Psychology Thirteenth Edition in Modules (Module 1)

Module 1 *Psychology: science of behavior and mental processes - Mental processes: o the way you think (cognition) o inner tendencies o structure processes o reactions o thoughts o emotions and feelings *Science Method of Investigation: 1. Asking questions 2. Collecting data 3. Using collected data to make conclusions about question History of Psychology: 1. *Wilhelm Wundt: a. Question: can we study psychology the same way that scientists study physics or chemistry? b. How much can we store in our brain? c. Experiment that measured how long it took for people to press a telegraph key after hearing a ball hit a platform d. Wanted to measure the “atoms of the mind” (the fastest and simplest mental processes) 2. *Edward Titchener: a. Question: Can we study individuals conscious experiences? b. Brought Wundt’s “type” of psychology to the U.S. c. Cognitive psychology goes back to Titchener 3. *William James: a. Question: What is the purpose of consciousness? b. Father of American psychology i. He wrote a lot of books c. Stream of consciousness: order of what we think things in 4. *Gestalt Psychology: (theory of psych) a. Question: In what ways do we perceive stimuli? b. Binding: connects stimuli together to make sense c. Sensation and perception 5. *Sigmund Freud: a. Question: Are there unconscious forces driving behavior? b. Childhood behaviors effect you as an adult c. Psychodynamic: bringing your unconscious thoughts to the surface 6. *Behavioral Perspective: a. Question: Should we be concerned about the mind or consciousness? b. Pavlov: i. Observed behavior in animals ii. Classical conditioning iii. Focuses on observational behaviors iv. Does not speculate about mental processes such as thinking All these individuals inspired modern day psychology. Psychology is now much more diverse. Other information from the book: 1. Critical thinking: thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises sources, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions a. No factual claims such as “I feel” b. They want evidence 2. Scientific attitude: a. Curiosity i. Does it work? ii. When put to the test, can its predictions be confirmed? b. Skepticism i. What do you mean? ii. How do you know? c. Humility i. That was unexpected! Let’s explore this further. Schools of thought: 1. Structuralism: a. Promoted by Wundt and Titchener b. Used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind c. Titchener wanted to develop the periodic table of understanding the mind’s structure 2. Functionalism: a. Promoted by James and was influenced by Darwin b. Explored how mental and behavioral process’s function c. How they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish d. Studied emotions, memories, willpower, habits, and moment-to-moment stream of consciousness 3. Behaviorism: a. Changed definition of psychology to the scientific study of observable behavior b. Science is rooted in observation i. What you observe and measure you cannot scientifically study ii. You can’t observe a sensation, feeling, or thought but you can observe and record people’s behavior as they respond to those things c. The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes 4. Freudian (Psychoanalytic) Psychology: a. Sigmund Freud b. Emphasized the ways our unconscious mind and childhood experiences affect our behavior 5. Humanistic Psychology: a. Led by Carl Roger and Abraham Maslow b. Q: Shouldn’t we understand humans as unique individuals? c. Sought to understand each person as a unique individual d. Focused on our growth potential, our needs for love and acceptance, and the environments that nurture or limit personal growth e. A historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential Contemporary Psychology: - - - *Cognitive Psychology: o Question: There must be more that we can scientifically study than behaviors? Chunk days by what you did o The study of mental processes, that can occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems o How thinking and emotion interact in anxiety, depressions, and other disorders Cognitive Revolution: o Focus on how thought occurs, how memories work, how information is organized and stored Cognitive Neuroscience: o The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language) Evolutionary Psychology and Behavior Genetics: - - - - Nature- Nurture Issue: o Controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development if psychological traits and behaviors. o Plato assumed that we inherit character and intelligence and that certain ideas are inborn o Aristotle thought that there is nothing in the mind that does not first come in from the external world through senses Natural Selection: o The principle that the inherited traits enabling in an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations Evolutionary Psychology: o Study of evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection o How are humans alike because of our common biology and evolutionary history? Behavior Genetics: o The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior o How do we individually differ because of our differing genes and environments? o Are gender differences biologically predisposed or socially constructed? o Are children’s grammar mostly innate or formed by experience? Cross Cultural and Gender Psychology: - Culture: the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. The same underlying processes guide people everywhere o People with dyslexia exhibit the same brain disfunction whether they are Italian, French, or British o People in different cultures vary in feelings of loneliness but, across cultures, loneliness is magnified through shyness and low self esteem *Positive Psychology: - The study of human flourishing, with the goals or discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive - Understanding and developing the emotions and traits that help us thrive Flow: state of mind you get in when you are so engaged in something that everything around you stops (reading book) Psychology’s 3 Main Levels of Analysis: - The different complementary views, from biological to psychological to socialcultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon Biopsychosocial Approach: o An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis Neuroscience perspective:  Study brain circuits that cause us to be red in the face and hot under the collar Evolutionary perspective:  Analyze how anger facilitated the survival of our ancestors’ genes Behavior genetics perspective:  Study how heredity and experience influence our individual differences in temperament Psychodynamic perspective:  Views an outburst as an outlet for unconscious hostility Behavioral perspective:  Attempts to determine what triggers aggressive acts Cognitive perspective:  Study how our interpretation of a situation affects our anger and how our anger affects our thinking Social-Cultural perspective:  Explore how expressions of anger vary across cultural contexts Using Psychology to Be a Better Student: - - Testing Affect: o Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading information. Also referred to as a retrieval practice effect of test-enhanced learning SQ3R: o Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Physiological Perspective: - - Question: Wait! What about our underlying biology? Focuses on the underlying biological bases of all forms of behavior o Some people are more likely to suffer from alcoholism or depression because of genetics Special interest in the brain and nervous system o Brain damage o Genes and predispositions o Biochemistry Neurotransmitters Cultural Perspective: - Question: How does culture affect individuals? o Studies how the social practices of cultures and the psychological qualities of individuals mutually influence one another Differences and similarities between cultures Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: - Clinical Psych: o Specialize in helping people with behavioral or emotional problems adjust to the demands of life o PhD o Qualitative data - - - - - - Psychiatrists: o Are medical doctors; they have earned an M.D. degree o Most extreme cases and prescribe drugs Counseling Psychologist: o See less severe cases than clinical and psychiatrists Research Psychologist: o Collection and analysis of quantitative data Make inferences using quantitative data Measurement: any technique that assigns numbers to information about objects or events Operational definitions:  Specifies a procedure through which a property can be measured School Psychologist: o Employed by school systems as consultants to other educational personal Industrial and Organizational Psychologist: o Concerned with all aspects of work and structure and function of organizations o Consumer behaviors What demographic is buying electric cars Forensic Psychologists: o Work within legal system o They may work in a prison to evaluate incoming prisoners or assist in selecting a jury for a trial More likely to play a criminal profiler on TV than to be one in real life Sports Psychologists: o Apply theories and knowledge of psychology to enhance athletes’ performance Neuropsychologists: o Are trained to research and diagnose the brain Psychology in the USA: - Psych is different in different countries - We have a tendency to view our psychological research as applying to all other cultures o Ethnocentrism: view that other cultures are an extension of ones own