Psychology: Schools of Thought

• Psychology's schools of thought include structuralism, functionalism, psychodynamic perspective, behaviorism, Gestalt, humanistic psychology, and cognitive psychology.
• These perspectives have all contributed to the evolution of psychology.

Schools of Thought

• Structuralism (Titchener): Seeks to analyze the adult mind in terms of the simplest definable components and then to find how these components fit together to form more complex experiences.
• Functionalism: Emphasizes the functions of the mind and behavior in adapting to the environment.
• Psychodynamic Perspective: Focuses on unconscious drives and conflicts and childhood experiences.
• Behaviorism: Concentrates on observable behavior and how it is learned through conditioning and reinforcement.
• Gestalt Psychology: Focuses on the mind's ability to perceive disparate elements as parts of an organized whole.
• Humanistic Psychology: Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the achievement of one's full potential.
• Cognitive Psychology: Explores mental processes such as memory, problem-solving, and language.

Free Will vs. Determinism

• The Freudian (psychodynamic) perspective and behaviorism are regarded as deterministic.
• The Humanistic perspective is not deterministic.

Structuralism Problems

• Structuralism and "deep introspection" failed due to its reliance on subjective experiences that were difficult to replicate and measure objectively.
• Functionalism and behaviorism solved these problems by focusing on objective, observable phenomena.

Psychological Perspective vs. Subfield

• A psychological perspective includes the overall approach to understanding behavior and mental processes.
• A psychological subfield includes a specific area of study within psychology.

Random Sampling & Random Assignment

• Random sampling involves selecting participants from a population in a way that ensures each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
• Random assignment involves assigning participants to different experimental groups, ensuring each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any group.
• Random Sample design is used to ensure the sample is representative of the population
• Random Assignment design is used to help establish cause and effect

Correlation and Causality

• The “hidden variable C” exercise illustrates that correlation does not equal causation.
• A third, unmeasured variable (C) can influence both variables of interest, creating a spurious correlation.

Variables

• Independent variables: Manipulated by the researcher.
• Dependent variables: Measured to see if they are affected by the independent variable.
• Extraneous/Confounding variables: Undesirable variables that influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

The "Purple Dot" Study

• The "purple dot" study was a class exercise that demonstrated Random Assignments
• Random Assignment is not truly random, so differences between the test groups are possible

Depression Explanations

• A neuroscientist might explain depression due to imbalances in neurotransmitters or structural abnormalities in the brain.
• A psychodynamic psychologist might attribute depression to unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.
• A cognitive psychologist might focus on negative thought patterns and cognitive distortions that contribute to depression.

Psychological Subfields

• Psychologists within the twelve psychological subfields study and focus on various specialized areas of psychology.

Neurons

• The number of neurons in the body is huge.
• The number of connections between neurons is very large.

Neuronal Signaling

• Neuronal communication is described as "electro-chemical."
• Electrical signals travel within the neuron
• Chemical signals pass between neurons.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

• SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor.
• SSRIs are agonist.
• They block the reuptake of serotonin, increasing the amount of serotonin available in the synapse.

Neurotransmitter Re-Uptake

• Neurotransmitter re-uptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed back into the pre-synaptic neuron after transmitting a signal.
• SSRI drugs hijack this mechanism by blocking the re-uptake of serotonin.
• By blocking the re-uptake, SSRI drugs increase the amount of serotonin available in the synapse, enhancing serotonergic neurotransmission.

Drug Withdrawal

• Quitting certain drugs "cold turkey" can be fatal.
• The drugs with the most dangerous consequences related to withdrawal are those that affect neurotransmitters GABA & glutamate.
• Alcohol impacts GABA and Glutamate.
• Withdrawal from alcohol can be lethal.