History of Psychology

What is the study of psychology? - answer-a. The scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior b. Psychologist ask SCIENTIFIC questions, and determine validity of theories What are the multiple levels of analysis in Psychology? - answer-Biological, Social, Cognitive, Cultural, Individual differences Origins of psychology started with an outgrowth of what? - answer-philosophy and physiology- tried to answer the questions that were asked by philosophers since the early Greek times Socrates (Early Philosopher) - answer-encouraged people to not only pay attention to bodily needs and appetites, but also focus on the mine and soul Plato (Early Philosopher) - answer-believed in nativism- humans are born with innate knowledge Aristotle (Early Philosopher) - answer-believed in empiricism- humans born as "blank slate' (tabula rasa) and learn knowledge through experiences Rene Descartes (Early Philosopher) - answer-dualism- the mind and body are distinct, but still interact. Thought the pineal gland was the "seat of the soul". Francis Gall (Early Philosopher) - answer-phrenology- the first theory of localization of function in the brain describes where certain brain functions and personality characteristics are located. Believed that neural function could be determined by feeling the exterior of someone's head. Charles Darwin (Early Philosopher) - answer-believed in origin of species- adaptation and natural selection (survival of the fittest)... Organisms compete for resources, those with the advantage would transmit this advantage to future generations Hermann von Helmholtz (Early Psychologist) - answer-1st psychologist to use the observation method to study human behavior. i. He was interested in visual perception. ii. Invented the ophthalmoscope. iii. Used reaction times to determine the timing of neural responses. Wilhelm Wundt (Early Psychologist) - answer-**founder of psychology as a science** i. had the first study dedicated to learning about human mental process -- 1. structuralism. ii. introspection structuralism (Wundt) - answer-breaks down the human mind (based on the periodic chart). Consciousness can be decomposed into underlying components or elements. What is introspection? What is an issue with it? (Wundt) - answer-method of study involving individuals evaluation their experiences... issue with introspection-- answers will differ for each individual, highly subjective (ice cream description for example) Titchener (Early Psychologist) - answer-i. Wundt's student ii. Formalized Wundts theory of structuralism (consciousness can be broken down into parts) William James (Early Psychologist) - answer-Functionalism-believed that consciousness and mental processes have adaptive significance of functions and also affect thought and behavior. i. First American Psychologist AND wrote the first psychology textbook- Principles of Psychology Functionalism - answer-belief that consciousness and mental processes have adaptive significance of functions and also affect thought and behavior (William James). Sigmund Freud (Early Psychologist) - answer-i. Believed there was unconscious causes of symptoms and behaviors. ii. Psychoanalysis- technique to bring unconscious thoughts into conscious awareness- used Free Association and Dream Interpretation Psychoanalysis - answer-technique to bring unconscious thoughts into conscious awareness- used Free Association and Dream Interpretation (Freud) Max Wertheimer (Early Psychologist) - answer-Gestalt Psychology-perception of the whole i. Conscious experiences must be considered globally ii. Individuals construct their own perceptions of of things using "innate mental laws" iii. Black dot picture that is suppose to be a dog. Gestalt Psychology - answer-perception of the whole i. Conscious experiences must be considered globally ii. Individuals construct their own perceptions of of things using "innate mental laws" iii. Black dot picture that is suppose to be a dog. (Wertheimer) Behaviorism (Later Influential Movements early 20th century) - answer-studies the relationship between one's observable actions (behavior) and their environment. i. The mind is a "black box" ii. Stimulus- response psychology iii. Behavior must be observable, and the principles of behavior are universal across species James Watson - answer-environmental stimulus--reactions (responses). This is how all behaviors can be understood. B.F. Skinner - answer-1. Focused on consequences such as punishment and reinforcement using the Skinner Box. -- Good behaviors rewarded, rate eventually learns to demonstrate the behavior that will have good outcome (reward). The Cognitive Revolution - answer-a. Thoughts influence behavior, human behavior cannot be explained solely by stimulus responses. There is a mind and it can be studied. b. Observational learning and cultural differences are evidence against behaviorism c. Cognitive Neuroscience- understanding cognitive processes through the brain and neural activity. Patients with brain damage can inform us of neural function d. Social Neuroscience- social interactions have lead to findings in cognition, reasoning, communication, language, and other cognitive processes--brain enables social processes Cognitive Neuroscience - answer-understanding cognitive processes through the brain and neural activity. Patients with brain damage can inform us of neural function (part of Cognitive Revolution) Social Neuroscience - answer-social interactions have lead to findings in cognition, reasoning, communication, language, and other cognitive processes--brain enables social processes (part of Cognitive Revolution) Contemporary Psychology - answer-a. heavily influenced by biology- neuroimaging technology, mapping human genome, neurochemistry and its relation to mental illness b. evolutionary psychology c. two broad sub-discipines- basic and applied Psychological science is integrative and collaborative - answer-a. psychologist adopt various perspectives in their research. b. new fields can emerge, but psychologists