Chapter 1

The Evolution of Psychology

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The Development of Psychology: From Speculation to Science

Prior to 1879– Physiology and philosophy scholars studying questions

about the mind Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) University of Leipzig,

Germany – Campaigned to make psychology an independent discipline– Established the first laboratory for the study of psychology in

1879 Psychology was born

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Wilhelm Wundt’s International Influence

Leipzig, the place to study psychology– Graduates of Wundt’s program set up new labs across

Europe and North America G.Stanley Hall (1846-1924), Johns Hopkins

University – Established the first psychology laboratory in the U.S. in

1883 Between 1883 and 1893, 24 new laboratories in

North America

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The Battle of the “Schools” in the U.S.: Structuralism vs. Functionalism

Two intellectual schools of thought regarding the science of psychology– Structrualism – led by Edward Titchener

• Focused on analyzing consciousness into basic elements• Introspection – careful, systematic observations of one’s own

conscious experience

– Functionalism – led by William James• Focused on investigating the function or purpose of consciousness• Led to investigation of mental testing, developmental patterns, and sex

differences• May have attracted the first women into the field of psychology

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Who Won the Battle?

Most historians give the edge to James and the functionalists– Today, psychologists are not really categorized as

structuralists or functionalists Applied psychology and Behaviorism - descendants

of functionalism– Behaviorism - early 1900’s

• The next major school of thought to influence the development of psychology

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Behaviorism: Redefining Psychology

John B. Watson (1878-1958): United States– Founder of Behaviorism

Psychology = scientific study of behavior B.F. Skinner – No freewill Behavior = overt or observable responses or

activities– Radical reorientation of psychology as a science of

observable behavior– Study of consciousness abandoned

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BEHAVIORAL

We should look for the causes of our behavior in our environment rather than in our biology or in our minds.

They have made their greatest contribution by giving us a detailed understanding of how the environment affects learning – especially through rewards and punishments.

They only care about behaviors that impair our living, and attempt to change them.

To change behaviors, we have to recondition the client.

This was the approach started by John Watson and B.F. Skinner.

Advantages? Disadvantages?

If you bit your fingernails when you

were nervous, a behaviorist would not focus on calming you

down, but rather focus on how to stop you

from biting your nails.

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Sigmund Freud and the Concept of the Unconscious Mind

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939): Austria Founded Psychoanalytic (Psychodynamic) school

of thought Emphasis on unconscious processes influencing

behavior– Unconscious = thoughts, memories, and desires that are

outside conscious awareness

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PSYCHODYNAMIC

The term psychodynamic comes from the belief that the mind (psyche) is a reservoir of energy (dynamics).

We are motivated primarily by the energy of irrational desires generated in our unconscious minds.

We repress many of our true feelings in our unconscious mind and are not aware of them. In order to get better, we must bring forward the feelings we have in our unconscious so that they can be dealt with.

Sigmund Freud is the best known representative of this approach.

The mind is a sort of mental boiler that holds the rising pressure of unconscious sexual and destructive desires, along with memories of traumatic events.

Stressed early childhood experiences determine later behavior

Negative view of humanity (aggression, sex) Use dreams, hypnosis, inkblots, Freudian slips to

access the unconscious

If a man has intimacy issues and cannot form relationships with

others, what do you think someone from this perspective may think?

Perhaps they may delve into the man’s unconscious and discover

that he was bullied when he were younger. The bullying may have

caused fear in getting close to others.

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Freud’s Ideas: Controversy and Influence

Behavior is influenced by the unconscious Unconscious conflict related to sexuality plays a

central role in behavior Controversial notions caused debate/resistance Significant influence on the field of psychology

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REVIEW:

WHO WAS THE FOUNDER OF PSYCHOLOGY?– WUNDT

WHO STARTED THE FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE?– JAMES

WHAT EARLY PERSPECTIVE DID TITCHENER START?– STRUCTURALISM

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REVIEW:WHO STARTED THE BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE?

– WATSON

WHAT IS THE MAJOR THEME OF THE BEHAVIORIST PERPECTIVE?

– THE ENVIRONMENT CONTROLS YOU

NAME ANOTHER MAJOR FIGURE IN THE BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE?

– B.F. SKINNER

WHAT IS THE MAJOR THEME OF THE PSYCHOANALITIC PERSPECTIVE?

– UNCONSCIOUS MOTIVATION

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Carl Rogers founder, Abraham Maslow also a big name Emerged as a revolt against behaviorism and psychoanalytic approaches This perspective peaked in the late 1960s and ’70s, so it focused on

spirituality and free will. Our actions are hugely influenced by our self-concept and by our need for

personal growth and fulfillment. We have to strive to be the best we can be (“self-actualization”).

Humanists emphasize the positive side of our nature: human ability, growth, and potential.

Believe in the inherent goodness of human beings Emphasize the free will people have to make choices affecting their lives,

and press psychology to take a greater interest in feelings and the self-concept.

Happiness is defined by the distance between our “self-concept” and our “ideal self”.

Unconditional Positive Regard

HUMANISTIC

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COGNITIVE

CHANGE THOUGHTS FIRST, BEHAVIOR WILL FOLLOW

You are what you think Our thoughts and actions arise from the way we interpret

our experiences. Concerned with the processes of thinking and memory,

attention, imagery, creativity, problem solving, and language use.

Discuss the mental processes which determine what humans can perceive, or communicate, as well as how they think.

Your mind is like a computer

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BIOLOGICAL

Sometimes also referred to as biopsychological or the neuroscience approach.

Emphasizes how our physical makeup and the operation of our brains influence our personality, preferences, behavior patterns, and abilities. In other words, all of our feelings and behaviors have an organic root.

Search for the causes of behavior in heredity, the nervous system, the endocrine (hormone) system, and disease.

More likely than other views to recommend medication

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Evolutionary

A variation on the biological view that draws on Darwin’s ideas.

Suggests that many human traits arise from hereditary characteristics established in our remote ancestral past.

Our genetic makeup – including our most deeply ingrained behaviors – were shaped by the conditions our ancestors faced thousands of years ago.

In other words, we behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors; thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors’ survival.

Advantages? Disadvantages?

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SOCIOCULTURAL

Focus on the idea of social influence. As a complex blend of human language, beliefs,

customs, values, and traditions, culture exerts powerful influences on all of us.

Much of our behavior and our feelings are dictated by the culture we live in.

Even in the same high school, behaviors can change in accordance to

the various subcultures.

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Contemporary Psychology: Cultural Diversity

Ethnocentrism – viewing one’s own group as superior and as the standard for judging

Historically: middle and upper class white males studying middle and upper class white males

1980’s – increased interest in how cultural factors influence behavior

growing global interdependence increased cultural diversity

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Psychology Today: A Thriving Science and Profession

Psychology is the science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie it, and it is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems.

Research: Seven major areas - developmental, social, experimental, physiological, cognitive, personality, and psychometrics.

Applied Psychology: Four major areas - clinical, counseling, educational/school, and industrial/organizational.

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