Introduction to Psychology Concepts

Introduction to Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of the mind (thoughts and emotions) and behaviour.
• It aims to empirically examine the mind and behaviour, considering both biology and the environment.

Why Study Psychology?

• Studying mental processes and behaviour has four goals:
  • Description: How do babies learn to talk?
  • Explanation: Why do we get hungry?
  • Prediction: When will we offer help to a stranger?
  • Control: Reducing stress or increasing self-care.

Levels of Analysis in Psychology

• The Brain: neural activity, brain structures, and genes.
• The Individual: emotions, thoughts, ideas, consciousness, personality, and motivation.
• The Group: friends, family, and the larger population (culture)
• These levels often interact.

History of Psychology

• Wundt and James:

  • Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920), German "Father of Psychology", used introspection (self-reflection). Volunteerism. Reaction times are important. Titchner's structuralism was a component of Wundt's work.
  • William James (1842-1910), North American "Father of Psychology", focused on functionalism (function of mental activities/behaviour).

• Freud:

  • Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was a neurologist interested in hysteria (emotional disturbances without a physical cause).
  • Psychoanalytic theory emphasized the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.

• Gestalt:

  • Wertheimer, Koffka, and Köhler focused on the whole (Gestalt) rather than the parts in understanding perception.

• Behaviorism:

  • Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) researched classical conditioning (learning via associations).
  • John Watson (1878-1958) focused on observable behavior.
  • B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) emphasized consequences (reinforcement and punishment) to shape behaviour. Instrumental (operant) conditioning.

• Humanism:

  • Abraham Maslow (1908-1970): believed behaviours are influenced by motivations, from basic needs to higher-level factors (e.g., esteem). Hierarchy of Needs.
  • Carl Rogers (1902-1987): developed client-centered therapy emphasizing unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.

• Cognition:

  • Ulric Neisser (1928-2012) was the founder of cognitive psychology which shifts the focus back to the mind.
  • Noam Chomsky explored the limitations of behaviorism in regard to language development.

Contemporary Psychology

• Multicultural and Cross-Cultural: Understudied yet pervasive in human experience. Key figures have challenged cultural bias in IQ testing and educational practices.
• Women and Feminism: Significant contributions of pioneering women in psychology, including Margaret Floy Washburn (first woman PhD), Mary Whiton Calkins, and Mary Cover Jones.
• Biopsychology (Neuroscience) & Evolutionary Psychology: Examines biological influences on behaviours, including neural plasticity, sleep, drug use, evolutionary pressures on behaviours.
• Sensation and Perception: Understanding how we perceive sensory stimuli and how that affects our experiences. An interdisciplinary body of study.
• Cognitive Psychology: Focusing on mental processes like problem-solving, language development, and therapy.
• Developmental Psychology: Processes related to changes across the lifespan.
• Personality Psychology: Examining thoughts and behaviours that make people unique, Big 5 personality traits.
• Social Psychology: Investigating how individuals interact and relate. (Milgram, Zimbardo, Asch).
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Applying psychological theories to the workplace, like personnel management and organizational structure
• Health Psychology: Interactions of bio, psychological and social factors influence health outcomes, public policy, treatments.
• Sports & Exercise Psychology: Psychological aspects influencing sports performance like anxiety and physical/emotional wellbeing.
• Clinical Psychology: Diagnosing and treating psychological disorders/adjustments.
• Forensic Psychology: Psychological applications in the justice system (competency, eye-witness testimony, children's testimony).
• Limits of Psychology: Historical and social forces. Trends and objectivity.

Careers in Psychology

• Becoming a psychologist typically requires a 4-year degree. PhD programs are focused on research and teaching and allow for university-level teaching. Other branches like clinical/counseling typically focus on practice.
• Careers in psychology include academic, clinical/counseling, and applied positions in various settings such as schools, hospitals, research institutions, and other areas. (various careers and different paths).