Chapter 1-
Psychology- The scientific study of the mind.
Hypothesis- a tentative explanation for the relationship between variables. Is a statement.
Derived from theory. Testable.
Theory- theories bring together (integrate) various facts about a subject and provide a broad
explanation.
Empirical Method- method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including
experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous
authorities.
William James- Father of psychology in America. First American psychologist.
Wilhelm Wundt- Father of psychology in Germany. created the first laboratory for psychological
research.
introspection- the process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an
attempt to break it into its component parts. Wundt used repeatable stimuli that would always
produce the same experience in people.
His attempts to understand the structure of the mind came to be known as structuralism.
functionalism focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment
Freud- the originator of the psychoanalytic perspective. The psychoanalytic theory focused on
the role of the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind was the seat of unacceptable urges,
desires, and conflicts. It was the job of the psychoanalyst to gain access to the unconscious mind,
which is below the level of awareness, using various techniques developed by Freud. The
psychoanalytic perspective dominated psychology, and popularized the field, throughout the
early 20th century. UNCONCIOUSNESS.
Behaviorism- focus was shifted from the mind to observable behavior. Behavior could be
controlled using various learning principles.
● Ivan Pavlov – won the Nobel prize in 1904 for his work on the digestive system of dogs.
He originated classical conditioning. He paired a conditioned stimulus (bell) with an
unconditioned stimulus (food) to produce a conditioned response (salivation).
, ● John B. Watson- known as the father of behaviorism within psychology.
● B. F. Skinner- originated operant conditioning. Reinforcement and punishment were
thought to control behavior. Skinner was the most eminent psychologist of the 20th
century. Modified versions of the operant conditioning chamber, or Skinner box, are still
widely used in research settings today.
Humanism- A perspective that ran counter the determinism of psychoanalysis and behaviorism.
Humanists emphasized the innate goodness of people and free will.
● Humanists, like Maslow and Rogers, emphasized growth and realizing one’s potential.
● Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
● Carl Rodgers- developed client-centered therapy which focused on the agency of the
client. The client was thought to be the expert of their own experience and the agent of
change. Therapists in this tradition embody the following conditions in their therapy:
Empathy, 2. Unconditional Positive Regard, 3. Genuineness.
Cognitive Psychology- Studies how we think. combined advances in linguistics, computer.
Refocused attention on the mind as a source of study.
● Noam Chomsky- a linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist, helped start the
cognitive revolution. He argued that the field of psychology needed to take into account
mental functioning, rather than just stimulus-response.
Bonus Questions-
Areas of Psychology-
● Biopsychology – Focusses on how our biology affects our behavior. Research areas
include sleep, sensory and motor systems, biological underpinnings of disorders, drug use
and abuse, and neural development, among other areas.
● Evolutionary Psychology – Biopsychology studies proximate (immediate) causes of
behavior, whereas evolutionary psychology focuses on ultimate causes.
● Sensation and Perception – Examines the workings of the sensory systems as well as the
psychological experience of sensations (perception).
● Cognitive Psychology - focuses on studying cognitions, or thoughts, and their
relationship to our experiences and our actions. Researchers study such topics as
attention, problem-solving, language, and memory.
● Developmental Psychology - the scientific study of development across a lifespan.
Psychology- The scientific study of the mind.
Hypothesis- a tentative explanation for the relationship between variables. Is a statement.
Derived from theory. Testable.
Theory- theories bring together (integrate) various facts about a subject and provide a broad
explanation.
Empirical Method- method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including
experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous
authorities.
William James- Father of psychology in America. First American psychologist.
Wilhelm Wundt- Father of psychology in Germany. created the first laboratory for psychological
research.
introspection- the process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an
attempt to break it into its component parts. Wundt used repeatable stimuli that would always
produce the same experience in people.
His attempts to understand the structure of the mind came to be known as structuralism.
functionalism focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment
Freud- the originator of the psychoanalytic perspective. The psychoanalytic theory focused on
the role of the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind was the seat of unacceptable urges,
desires, and conflicts. It was the job of the psychoanalyst to gain access to the unconscious mind,
which is below the level of awareness, using various techniques developed by Freud. The
psychoanalytic perspective dominated psychology, and popularized the field, throughout the
early 20th century. UNCONCIOUSNESS.
Behaviorism- focus was shifted from the mind to observable behavior. Behavior could be
controlled using various learning principles.
● Ivan Pavlov – won the Nobel prize in 1904 for his work on the digestive system of dogs.
He originated classical conditioning. He paired a conditioned stimulus (bell) with an
unconditioned stimulus (food) to produce a conditioned response (salivation).
, ● John B. Watson- known as the father of behaviorism within psychology.
● B. F. Skinner- originated operant conditioning. Reinforcement and punishment were
thought to control behavior. Skinner was the most eminent psychologist of the 20th
century. Modified versions of the operant conditioning chamber, or Skinner box, are still
widely used in research settings today.
Humanism- A perspective that ran counter the determinism of psychoanalysis and behaviorism.
Humanists emphasized the innate goodness of people and free will.
● Humanists, like Maslow and Rogers, emphasized growth and realizing one’s potential.
● Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
● Carl Rodgers- developed client-centered therapy which focused on the agency of the
client. The client was thought to be the expert of their own experience and the agent of
change. Therapists in this tradition embody the following conditions in their therapy:
Empathy, 2. Unconditional Positive Regard, 3. Genuineness.
Cognitive Psychology- Studies how we think. combined advances in linguistics, computer.
Refocused attention on the mind as a source of study.
● Noam Chomsky- a linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist, helped start the
cognitive revolution. He argued that the field of psychology needed to take into account
mental functioning, rather than just stimulus-response.
Bonus Questions-
Areas of Psychology-
● Biopsychology – Focusses on how our biology affects our behavior. Research areas
include sleep, sensory and motor systems, biological underpinnings of disorders, drug use
and abuse, and neural development, among other areas.
● Evolutionary Psychology – Biopsychology studies proximate (immediate) causes of
behavior, whereas evolutionary psychology focuses on ultimate causes.
● Sensation and Perception – Examines the workings of the sensory systems as well as the
psychological experience of sensations (perception).
● Cognitive Psychology - focuses on studying cognitions, or thoughts, and their
relationship to our experiences and our actions. Researchers study such topics as
attention, problem-solving, language, and memory.
● Developmental Psychology - the scientific study of development across a lifespan.
