AP Unit 1Approaches and History
of Psychology
1.1 Why Study Psychology?Psychology provides tools to help us gain
insight into our own behavior, as well as our relationships with others.
Definition of Psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes. Psychology falls under the Behavioral
Science.2
Psychological Needs are things like love, comfort, securityPhysiological Needs are physical Needs are things you have to have like food, water, sleep.
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4 Goals of Psychology:
1. Description: the kid at the candy aisle is having a melt down.
2. Explanation: he wants
the pretty candy
3. Prediction: He
will get the candy
4. Influence: Wal-Mart knows that moms have already lost patience with their kids by the time they get to the checkout line so they put the candy there to get the kids to wear mom down to buy the candy.
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Learning about psychology can help
you gain… – a better understanding of your own behavior.
– knowledge about how psychologists study human and animal behavior.
– practical applications for enriching your life.
1. Description
Example: The child throws a fit every time he goes to Wal-Mart and his mom says no by the candy aisle.
fotosearch.com
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Psychology is Empirical that means information is obtained through observation and experimentation not common sense or guessing.
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2. Explanation
moisiadis.com
http://lewweb.net/science/images/SMflowchart.jpeg
By accumulating knowledge we are able to predict what people or animals will do or think in certain situations and predict future behaviors.
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3. Prediction
Scientist seek to influence behavior in helpful ways.
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4. Influence
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Chains like Wal-mart have done these scientific observations and place candy as you check out because when your kid is screaming sometimes it is easier to just buy the candy bar.
Basic Science/Research:Research Ex. Research on drug effects on the brain.
Applied Science/Research: putting that research to use for a purpose Example: Using research on how drugs effect the brain to come up with a new antidepressant to help people suffering from depression.9
There are two types of science that influences psychology.
Empirical Science: knowledge originates in experience and that science should rely on observation and experimentation
The scientific method is used to reduce errors and biases.A theory is a proposed explanation. In Psychology we will be studying different theories.Hypothesis is predicting a Relationship between variables11
Pseudoscience
Greek for “False Science” Examples: Horoscopes, Astrology, Phrenology
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scienceandsociety.emory.edu
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxHni1ggM1E
Randy million dollar challenge
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Phrenologyled scientists to study the bumps on the head to determine human behavior Phrenology is considered a pseudoscience (False Science)
Phrenology
sparkmuseum.com
Chapter 1.2: History of Psychology
14The Greeks
Aristotle and Plato (384-322 BCE.)Started asking how the mind and the body were related?? Were the separate or related??
Are ideas inborn or is the mind a blank slate filled by experience?
en.wikipedia.org
Rene Descartes “I think therefore I am”
15plato.stanford.edu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKLrqxC70c
Dualism: the concept of the mind and body are separate and distinct.
Theory of natural selection (1859)Darwin’s theory encouraged scientific inquiryVery controversial
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Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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John Locke1. One of his major contributions was
to the field of psychology and he is often called the “Father of English Psychology.”
2. Wrote Tabula Rasa. Locke proposes that we are all born with certain knowledge and principles that helps us to become part of society. He states that it is through experience, of the world around us, this is how one forms ideas. He further states that human knowledge is gathered in 2 distinct ways through sensation and reflection.
3. Innate: Being born with it.
3 Things you need to remember about your daddy:
1. Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany.
2. Changed psychology from a philosophy to a science.
3. Studied introspection. Introspection means looking within yourself. How do you feel about this or that. How does that rose make you feel?
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Who’s Your Daddy??? Wilhelm Wundt is the father of Psychology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWv3tQUY-9k
William James
(1842-1910)
Broke down consciousness to basic thoughts.
Introspection - self-observationof one’s own conscious experiences
Investigate the function, or purposeof consciousness rather than its structure James thought that we developed useful habits, such as washing our hands before eating because they help us function more effectively in our daily lives.
Structuralism vs.
Functionalism
Wilhelm Wundt
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Picture a blade of grass. A structuralist might have lingered over the intensity of the green color of the blade of grass, the clarity of its texture, and the roughly rectangular shape of the blade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTD3NxUyPvs
William James What you have two daddies? Yes, one is your American Daddy. Known as the Father of American Psychology. You also need to know he wrote the 1st Psychology Book and Father of Functionalism.
