Introduction to Psychology PDF

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Aristotle’s word psyche refer to the essence of life plus the Greek word logos, which means t...

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Aristotle’s word psyche refer to the essence of life plus the Greek word logos, which means the “the study of.”  Psychology The scientific study of behavior and mental process Systematic methods What can be directly observed Thoughts, feelings, motives  Goals of Psychology Describe. Information gathered in scientific studies helps psychologists describe behavior and mental processes accurately Predict. Psychologists have developed tests that enable employers to predict more accurately which job applicants will perform their jobs well. Understand. Behavior and mental processes can be understood using theories or tentative explanations of facts and relationships in science. Influence. Psychologists design interventions that would help a teenage boy with severe depression; to help college students select their careers; or help parents raise a child with conduct disorder.  Early Approaches Western Philosophy Biology and Physiology Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) 1879 – established 1st psychology lab -Wundt’s Structuralism – structures of the mind – introspection systematic, detailed self-report  Early Approaches Gestalt Psychology Max Wertheimer a professor of psychology at the University of Frankfurt in the early 1900s He led a group of psychologists known as Gestalt psychologists. Gestalt psychologists thought that human consciousness could not be meaningfully broken down into raw elements, as structuralist tried to do. Their approach to psychology was based on the German concept of Gestalt, or whole. “The whole is different from the sum of its parts.”  Early Approaches Functionalism William James Emphasized how a mental process operates as opposed to the structure of a mental process. James’ perspective on psychology became known as functionalism. Functionalism’s focus on the adaptive value of behavior as influenced by Charles Darwin’s Theory of evolution. Darwin’s theory speculated that certain behaviors or traits that enhance survival are naturally selected.  Psychodynamic Approach Freud Psychoanalysis – unconscious thought – conflict between biological drives and demands of society – early childhood family experiences  Early Approaches Behaviorism: A True Science of Psychology In the 1920s, functionalism was slowly being replaced by a school of thought referred to as behaviorism. A growing number of psychologists believed that in order for psychology to be taken seriously as a true science, it must focus on observable behavior and not on the mind. Behaviorists believed that only overt, observable behaviors could truly be measured consistently form person to person.  Early Approaches John B. Watson’s Behaviorism Watson first presented “Little Albert” with the stimulus of a white rat. Watson conditioned Little Albert to fear a white rat, a rat that Albert had played with earlier without fear. This demonstrated for Watson that observable stimuli and responses should be the focus of psychology.  Early Approaches B.F. Skinner and Behavioral Consequences Skinner, like Watson, believed that psychology should focus on observable behavior; but Skinner added a dimension to Watson’s framework: consequences. He believed that psychologists should look not only at the stimuli in the environment that cause a particular response but also at what happens to a person or animal after the response – what Skinner called the consequence of the behavior.  Humanistic Approach Positive Human Qualities/ Potential Free Will Notable Humanistic Theorists – Carl Rogers – Abraham Maslow  Cognitive Approach Mental Processes Involved in Knowing Information Processing how humans interpret incoming info, weigh it, store it, and apply it  Early Approaches The Birth of Positive Psychology Positive Psychology emphasize human strengths and on how humans attain happiness American Psychologists Martin Seligman and Ed Diener Positive psychology has produced an explosion of research over the past decade describing the factors that contribute to happiness, positive emotions, and well-being.  Modern Perspectives and the Eclectic Approach Evolutionary perspective proposes that natural selection is the process at work. Behaviors that increase your chances of surviving are favored or selected over behaviors that decrease your chances of surviving. Cognitive perspective explains behavior with an emphasis on thoughts and interpretations based on memory, expectations, beliefs, problem solving, or decision making.  Evolutionary Approach Explanations of Human Behavior: – adaptation – reproduction – natural selection Notable Evolutionary Psychologist – David Buss  Biological Approach Neuroscience nervous system structure function development genetics biochemistry The brain is the physical basis of all thoughts and emotions  Modern Perspectives and the Eclectic Approach Psychodynamic perspective is a collective term that refers to those assumptions about behavior originally conceived by Freud, which have been modified by his followers.  Sociocultural Approach Social and Cultural Environments Differences – between ethnic and cultural groups – within and across countries  Behavioral Approach Environmental Determinants of Observable Behavior Reject Explanations Referencing Thought Notable Behaviorists – Ivan Pavlov – John Watson – B.F. Skinner  Modern Perspectives and the Eclectic Approach Humanistic perspective explains behavior as stemming from your choices and free will. These choices are influenced by your self-concept and by your self-esteem. This view of the self and these feelings toward the self will lead you to choose certain behaviors over others. Eclectic approach integrates or combines several perspectives to provide a more complete and complex picture of behavior. Areas of Specialization Physiological Psych / Health Psychology Behavioral Neuroscience Clinical & Counseling Sensation and Psychology Perception Industrial / Organizational Psychology Areas Learning Of Social Psychology Specialization Cognitive Psychology Developmental Personality Psychology Psychology Psychology of Women Motivation & Emotion and Gender  References: King, L. (2013). Experience psychology. (2nd ed.) Columbia. McGrawHill Lahey, B. (2012). Psychology: An Introduction. (11th Ed.) NY: McGraw Hill. Pastorino, E. & Doyle-Portillo, S. (2013). What is Psychology? Essentials. (2nd Ed.) Canada: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.