Introduction of Psychology
Background
Study of mind (mental processes) and behavior.
psyche (soul) - ology (scientific study)
Roots in philosophy
Empirical method: Gaining knowledge through experience and observation.
The core of scientific approach: Critical thinking - Curiosity - Skepticism - Objectivity.
Critical thinking: Process of thinking deeply, actively, asking question and evaluating the evidence.
History
Wundt and structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920), German scientist, 1st psychologist.
Separated psychology as a science from philosophy.
Founded 1st psychology laboratory in 1879.
Viewed psychology as a scientific study of conscious experience.
Used empirical research methods to study consciousness.
Introspection a process to examine his own conscious thoughts and feelings to gain knowledge about his mental and emotional states, to study conciousness.
Structuralism approach focuses on describing each of the separate elements that make up conscious experience - The organisation of the mind.
Highly subjective and out of favor.
James and functionalism
William James (1842–1910), 1st American psychologist.
Accepted Darwin theory "Evolution and natural selection".
Viewed psychology as studying the function of behavior.
Functionalism focuses on how mental activities helped an organism fit into its environment - The operation of the whole mind.
Freud and psychoanalytic theory
Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), Austrian neurologist.
Viewed unconscious mind is a repository of feelings and conflicts of his patients.
Used dream analysis, first word came to minds, slips of the tongue to access unconscious mind.
Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the role of unconsciousness, early childhood experiences.
Wertheimer, Koffka, Kohler and Gestalt psychology
Max Wertheimer (1880–1943), Kurt Koffka (1886–1941), Wolfgang Köhler (1887–1967), German psychologists.
Gestalt psychology saws consciousness as a whole experience that could not be studied as separate parts.
Pavlo, Watson, Skinner and behaviorism
Ivan Pavlov (1849–1936), Russian physiologist.
Discovered the conditioned reflex, the salivation reflex in dogs response to foods.
John B. Watson (1878–1958), American psychologist.
Believed objective analysis of the mind was impossible.
Focused directly on observable behavior and try to bring behavior under control - behaviorism.
B. F. Skinner (1904–1990), American psychologist.
Used Skinner box to examine that reinforcement and punishment as major factors in driving behavior.
Behaviorists makes psychology an objective science.
Only outward, observable behavior should be studied, not inner mental processes.
Maslo, Rogers and humanism
Humanism emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans.
How unique each person is, how they have the opportunity to completely develop their sense of self, and how this might lead to a more fulfilling life.
Abraham Maslow (1908–1970), American psychologist.
Proposed a hierarchy of human needs.
Carl Rogers (1902–1987, American psychologist.
Used client centered therapy, technique that patient taking a lead role, to help his clients problematic issues.
Unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.
Cognitive revolution
Noam Chomsky (1928–), American linguist.
Jean Piaget (1896-1980), Swiss psychologist.
Cognitive approach emphasizes the mental processes involved in knowing and thinking.
How information is processed, stored, retrieved, used.
How mental processes affects human cognition, language, problem-solving and creativity.
Multicultural psychology
Cecil Sumner, 1st African American psychologist.
Results from studying a group could not be extended to the other
groups.
Contemporary psychology
American Psychological Association (APA)
Biopsychology
Evolutionary psychology
Explore how biology (brain, nervous system, other physiological processes) influence our mental process and behavior.
A component of neuroscience.
Focus on the immediate causes of behavior based in the physiology.
Exam how human psychology traits and behaviors have evolved overtime through process of natural selection - Adaptation.
Focus on function of behaviors.
Cognitive psychology
Study of internal mental process (perception, thinking, memory, attention, language, problem solving and learning).
Explore how people receive and process information.
Developmental psychology
Study physical and psychological (cognitive skills, moral reasoning, social behavior and others) changes associated with aging.
Personality psychology
Study how personality developed and how personality influence our thoughts and behaviors.
5 popular traits: OCEAN (Openness - Conscientiousness - Extroversion - Agreeableness - Neuroticism).
Social psychology
Focus on how we interact with and relate to others.
Industrial-Organizational (I-O) psychology
Apply psychological theories, principles, and research findings in industrial and organizational settings.
Businesses seek the aid of I-O psychologists to make hiring decision, increase employee productivity and efficiency.
Health psychology
Focus on how health is affected by the interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Explore the way to help us have healthier lives.
Sport and exercise psychology
Study the psychological aspects of sport performance, including motivation and performance anxiety, and the effects of sport on mental and emotional wellbeing.
Clinical psychology
Focus on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological
disorders.
Forensic psychology
Psychological concerns in the context of justice system.