Psychology Overview: Humanism and Cognition

Psychology: A Conversation

• Humanism is a response to psychoanalysis and behaviorism, emphasizing personal freedom, growth, and unique traits.
• Key figures in Humanistic Psychology include Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.
• Carl Rogers believed in the inherent goodness of people and developed Client-Centered Therapy.
• Abraham Maslow created the Hierarchy of Needs, a theory progressing from basic needs to self-actualization.
• Humanistic Psychology focuses on boosting personal growth and unlocking potential.

Cognitive Psychology

• Cognitive psychology studies thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
• Ulric Neisser coined the term "cognitive psychology" in 1967.
• It compares the human mind to a computer, focusing on information processing.
• Cognitive psychology is important for understanding and studying the mind.

Psychobiology/Neuroscience

• Psychobiology/Neuroscience examines how brain structure and activity affect behavior.
• Notable researchers include Karl Lashley (brain areas for memory and learning) and Donald Hebb (cell assemblies and networks).
• Subfields include Behavioral Genetics (how genes shape brain development and behavior) and Evolutionary Psychology (how evolution has shaped behavior and brain).

Psychology Today

• Psychology is a science and a profession, examining and applying knowledge to solve problems.
• Research areas include personality, psychometrics, social, cognitive, physiological, developmental, and neuroscience/experimental.
• Applied areas include clinical, counseling, educational/school, and industrial/organizational psychology.

Branches of Psychology

• Clinical and Counseling Psychology helps manage mental health.
• Academic Psychology focuses on teaching and research.
• Applied Psychology applies psych to real-world problems (schools, marketing).

Correlation and Causation

• Correlation does not equal causation. Stress and depression may be correlated without one causing the other, maybe poverty causing both.
• Experiments are used to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
• Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) provide summaries of data.
• Inferential statistics use tests (like t-tests or ANOVAs) to determine if differences or correlations are statistically significant.

Ethical Considerations in Research

• Research must follow ethical guidelines.
• Informed consent from participants is crucial.
• Ensuring participant safety and protection is paramount.
• Deception should be explained afterwards in a debrief.
• Animal research must be ethical and humane.
• Replication of studies is critical to confirm findings.
• Publication in scientific journals.

Explore the key concepts of Humanistic and Cognitive Psychology in this quiz. Learn about influential figures like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, as well as the fundamentals of cognitive processes and psychobiology. Test your understanding of how these psychological perspectives relate to human behavior and growth.