Transcript Document

PSYCHOLOGY
Prologue
What is Psychology?
“The science of behavior and
mental processes”
What an organism thinks, feels and acts
What an organism DOES
What an organism EXPERIENCES
sensations, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, feelings…
History of Psychology
• MIND AND BODY ARE DISTINCT
= Socrates, Plato, Descartes
• MIND AND BODY ARE CONNECTED
= Aristotle
• WILHELM WUNDT
= Father of modern Psychology
Evolution of Psychology
• Until 1920’s
- Science of MENTAL LIFE
1920’s – 1960’s
- Science of OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOR
1960’s to current
- BEHAVIOR and MENTAL PROCESSES
Prologue: Psychology’s Roots
 Structuralism
used introspection
(looking in) to
explore the
elemental
structure of the
human mind
 Inherent problems
Prologue: Psychology’s Roots
 Functionalism
 focused on how
behavioral
processes
function- how
they enable
organism to
adapt, survive,
and flourish
William James 1842 - 1910
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW6n
m69Z_IE
BIG ISSUES QUIZ
• 0 = disagree strongly; 1= disagree
somewhat; 2 = disagree slightly
3 = agree slightly; 4 = agree
somewhat; 5 agree strongly
Most people have an accurate
understanding of the reasons for their
own behavior
0 = disagree strongly; 1= disagree somewhat;
2 = disagree slightly
3 = agree slightly; 4 = agree somewhat; 5 agree
strongly
Psychology’s BIG ISSUES
• Stability vs. Change
• Rationality vs. Irrationality
• Nature vs. Nurture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd5Y3-F79LY
PSYCHOLOGY’s BIG ISSUE
NATURE VS. NURTURE DEBATE
Nature: Socrates
EMPIRICISM:
Nurture: Aristotle, Locke -the mind as a blank slate
knowledge originates in experience, science should
be about observation and experimentation
SEVEN PERSPECTIVES
PSYCHODYNAMIC
How behavior derives from unconscious
conflicts & drives – childhood traumas,
unfulfilled wishes, etc…
• Sigmund Freud
- Personality develops through unconscious
experiences
- Id, Ego, Superego
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u
meSI8CmaPw
BEHAVIORAL
• How do we learn to respond?
How do we alter our behavior for
desired results?
Behavior controlled by events in the
environment
• Ivan Pavlov, John Watson, B.F. Skinner
Investigated OBSERVABLE behavior
• Pavlov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhq
umfpxuzI
• Eddie Izard and Pavlov’s cat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whw
iMrBNWCA
• Skinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJ
qjlrHA
HUMANISTIC
Behavior controlled by internal
growth and self concept
Behaviors evolve
are self-directed
(FREE WILL)
MASLOV
Carl Rogers
COGNITIVE
How we encode, process, store
and retrieve information for
memory and reasoning
Behavior is a product of our learning
• Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky
How we learn (process, store, retrieve and use info)
How learning influences our behavior
NEUROSCIENCE
How does brain and body work together to
enable memories, emotions?
• Behavior is controlled by
neurological function
• Roger Sperry
• Biological interaction of
mind and body
(BRAIN & CNS)
SOCIAL-CULTURAL
• How behavior and thinking varies
between cultures and situations
Behavior is a product of societal influences
• Solomon Asch
Looks at how behavior and
thinking varies across cultures
EVOLUTIONARY
How does natural selection and evolution
influence genes & behavior?
• Charles Darwin
• Natural selection of traits promotes
the perpetuation of genes
BEHAVIOR-GENETIC
• How much does our environment vs.
genetics influence our differences,
intelligence, personality, sexual
orientation?
Perspectives Hand Mnemonic
Behavioral
Socio-Cultural
Cognitive
Neuroscience
Humanistic
Psycho-dynamic
Evolutionary
Perspectives Practice
• Peter has some emotional problems
and is acting out in school. Upon doing
some tests, they discover that he
excels in visual learning and visual
learning cues, while textual cues seem
to be a problem. They also learn he
may have dyslexia.
– What perspective might she use to
explain or deal with his behavior?
Perspectives Practice
• Peter has some emotional problems
and is acting out in school. His teacher
notices that – while bright- he lacks
self-esteem. He is left alone at home
and is not eating properly. She found
out recently that he is also homeless.
She believes that with time and help,
he can reach his full potential.
– What perspective might she use to
explain or deal with his behavior?
Perspectives Practice
• Peter has some emotional problems
and is acting out in school. After he
begins taking medication, he begins to
slow down and focus on his work. He
seems to be doing better, but his
mood is “off” and he is not his “happygo-lucky” self.
– What perspective might she use to
explain or deal with his behavior?
Perspectives Practice
• Peter has some emotional problems and is
acting out in school. After further investigation
into his past, we discover that both his father
and grandfather suffered from aggressive
tendencies – including Oppositional Defiant
Disorder – and had not received help for their
illness.
– What perspective might she use to explain or
deal with his behavior?
• Beth
Psychology Perspectives
• Death Penalty – For or Against?
– The Andrea Yates Story: 60 minutes