Transcript Psychology:
Psychology: A journey through perspectives What is psychology? What is psychology? Psychology Defined • The science of behavior and mental processes – Behavior - observable actions of a person – Mental processes - thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, memories, dreams, motives and other subjective experiences – Science • An objective way to answer questions • Based on observable facts / data and well described methods Psychology vs. Psychobabble • Valid psychological claims provide evidence in the form of scientific research • “Pop” psychology is often focused on WANTS – influence of the media Characteristics of pseudoscience 1. associates itself with true science 2. relies on/accepts anecdotal evidence 3. can’t be disproved 4. reduces complexity to simplicity (esp. to consumers) The Limits of Common Sense • Common sense and intuition often tell us about psychology • can be inconsistent and based on hindsight 7 Guidelines for any claim: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Define terms. Support with evidence. Analyze assumptions and biases. Avoid emotional reasoning. Don’t oversimplify. Consider other interpretations. Tolerate uncertainty. Great Questions of Psychology • Nature vs. Nurture • Monism vs. Dualism: the mind/body problem • Commonalities vs. Individual Differences • MEANING… Ancient Greece • Plato: – Nativism = humans enter the world with knowledge present – Rationalism = reasoning and logic give access to this knowledge Aristotle: Empiricism = senses are sources of knowledge Renaissance • Rene Descartes – First modern rationalist – Used reasoning to prove he existed! – Mind/body problem Renaissance • John Locke – Sided with Aristotle: tabula rasa • Immanuel Kant – Nature AND Nurture? Advent of Science • Studies of Nervous System • Darwin’s evolutionary theory Psychology as Science • Willhelm Wundt- 1st experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, 1879 • Different approaches emerged based on – Object of study – Goals – Methods Different Schools Emerge • Titchener: Structuralism – analytic introspection to understand What? – e.g. there are 4 basic tastes • James: Functionalism – to understand how behavior is affected, and Why? – e.g. why might we spit out something that is bitter? – applied research Schools (Perspectives) of Psychology • Psychoanalysis (or Psychodynamic perspective) – Originated with Sigmund Freud – concerned with unconscious conflicts • Behaviorism (or Learning perspective) – John Watson (1913) – B. F. Skinner – ‘Baby in a Box’ (1945) Other schools • Humanist/Existentialist approach – Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Viktor Frankl – person-centered, free will • Cognitive approach – how the mind processes information – e.g. memory, thinking, reasoning Other schools • Biological approach – brain, nervous system functions – genes and heredity • Sociocultural approach – group dynamics – social and cultural impacts on behavior The Profession of Psychology • American Psychological Association has 53 divisions in 2006 – areas of training and specialization (e.g., developmental, clinical) – applied (i.e., teaching in psychology, psychology and the law) Areas of Specialization • Clinical – abnormal behavior and psychological disorders – psychologist vs. psychiatrist • Counseling – dealing with normal life situations – provide guidance • Health psychology – psychological factors in physical health Areas of Specialization • Developmental – psychological change over the life span – social, cognitive, personality • School – counseling and guidance in school settings • Educational – learning and teaching Areas of Specialization • Physiological – brain and behavior – often uses animals as research model • Cognitive – experimental methods – human memory, perception, etc. Areas of Specialization • Social – social influences on cognition and emotion-importance of situation – attitudes and beliefs • Personality – individual differences • Industrial/organizational – people and work – job satisfaction – training and selection Professional Work Settings • Colleges and universities (33%) • Clinical settings (32%) • Government (18%) • Business (12%) • Elementary and secondary schools (5%) Employment Settings of Psychologists Business & Industry Schools Private Practice Universities & Colleges Government