Chapter 1
thinking critically with psychological science
Module 1
History of psychology:
- Aristotle: first to theorized about learning & memory, motivation and
emotional perception/ personality
First schools of thought
- Structuralism- Edward Bradford Titchener
- Functional- William James
Psychology should be objective science
Can’t ignore mental processes when studying humans
Freudian psychoanalytic psychology- ways unconscious mind and
childhood experiences affect behavior
Humanistic psychology- rejects behaviorism & Freudian: emphasis on
human growth potential
Contemporary Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology: Study of the mental processes involved in
perceiving, learning,
remembering, thinking, communicating, and solving problems
• Cognitive Neuroscience: Inter-disciplinary study of the brain activity
linked with
cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language)
• Evolutionary Psychology: Study of evolution of behavior and mind, using
principles of
natural selection
• Cross-Cultural Psychology: Study of shared ideas and behaviors that one
generation
passes on to next; culture and people around the world and underlying
processes
• Positive Psychology: Study of human flourishing; discovering and
promoting
strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
Three major levels of analysis of psychology
thinking critically with psychological science
Module 1
History of psychology:
- Aristotle: first to theorized about learning & memory, motivation and
emotional perception/ personality
First schools of thought
- Structuralism- Edward Bradford Titchener
- Functional- William James
Psychology should be objective science
Can’t ignore mental processes when studying humans
Freudian psychoanalytic psychology- ways unconscious mind and
childhood experiences affect behavior
Humanistic psychology- rejects behaviorism & Freudian: emphasis on
human growth potential
Contemporary Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology: Study of the mental processes involved in
perceiving, learning,
remembering, thinking, communicating, and solving problems
• Cognitive Neuroscience: Inter-disciplinary study of the brain activity
linked with
cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language)
• Evolutionary Psychology: Study of evolution of behavior and mind, using
principles of
natural selection
• Cross-Cultural Psychology: Study of shared ideas and behaviors that one
generation
passes on to next; culture and people around the world and underlying
processes
• Positive Psychology: Study of human flourishing; discovering and
promoting
strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
Three major levels of analysis of psychology
