Introduction to Psychology PDF

# Introduction to Psychology The scientific study of mind, behaviour, emotions and thought processes. ## Before Psychology - **Plato (427-347 BC):** Does perception accurately reflect reality? - **Aristotle (384-322 BC):** Logic forms the laws of thought - **Descartes (1596-1650):** "I think th...

# Introduction to Psychology The scientific study of mind, behaviour, emotions and thought processes. ## Before Psychology - **Plato (427-347 BC):** Does perception accurately reflect reality? - **Aristotle (384-322 BC):** Logic forms the laws of thought - **Descartes (1596-1650):** "I think therefore I am" Lack of science to back up philosophy influenced the development of the first psychological experimental lab in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Wundt insisted that psychological methods be as rigorous as the methods of chemistry & physics- this is harder to achieve when your subjects are humans! ## Scientific Method in Psychology - **Forming a hypothesis** or predicting what will happen - **Conducting systematic observations** - this means eliminating variables that may effect your subject or outcome to ensure that, under the same or similar circumstances, all observers will obtain the same results. - **Do events/observations support predictions?** ## Structuralism - William Wundt (1832-1920) Structuralism is a theory of consciousness that seeks to analyse the elements of mental experiences, such as sensations, mental images, and feelings, and how these elements combine to form more complex experiences. He trained psychology students to make observations that were biased by personal interpretation or previous experience, and used the results to develop a theory of conscious thought. Highly trained assistants would be given a stimulus such as a ticking metronome and would reflect on the experience. They would report what the stimulus made them think and feel. The same stimulus, physical surroundings and instructions were given to each person. Structuralism was further developed by Wundt's student, Edward B. Titchener who proposed 3 elementary states of consciousness: Sensations (sights, sounds, tastes), Images (components of thoughts), and Affections (components of emotions). ## Functionalism William James (1842-1910) William James believed that one could not study consciousness by breaking it down into parts. He sought to understand the purpose and function of human thoughts and subsequent behaviours. Inspired by Charles Darwin, he purported that cognitive processes evolved over time to help humans adapt and survive. Rather than focusing on the basic elements of consciousness, functionalism in psychology focused on the higher purpose of consciousness and behaviour. Functionalism also emphasized individual differences, which had a profound impact on education. The education system meets a functional pre-request of society by passing on the culture and values of society. ## Psychoanalytic Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Sigmund Freud believed that personality differences are the result of factors in the unconscious mind 'Freudian Slip'. Here the view is that all thoughts, feelings, and behavior have an underlying psychological cause. - **Factors:** wishes, desires, sexual and aggressive impulses, etc. These factors supposedly influence our thoughts, feelings and actions - **Conscious level, pre conscious level and sub conscious** - **Id, Ego, Superego** - **5 specific psychosexual stages of development** and that any 'dissatisfaction' during each stage may lead to fixations ### Id, Ego, & Superego - **Id:** The instinctual part of the mind that responds immediately to wants and desires. The id is chaotic and animal-like, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. - **Ego:** The ego is the decision-making part of the mind. It uses reason and logic, and tries to get the unrealistic id to cooperate in real life. - **Superego:** The voice that incorporates the values and morals which are learned from one's parents and society. It tries to persuade the id and ego to turn to moral goals rather than seeking pleasure. ## Erikson's Psychosocial Theory Perhaps the only developmental theory that suggests developmental changes occur throughout the life span First to stress the role that both the individual and society play in ones development ### Stages of Psychosocial Development - Infant - Toddler - Preschooler - Grade-schooler - Adolescent - Young Adult - Middle-age adult - Older Adult ### **Hierarchy of Human Need: Maslow** - Self-actualization - Esteem - Love/Belonging - Safety - Physiological