe behaviors
  • Define the problem
  • Propose a hypothesis
  • Conduct research
  • Publish results
  • Formulate a theory
• A theory summarizes existing data and predicts future observations
• New ideas can emerge and lead to the creation of new theories

Experimental Methods

• A structured & controlled environment helps to identify cause & effect
• Methods include: Naturalistic observation, correlational method, survey method, and clinical method
• Naturalistic observation studies behavior in natural settings without interventions
• The correlational method is designed to discover relationships between events that appear to be connected
• The survey method gathers information about behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes by asking questions
• The clinical method reviews natural events that influenced an individual and helps to understand how they are connected to specific behaviors
• Each of these methods has controls that help ensure the quality and validity of the results

Major Trends in Psychology

• Psychodynamic: behavior stems from the unconscious
• Behaviorism: environments shape and control behavior
• Humanistic: self-image perceptions guide behaviors
• Biopsychological: internal physical, chemical, and biological processes drive behavior
• Cognitive: mental processes of information guide behavior

Human Development

• Developmental psychology studies the progressive changes in behavior and abilities from birth to death

Heredity VS Environment

• Heredity: parents pass down genes to offspring
• Hereditary influences: temperament, susceptibility to disease, cognitive abilities
• Environment: includes parental involvement, socio-economic situation, religion, experiences, and all external conditions affecting a person
• "You are a product of your genetic heritage and the environment in which you have lived."

Maturation

• The physical growth of the body and nervous system
• The maturation process supports motor, cognitive, emotional, and language development
• Newborn babies are born with certain capabilities and adaptive reflexes that allow them to interact with the world
• The adaptive reflexes include: rooting, sucking, grasping
• Newborns also are born with the ability to see, hear, smell, taste, and respond to pain and touch
• Newborn babies need the support of caregivers in order to survive

Deprivation & Enrichment

• Deprivation: Lack of stimulation, comfort, and love negatively impacts all areas of a child's development
• Enrichment: Complex, stimulating, and supportive environments positively impact all areas of a child's development
• Caregivers play a key role in the development of a child

Personal Development

• Does not end after adolescence, and includes phases of stability and transition
• Erikson's theory of developmental tasks includes a series of psychological dilemmas that individuals must face throughout their lives
• Developmental tasks include: trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy, generativity, and integrity
• Trust: trust others, the world comes from good parental care
• Autonomy: develop self-control and independence, building self-esteem
• Initiative: make plans and carry them out
• Industry: achieving goals and being recognized
• Identity: form a personal identity
• Intimacy: building friendships, family relationships, and romantic partnerships
• Generativity: being productive, taking an interest in guiding future generations
• Integrity: successful lives are based on happiness, purpose, meaning, and integrity

Thinking

• Children's thinking is less abstract than adults'
• Piaget’s stage theory maps how thinking unfolds through various developmental stages
• Vygotsky's sociocultural theory says that a child's mind is shaped with their interactions from competent partners
• Scaffolding provides support and guidance to assist the child in their ongoing progress

Language

• Language is a cornerstone of early intellectual development
• Patterns in language development suggest a biological predisposition
• Language is acquired through learning and reinforcement
• Learning includes control of crying and babbling, moving to single words, and telegraphic speech
• Children and parent interactions are critical for language development

Emotional Bonding

• A key element during infancy
• Parents and primary caregivers have the greatest influence
• Proactive maternal involvement, well-matched temperament, and caregiver responsiveness are all crucial
• Parenting styles play a significant role in a child’s development
• The most effective parenting style is authoritative, where there is a balance between discipline, support, and understanding

Child Discipline

• It is vital to stress responsibility and mutual respect
• Be clear, consistent, and humane in your approach
• Encourage positive reinforcement