History of psychology

What really is “Psychology”?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes– Rooted in PHYSIOLGICAL and COGNITIVE

processes Behavior includes all observable behavior. Mental processes include thoughts, feelings, and dreams.

– Psychology relies on RESEARCH to create theories on behavior, cognition and the WHY THE HECK DID HE/SHE DO THAT???? Uses scientific Research Method

History of PsychologyPsychology = "psyche” + "logos"

(spirit +the study of) (mind/soul + study of =

PSYCHOLOGY)

Psychology evolved from both philosophy and from physiology

1879 first psychology lab- Wilhelm Wundt

Philosophy EX: Questions

– Where is the mind located?– What is the meaning of life?– Nature vs. nurture (hereditary or environment?)–

Aristotle: Mind is found in the heart… Descartes and Dualism:

– Mind & body are separate but communicate between their two different realms through the pineal body

CHARLES DARWIN 1809-1882Published theory of evolution in 1859

Charles Darwin

Was an English biologist - psychology not a science at that time

Darwin’s writings inspired others to study animals in an attempt to understand humans better

Published Origin of Species- 1859 and The Descent of Man - 1871

MODERN PSYCHOLOGY’S

NINETEENTH-CENTURY ROOTS

Wilhelm Wundt 1832-1920

“Father of Psychology” German philosopher and psychologist Started the first psych laboratory for

studying humans in 1879 Wundt believed that the subject matter of

psychology is conscious experience

– But…how do we study consciousness???

Wundt used technique of introspection

The process of looking inside oneself and describing what one feels, thinks,remembers.

This approach is still used today in clinical psychology

Wundt believed that people could use introspection to learn about themselves– EX: Trained people to describe in detail all

sensations they received from objects that they came in contact with

– The information was then collected and analyzed used scientific method

E.B. Titchener (1867-1927) Analyzed the intensity, clarity and quality

of the parts of consciousness Founder of structuralism

– The structure of conscious experience could be understood by analyzing the basic structural elements of thoughts and sensations.

WUNDT JAMES

WILLIAM JAMES 1842-1910

American philosopher considered to be first American psychologist

Founder of Functionalism– Wanted to understand how the mind

“functioned” to help people adapt to their environment rather than just describe it

– Humans should be studied as complete wholes Wrote 1st textbook on psychology (volumes)

Max Wertheimer

*Gestalt Psychology– We tend to integrate

pieces of info. into meaningful wholes.

– "the whole is different (greater?) than the sum of its parts”

– behaviorists were trying to break up the whole

Must continue to study “consciousness”–

Psychology in the

Twentieth Century

UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH BEHAVIORAL APPROACH HUMANISTIC APPROACH COGNITIVE APPROACH EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH NEUROBIOLOGICAL APPROACH SOCIOCULTURAL APPROACH BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH

SIGMUND FREUD FOUNDER OF PSYCHOANALYSIS

SIGMUND FREUD1856-1939

•Austrian physician•Emphasized the power of un- conscious conflicts and early childhood experiences•Developed one of the first theories of personality

PSYCHOANALYSIS

Unconscious urges Hidden aggressive tendencies Sexual impulses Childhood experiences Suppressed memories FantasiesTHESE UNCONSCIOUS INFLUENCES

CONTROL MUCH OF OUR BEHAVIOR

Freud used hypnosis, then free association and interpretation of dreams to learn about the unconscious.

Free association: saying whatever comes to your mind without fear of judgment.

ID –CONTAINS OUR BASIC NEEDS AND DRIVES, SEXUAL AND AGGRESSIVE IMPULSES LOCATED IN THE UNCONSCIOUS PART OF MIND SUPEREGO- ROUGHLY THE SAME AS OUR CONSCIENCE WHICH CAUSES GUILT FOR BEING BAD AND PRIDE FOR DOING THE RIGHT THINGS

EGO- THE SELF THAT ALLOWS CONTROLLED ID EXPRESSION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SUPEREGO. The unconscious can surface in our dreams, through free

association, and our “ego” which allows the expression of the ID.

IVAN PAVLOV-(1849-1936)

Learned important principles of conditioning through his experiments with dogs (initially investigating the role of saliva in digestion)

Not a psychologist, but aRussian physiologist

Major contributor to modernpsychology.

ENTER THE BEHAVIORISTS

BEHAVIORISM

Learned behavior through rewards and punishments-positive and negative reinforcements, associations

Emphasis on observable behavior Our behavior is more influenced by

consequences (positive or negative) rather than free will. Much of our learning is through conditioning

JOHN B. WATSON 1878-1958 One of the first to study the impact of

learning on human emotion Believed that we are what we “learn” to be Wrote a book on child rearing Watson believed that behavior NOT the

mind should be the focus of psychology Conducted controversial learning by

association experiment on “Little Albert”

JOHN WATSON

Founder of behaviorism Did not believe that psychologist should concentrate on consciousness or mental processes, but on observable behavior.

EXPERIMENT ON CONDITIONING CONDUCTED

ON “LITTLE ALBERT” 9-11 MONTHS OLD

BY WATSON IN THE 1920S

B. F. SKINNER 1904-1990

Believed we are controlled by our environment and become whatever the environment forces us to be

Must focus on observable behavior Automated his experiments and designed

the now famous “Skinner Box” –a sound proof chamber with a bar or key than an animal presses or pecks to release food or a reward

B.F.SKINNER Invented the operant chamber which

became known as the “Skinner Box” Coined the term “operant behavior” which refers to behaviors that “operate upon the

environment to generate consequences”

Mr. and Mrs. Skinnerview daughter, Debbie,In “box”.

HUMANISM Carl Rogers believed that people had within themselves the resources for self-under- standing and the ability to alter their self- concept, attitudes, and

behavior with the propernurturing and environment.

People are basically good.

CARL ROGERS1902-1987•HUMANIST•Believed the en- vironment does not force us to do any- thing.•Maintained that people are basically good

•ROGERS –

•We are in control of our own destinies•Can exercise free will to make changes in our lives•With the right nurturing, we can reach our highest potential•Emphasized importance of self-esteem

Humanism (continued) Being understood and valued gives us the

freedom to grow. Used “unconditional positive regard” in his therapy. His approach revolutionized therapy.

Roger’s techniques became known as Rogerian therapy (client-centered) Abraham Maslow was another psychologist who supported the humanistic approach.

ABRAHAM MASLOW (Humanist)

DEVELOPED IDEAOF HIERARCHY OFNEEDS WITH THEHIGHEST LEVELOF PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT BEINGSELF-ACTUALIZATION

pp. 140-142 in textbook

COGNITIVE (THINKING)

Belief that our thoughts and internal sentences are key motivators for behavior.

Irrational thinking such as overgeneralizing, jumping to conclusions, labeling, and mental filters lead to socially and psychologically destructive behavior.

JEAN PIAGET (1896-1980)ALBERT ELLIS (1913-2007)

IRRATIONAL THOUGHTS AFFECT OUR BEHAVIOR

All or nothing thinking Overgeneralization Mental filter Disqualifying the positive Jumping to conclusions Exaggerating or minimizing Emotional reasoning Should statements Labeling and mislabeling

NEUROBIOLOGICAL

Emphasizes physical changes or conditions in our bodies when explaining behavior

brain chemistry, glandular system, nervous system, genes, and any other systems operating in the body.

SOCIOCULTURAL

Focuses on the impact of cultural considerations including :

racial and ethnic background traditions religion family customs expectations in society.

“ECLECTICISM” IN PSYCHOLOGY

THE INTEGRATED USE OF TECHNIQUES FROM DIFFERENTPSYCHOTHERAPIES.