Introduction to Historical Introduction to Historical PerspectivesPerspectives

Ms. SimonMs. SimonSeptember 11, 2010September 11, 2010

Today’s Agenda:Today’s Agenda:1) Attendance1) Attendance2) Homework Buddies2) Homework Buddies3) Class Positions3) Class Positions4) Useful Course Websites4) Useful Course Websites5) Textbook Distribution5) Textbook Distribution6) Introduction to Historical 6) Introduction to Historical PerspectivesPerspectives

Do NowDo Now• Draw a line and label one end science and the Draw a line and label one end science and the

opposite end humanitiesopposite end humanities• Where would psychology fall?Where would psychology fall?

______________________________________________________________Hard SciencesHard Sciences Humanities Humanities(Chemistry, Physics)(Chemistry, Physics) (Philosophy, Art)

Psychology is the Psychology is the scientificscientific study study of mental processes and behaviorof mental processes and behavior

Science includes:Science includes:

AIM: What are the historical roots AIM: What are the historical roots of psychology?of psychology?

I. Historical OriginsI. Historical Origins• Etm: Etm: psychpsych: Soul or breath of life: Soul or breath of life

A. Mind-body dualism:A. Mind-body dualism:• Proposed by Proposed by Socrates Socrates and and PlatoPlato• Mind is Separate from Mind is Separate from the Bodythe Body

B. AristotleB. Aristotle

• Knowledge is Knowledge is acquired through acquired through scientific scientific methodsmethods

• Monism-Monism- the the mind and body mind and body are oneare one

B. Renee DescartesB. Renee Descartes

• ““Cogito ergo sum”Cogito ergo sum”

• The interaction between brain and body The interaction between brain and body occurs in the pineal glandoccurs in the pineal gland

Franz Joseph GallFranz Joseph Gall• Phrenology= mental abilities are located in Phrenology= mental abilities are located in

specific regions of the brain specific regions of the brain

Summary:Summary:• Who said: “The soul is not separable from Who said: “The soul is not separable from

the body, and the same holds true of the body, and the same holds true of particular parts of the soul?”particular parts of the soul?”

• Psychology is the _________________Psychology is the _________________

• The idea that the mind is separate from the The idea that the mind is separate from the body is known as __________ body is known as __________ __________________________

• Phrenology was studied by _____________?Phrenology was studied by _____________?

Historical PerspectivesHistorical Perspectives

Ms. SimonMs. SimonSeptember 14, 2010September 14, 2010

Do Now:Do Now:

• Prop up name tag.Prop up name tag.• Take out homework from last night. Take out homework from last night.

Discuss answers with your neighborDiscuss answers with your neighbor• What is meant by the “blank slate” theory What is meant by the “blank slate” theory

of consciousness? of consciousness?

Nature or nurture?Nature or nurture?

AIM: What is the history of AIM: What is the history of psychology?psychology?

Wave 1: IntrospectionWave 1: Introspection

Wave 1: IntrospectionWave 1: Introspection• (1879) (1879) Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt sets sets

up first psychology up first psychology laboratory in Germanylaboratory in Germany

• Very influential psychologistVery influential psychologist

• Proposes Proposes structuralismstructuralism- – Breaks consciousness into Breaks consciousness into

structuresstructures– mind combines subjective mind combines subjective

emotions and objective emotions and objective sensationssensations

Wave 1: IntrospectionWave 1: Introspection

• Example: bright red color (sensation) and Example: bright red color (sensation) and frustration (emotion) leads to angerfrustration (emotion) leads to anger

Wave 1: IntrospectionWave 1: Introspection

• Student Edward Titchner brought science Student Edward Titchner brought science of psychology to U.S.of psychology to U.S.

• Introspection:Introspection:subjects recordsubjects recordcognitivecognitivereactions toreactions tosimple stimulisimple stimuli(Branch of(Branch ofStructuralism)Structuralism)

Why might introspection be Why might introspection be considered “unscientific?”considered “unscientific?”

