Lecture Goals Introduction to Psychology

Lecture Goals Introduce the concept of psychology Brief History Psychology’s three main levels of analysis Introduce different areas of psychology What is Psychology? It refers to the scientific study of the mind and behavior Psychology = science of behavior and mental processes _ Mental _: internal, subject ive experience inferred from behavior __ Behavior _ _: any action that can be observed or recorded How does the visual system work? Perception of light in different environments involves shadows Is your visual system a physical light meter? Example of checkerboard and green cylinder Perception of light rays with cues given from the environment Brief History Origins Psychology originated in _philosophical_ questions E.g., The nature of knowledge Nature vs. Nurture Mind/body problem Ancient Greeks Fourth century B.C.E.: __ Aristotle __ used _ questioning _ and _ observing _ to understand the _ mind _ relationship René _Descartes_ 1600s suggested _ dualism _ - all organisms/humans have a dual relationship with other animals Body = organic machined governed by “reflexes” Mind = rational mind separated from the body; spirit has a rational mind other than the body. Problem with this view? The small changes in the brain can have dramatic impact on the function of the mind Wilhelm _Wundt_ (1832-1920) Defined psychology as “ _ Science _ of _ mental _ life” Enhanced _ s cientific nature of psychology Carefully _ measured _ and _ experiments _ Wrote first psychology textbook Structuralism: Edward _Titchener_ Identify the _ basic parts _ (_structures _ ) of the _ conscious mind _ Relied on ” introspection” (self-report) reporting on sensations and other elements of experience in reaction to stimuli Functionalism: William _James_ Studied human thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and asked: What _ function _ might they serve? How might they have helped our ancestors survive ? Authored Principles of Psychology First Women in Psychology Mary Whiton Calkins (1863-1930) Became _ memory _ researcher and _ first APA _ female president Studied with James but discriminated against and _ denied PhD _ Margaret Floy Washburn (1871-1939) Became _ second APA _ female president Wrote __ The Animal Mind _________________ Studied with Titchener but _ barred_ from his experimental psychology organization Problems with Introspection Many mental processes are not _ accessible _ to _ consciousness _ _ Methodological _ problems: training produced biases in responses, ambiguity of some results ( different results at different labs) _____________________ Defined psychology as the “scientific study of observable behavior” without reference to mental processes Dismissed introspection Became a major force in psychology into the 1960s Proponents John B . Watson ( Classical conditioning ) and B.F. Skinner (Operant conditioning) dismissed introspection Freudian psychology Emphasized ways unconscious thought processes and emotional responses to childhood experiences affect later behavior Was second major force until 1960s Governed by the unconscious mind due to childhood experiences Humanistic psychology Focused on ways current environments nurture or limit growth potential and importance of having need for love and acceptance satisfied Led by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow The cognitive revolution occurred around 1960, and focus returned to interest in mental processes Cognitive psychology scientifically explored ways in which information is perceived, processed, and remembered . Modern Definition of Psychology Science of behavior and mental processes Three main Levels of Analysis 1 Biological influences: Brain systems Neurochemistry Genetics 2 Psychological (Individual) Influences: Perception and Cognition Emotional responses Individual differences 3 Social-Cultural Influences Presence of others Groups Media Social and Cultural differences Not all Psychology is clinical Psychology http://www.apa.org/about/division.html Psychology’s Subfields Clinical & Counseling Clinical: Factors that cause psychological disorders and treatment Counseling: assist people with life challenges Cognitive Studies perception, attention, memory, problem-solving, and language. Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (Biopsychology) Study how cognition and emotion are based on brain processes Industrial/Organizational Issues pertaining to industry and the workplace Developmental Study how people change from infancy through old age. Social Study how people are affected by others