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alexbinetti.wordpress.com
Gestalt Psychology
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Max Wertheimer(1880-1943)
“The whole is different thanthe sum of its parts.”
Can you read this?
This is bcuseae the huammn mnid deos not raed ervey
lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?
What is it?? We like to fill in the gaps so that we see objects as wholes.
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Contemporary Psychology Psychology’s Perspectives
A lot depends on your viewpoint Eclectic means that you use several of the theories to
describe behavior.
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1.Psychoanalysis that is now called Psychodynamic
2.Cognitive3.Behavioral4.Biological5.Socio-cultural6.Humanistic known also
has Positive Psychology 7.evolutionary
Sample Problem: Use this scenario to describe using the Contemporary Approaches how you
would evaluate and treat The Hulk
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Problem:The hulk is constantly suffering from explosions of anger.
Evolutionary Perspective
Focuses on Darwinism.
We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors.
Thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival.
Evolutionary Perspective?
Psychodynamic Psychology pg. 18
Also called Psychoanalytic.Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that determine behavior. Unconscious are motives that you are not aware of. For instance if someone with brown hair rejects you, then you might not talk to people with that color hair.Conscious are motives that you are aware of. 29
Sigmund Freud: Father of Psychoanalysis
NOT psychology!!!!
Psychoanalytic Psychology pg. 18
Study of unconscious motives and conflicts that determine behavior. Freud used the technique called free association He would say a word and you would say the first word that popped in your head and he would then analysis what is going on in your unconscious. 30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz80yYvnWg4
Psychodynamic?
sciencedaily.com
Cognitive Approach
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Cognitive Psychologists return
to the study of learning,memory, perception,
language,development & problem solving Example: Is your boyfriend
dumping you traumatic or do you just think it is therefore you are depressed? Or..your ability to
do math compared to a 5 year old. You can understand abstract thinking that goes along
with statistics.
Cognition is the mental processesinvolved in acquiring, processing,
storing & using information
child-development-guide.com
Cognitive Approach
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JEAN PIAGET 1896 – 1980 Worked in France
administering Binet’s IQ test.Children do not think like adults. Why?Created 4 stages of cognitive ability that accurately explain the behavior of children.Influenced teachers and school system.
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Cognitive Approach
Cognitive
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Biological Approach
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FocusHow the body and brain create emotions, memories,and sensory experiences.
FocusHow the body and brain create emotions, memories,and sensory experiences.
Sample Issues• Depression and antidepressants. Problems with
thyroids.• How are messages transmitted within the body?• How is blood chemistry linked with moods and
motives?
Biological?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Rb9n_sQDg&feature=related
Behavioral Approach
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Scientific Psychology should
focus on observable behavior.
John Watson(1878-1958)
Ivan Pavlov
B.F. Skinner
Behavioral Approach
Social-Cultural Approach
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FocusHow behavior and thinking vary across situationsand cultures.
FocusHow behavior and thinking vary across situationsand cultures.
Sample Issues• How are we, as members of different races andnationalities, alike as members of one human family?• How do we differ, as products of different
social contexts?• Why do people sometimes act differently in
groups thanwhen alone?
Socio-culutural?
Humanistic Approach also called Positive Psychology
You have the potential to be great.Self Actualization.Feel Good approach.Client Centered TherapyHierarchy of needs.42
Carl Rogers believed in “client centered therapy”Abraham Maslow came up with the Hierarchy of needs
Humanistic or Positive Psychology?
Fields of Psychology
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Psychologist is someone who is trained to observe and influence behavior in people.
Psychiatrist is a medical doctor that can prescribe medicine.
Psychology’s Subfields
PsychometricsBasic Research
Developmental psychologyEducational psychologyPersonality psychologySocial psychology
Psychology’s Subfields
Applied ResearchIndustrial/organizational psychologyHuman factors psychologyCounseling psychologyClinical psychologyPsychiatry
Psychology’s Big Debate
Nature Versus Nurture
Where you born that way or did your environment make you that way?
Superman?
Tips for Studying Psychology
SQ3R Survey, Question, Read, Rehearse, Review.Study Tips
Distribute your study timeLearn to think criticallyIn class, listen activelyOverlearnBe a smart test-taker
Homework:
#1. Go to:http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jspPick three colleges you are interested in and find out what you need to make on your AP exam to get credit. On one of your choices research how much a 3 credit class it.#2