• SubjectiveSubjective

• Self reports are not accurateSelf reports are not accurate

• Words may have different meanings to usWords may have different meanings to us

• Many confounding variablesMany confounding variables

William JamesWilliam James

• William James (1890) William James (1890) writes the Principles of writes the Principles of PsychologyPsychology

• Rejects structuralismRejects structuralism

• Introduces FunctionalismIntroduces Functionalism

FunctionalismFunctionalism

• Studies how cognitive structures evolved Studies how cognitive structures evolved functionfunction to enable an organism to adapt to enable an organism to adapt and surviveand survive

• Examples: nose, consciousnessExamples: nose, consciousness

Wave Two: Gestalt PsychologyWave Two: Gestalt Psychology

Wave Two: GestaltWave Two: Gestalt

• Founder: Founder: Max WertheimerMax Wertheimer

• German German word Gestalt meaning “form” or word Gestalt meaning “form” or “whole”“whole”

• Examines consciousness as total Examines consciousness as total experience, rather than divide into different experience, rather than divide into different partsparts

AP PSYCHOLOGY:Contemporary Approachesand MethodsSeptember 15, 2010

Subfields of Psychology

• Basic Psychology

• Applied Psychology

Psychiatry

AIM: What are the contemporary perspectives

in psychology?

WAVE THREE:Psychodynamic

Psychodynamic Approach•Sigmund Freud (1856- 1939) is the founder

•Unconscious thought isin conflict with conscious behavior

•Defense mechanisms- repress unconscious

Psychodynamic ApproachPsychoanalysis

Free Association

Dream Interpretation

1) Psychodynamic Perspective

• Psychotherapy uncovers unconscious desires or impulses, focus on childhood

WAVE Four:Behaviorism

Behavioral Approach• US in 1900’s• John B Watson (late

1800’s) founder of Behaviorism

• Believes any behavior can be shaped and controlled

2. Behavioral Perspective

• The study of observable behavior (no mental processes)

• Explains psychology by principles of learning

*How does the behavioral perspective differ from the psychoanalytical perspective?

3. Biological Approach Thought and behavior influenced by

genes, hormones and neurotransmitters

1) Psychobiology-Mind and body areInterrelated 2) Evolutionary- behaviors evolvedBecause they were advantageousDRUGS!!!

4. Cognitive ApproachEmphasizes how people think AND interpret as the basis for understanding human behavior,

• Emerges in the 1960’s in response to behaviorism

• Combines computer science, neurology, linguistics, and philosophy

• Serial vs. Parallel Processing http://viscog.beckman.illinois.edu/flashmovie/15.php

5. Sociocultural Approach

• Focuses on human activity in a social context

• How do thoughts and behaviors vary from people living in other cultures?

6. Humanist Approach• Emphasizes the potential for individual

growth and self-awareness

• Carl Rogers- focuses ones self-concept, or how a person defines their own reality

-Self-concept is a strive forself-actualization

Humanist Approach

AP Psychology

Ms. SimonSeptember 17-24, 2009

Introduction to Research Methods

Do Now:

1) What are the 6 contemporary perspectives in psychology?

OverconfidenceOur tendency to

overestimate how well we can predict different situations

We rely on our own judgments rather than hard facts

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it

“I knew it all along!”

AIM: How is descriptive research conducted in psychology?

Subfields of Psychology

• Basic Research- research to expand scientific knowledge

• Applied Research research put into practice as therapist, or to solve practical problems

• Psychiatry- a medical field- deals with mental disorders- prescribe medication

There are three main types of research methods in psychology:

1)Descriptive- using observations to

make generalizations a) Naturalistic b) Case Study c) Survey method

2) Correlational3) Experimental

Naturalistic ObservationObserve subjects in natural

habitats without interacting

Naturalistic ObservationPros Cons1. Realistic 1. No manipulation

of variables2. Inexpensive 2. Observer Bias-

Influence on interpretations based on the observer’s expectations

3. Few Ethical Consideration

Descriptive Study:b) Case Study- psychologists

study one individual in great depth in hopes of revealing universal principles

Case Study Pros• Detailed information

• Unusual Cases

• Inexpensive

• Few ethical considerations

The Problem with the Case Study:

An individual may be atypical

Cannot generalize results

Difficult to Manipulate Variables

Difficult to quantify data

c. Survey Method

• Relies on questions answered by a group of people in interviews or questionnaires

Survey Method• Experimenter must identify the

population to study

• Random sampling picking members from a population randomly to ensure a representative sample

Survey Method

Pros ConsCan gather lots of data

Honest answers?

Few ethical considerations

Need many participants

Inexpensive Wording Effects

Wording Effects

• In a study by AMNH, 88% of all respondents said that they were interested in plants and trees, but only 39% said they were interested in botany.

• One out of five Americans (22 percent) doubted that the Holocaust had occurred. 12% said they weren’t sure

What to Watch for…

• Order of choices

• Is the time frame specified?

• How personal or direct is the wording?

• Is there a cultural bias?

Correlational Studies

• Correlational studies assess the association between two or more characteristics of interest without ascribing causes

• Is a correlational study an experiment?

Correlation coefficient

Example: R= + .37

Correlational Studies