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Intro to Psychology
History of Psychology, Types of
Psychologists
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What is Psychology?
Psychology is the science of behavior andmental processesMental processes: what the brain does when we
think, remember, feel, etc.Behavior: outwardly observable acts of an individual,
alone, or in a group.GoalsDescribeExplain
predictcontrol mental processes and behavior.
The experimental study of behavior and thepractical applications that arise from them
A very broad and interdisciplinary field
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Brief History of Psychology
Earliest roots: philosophy
E.g., DescartesWhat is the mind? Is it different from the body?
Cartesian dualismstudied reflexes
Focus on existence of mind
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Toward a Scientific Psychology: Biology
Pierre Flourens - Experimental AblationCase of Phineas Gage
Hermann von Helmholtz Studied neuronal
transmission.Ernst Weber and psychophysics
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Scientific Study of Psychology:
Structuralism (ca 1870s -1900)
Wilhelm Wundt the father of psychologySet up the first psychology lab in 1879.
Created the approach of structuralism
Wanted to know what the structure of the mind wasUsed introspection
Edward Titchener student of Wundt,
introduced experimental psychology to the USA.
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Functionalism (ca 1880s current)
Arose in protest to the private mental eventsstudied by structuralists
Focused on the process of conscious activity
Had its roots with evolution. How is aparticular behavior adaptive?
William James: Not what mind does, but why
it does it
Became incorporated into all of psychology
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Gestalt Psychology
School of thought that emphasized the totalexperience of the individual and not just
parts of the mind or behavior
The whole is greater than the sum of its partsWanted to stay away from reductionism
Lacked scientific rigor and was displaced
Major influence in sensation and perception
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Psychoanalysis
Sigmund FreudFocused on the causes and treatment of
emotional disturbances, and particularly the
unconscious.Assumed that psychological maladjustment
is a consequence of unresolved conflict
Important in the history of psychotherapy
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Behaviorism (ca 1915 current)
Rejected mental events.Psychology should only study observable and
verifiable events.
John Watson Father of behaviorism.
Simplicity; belief in reductionism.Stimulus response
Used animals (pigeons and rats)
B. F. SkinnerDominated psychology for over 50 years.
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The Cognitive Revolution (mid 1970s)
A return to the studies of the mind and how itworked
The computer largely influenced theories of
the mind.Study of perception, representation, decision
making, memory, etc.
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Evolutionary Psychology
Relies heavily on Darwinian evolution.Traits and behaviors exist because they
were selected during evolution.
Individuals who possessed the particular trait hada reproductive advantage on individuals who did
not.
Behaviors exist for a reason.
Compare human behaviors with otheranimals. Comparative psychology.
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Behavioral Neuroscience (1990s especially)
The Decade of the Brain
Technological advances
Goal is a biological explanation of behavior.
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Behavioral Genetics (2000s)
How does our genetic makeup influence ourbehavior
Encouraged by newer technologies and
developmentsHuman genome project
Level of analysis is the gene
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Types of Psychologists
Experimental vs. Applied
Experimental: Use the scientific method to uncover
principles of psychology.
Applied: take the principles and apply them to help
others
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Biological psychology also called
physiological psychology, neuroscience,
neuropsychology Studies how the brain works. How does it
produce the behavior that we show? How are things learned in the brain? How are
emotions generated?
Often study animals
Often study cases of brain damage
Very interdisciplinary
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Learning / Animal Behavior Very influenced by behaviorism Study how animals (including humans) learn. Typically use rats, mice, or pigeons
Comparative psychology / evolutionarypsychology
Based around evolution how has behaviorevolved.
Comparison is of species! Study many different species
E.g., evolution of emotion
E.g., chimpanzees and language E.g., lemur memory
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Cognitive psychology study of the mind emphasizes internal mental processes
emphasizes the importance of cognitiveprocesses, such as perception, memory, andthinking
E.g., how does memory work? Think of your grandmother
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Social psychology - study of how people'sthoughts, feelings, and actions are
affected by others Study attitudes, conformity, helping
behavior, etc.
E.g., Why does Bob like Coors light?
E.g., How does a jury reach a verdict?
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Developmental psychology studies howbehavior changes over time
Studies children lifespan approach
How do we change as we age?
E.g., when do infants start walking?
E.g., what can be done to help childrenthat are not thriving.
E.g., is it healthy for teens to vent to theirfriends?
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AppliedPsychologists
Clinical PhD in clinical psychology Tries to help individuals suffering from psychological
maladjustment
Uses psychotherapy to treat psychological disorders
E.g., treat depression, anger management, etc. Psychiatry MD or DO branch of medicine
that specializes in psychological disorders Can prescribe medication to help alleviate a
problem
May also use psychotherapy
E.g., treat depression, anger management, etc.
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Counseling psychologyVery similar to clinical
Typically deal with healthier individualscareer and vocational assessment
Industrial / Organizational
seek to apply psychological principles to practicalproblems of education, industry, marketing, etc.
E.g., implement leadership program
E.g., Help companies get the most out of
employees The two Bobs
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School psychologist help children in school
Address things like:
Learning disabilitiesAttention-deficit disorder
Behavioral disorders
Sport psychologist applies psychological
principles to improve athletic performance
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Forensic psychologist - applications ofpsychological knowledge to theunderstanding of crime and criminal justice Study abnormal psychology
Personality psychology
Social psychology
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Requirements with Human Research
1. Must have informed consent.2. Be advised of the possible risks and benefits
of the procedure.
3. Be told that they can withdraw from the study
at any time without being penalized.4. After the experiment, participants must be
debriefed.
5. Deceiving participants is approved only when
the participant will not be harmed andknowledge gained outweighs the use ofdishonesty.
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Research with Animals
All research with animals must have theapproval of an IRB.
The IRB ensures that:1. Animals are housed properly
2. Animals are not mistreated.
3. Researchers may not cause animals pain unless
that is what is explicitly being studied and there are
potential benefits to humans of inflicting pain.
Labs may also inspected by USDA, OSCA, and
must have a veterinarian in charge of care.
PETA may also have an eye on laboratories.